Basic income lets some parents afford toys and new shoes for their kids. One mother said it was 'life-changing.'

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Parents and their two young children play with toys
Beyond necessities, guaranteed basic income allows some parents to afford toys or activities for their kids.

jacoblund / Getty Images

Illinois is launching a basic income pilot for 400 families in the child welfare system in the hopes of reducing maltreatment

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Politics
A mother holds her toddler, who is playing with a model airplane
An Illinois guaranteed basic income program will give cash to 800 families involved in the child welfare system.

d3sign / Getty Images

Birmingham gave single mothers $375 monthly for a year, no strings attached. Participants felt more financially stable, but 'losing the money hurt.'

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
A woman holds a young child outside and kisses their cheek.
A guaranteed basic income program in Birmingham, Alabama gave 110 single mothers $375 a month for a year.

MoMo Productions / Getty Images

A boomer lives on $1,800 monthly in Social Security and worries about her future: 'What am I going to do?'

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
An older woman sits on the edge of a creek with her dog.
Ann Miller, 78, (not pictured) lives in a small town in Washington with her dog. She struggles to get by on her Social Security income.

SolStock / Getty Images

Meet the new moms using up to $700 in monthly basic income to afford childcare. It could be the answer to helping parents stay employed.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
Collage of money, housing, food, and family.
Some parents say guaranteed basic income helped them afford childcare, allowing them to secure jobs and promotions at work.

Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI

A New York basic income participant used his monthly $1,000 to pay bills and launch a nonprofit

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
A black and white photo of a man wearing a patterned bandana and
Kenneth McQueen, 35, used his guaranteed basic income to pay bills and launch a rollerskating nonprofit.

Photo Courtesy of Claudia Maturell

Philadelphia is experimenting with guaranteed income pilots for pregnant people and housing insecure families

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Politics
pregnant mom smiling and holding her baby bump
Philadelphia's latest guaranteed basic income program will give $1,000 a month to pregnant people, no strings attached.

FG Trade / Getty Images

A boomer gets just $1,056 a month in Social Security and works as a bus driver: 'I don't see myself being able to retire, but I'm grateful and healthy'

Tech Insider : Economy
Woman in her kitchen stares out the window
Emma Echols (not pictured) receives $1,056 a month in Social Security and has to supplement that income with her part-time bus driver job.

Laura Olivas

Artists in New York got $1,000 monthly through a basic income program. One participant used the money to pay bills and afford healthcare.

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy, Politics
Jacinta Burnell wears a colorful cloak and stands with her art.
Jacinta Burnell, 52, is an artist in New York and a participant in a guaranteed basic income program.

Courtesy of Jacinta Burnell

Billionaire Ray Dalio thinks universal basic income is no magic wand — and may even do more harm than good

Tech Insider : Economy, Economy
ray dalio
Ray Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates.

Brian Snyder/Reuters

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