SELECT Americans will soon start getting monthly checks worth hundreds of dollars to improve their financial health.
The direct payment opportunity comes as part of a first-of-its-kind initiative introduced last month.
Select Americans can get $750 monthly payments soon (stock image)[/caption]
San Diego County and the San Diego Foundation partnered to work on the guaranteed income pilot program to help pregnant women, per a news release.
It’s called Born Well, and has a mission of improving birth outcomes for newborns and mothers located in “high-risk communities.”
As part of the program, the San Diego Foundation contributed $1 million to give the new parents more access to prenatal and postpartum care in those areas.
Additionally, the funds offer support for service providers and help strengthen “coordination across agencies,” according to the release.
Thanks to San Diego County joining in, Born Well is also providing $750 monthly cash payments for a year to 25 expectant mothers.
That means $9,000 for each qualifying mother and a total payout from the County of $225,000.
There’s no application process to become one of the 25 recipients.
Instead, they’ll be referred to Born Well by the County’s Perinatal Equity Initiative program if they are in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.
CRUCIAL CASH
San Diego County emphasized that the guaranteed income program will help “provide direct, unconditional cash that gives families the freedom to spend money on their most immediate needs as they define them, such as food, childcare, medical needs or rent.”
It also cited that babies in the “highest risk groups” of the area can be as much as six times more likely to die before their fist birthday.
They’re also 60% more likely to be born prematurely.
In the state of California, high-risk mothers are even about three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues.
“While we are seeing improvements in the number of infant deaths in San Diego County overall, the rate of infant deaths in the highest-risk groups are still far above any other group,” Liz Hernandez, director of public health services for San Diego County, noted in a statement.
“There is more work to be done to improve disparities. This guaranteed income program is one step in reducing barriers for pregnant women at risk, like financial worries.”
How does Guaranteed Income work?
Guaranteed Income and Universal Basic Income programs have taken off in popularity recently.
After the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan of 2021 sent stimulus money to local governments, dozens began testing guaranteed income (GI) systems.
The specifics vary, but GI typically involves payouts to people with low incomes. Unlike traditional welfare, there are no job requirements, drug tests, or other strings attached.
Some have pushed for a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which would go to everyone regardless of how much money they make at work. Alaska has used a similar system since the 1970s.
Proponents say this alleviates poverty while incentivizing work, unlike classic welfare, which cuts benefits from people who begin earning “too much” money to qualify.
Opponents argue such a system is too expensive to function on a large scale and suggest Americans should avoid becoming reliant on government money.
With some cities heralding the success of GI programs, some Republican-led states have moved to ban them. States like Texas and Iowa, for example, have undermined major spending plans by pushing against GI.
It’s unclear exactly when the first payment will go out to the 25 select mothers at this time.
MOTHERS IN MIND
Mothers in another state are also still getting $500 monthly payments this year as part of a guaranteed income program.
The Ohio Mothers Trust was created through backing from the nonprofits of Motherful, RISE Together Innovation Institute, and UpTogether.
At least 32 single mothers out of Columbus are getting financial assistance as a result, and were selected ahead of the first distribution in December 2024.
Checks will continue through the remainder of the year.
Danielle Sydnor, CEO of RISE Together, emphasized in a press release that the Ohio Mothers Trust was created to “show that providing additional cash support to mothers can significantly boost the financial stability and overall well-being of families.”
“Childhood poverty was estimated to cost Franklin County $5.2 billion in lost economic activity in 2021.”
“Providing families with the resources they need is an investment in their future and the future health of our community,” Sydnor continued.
Americans should also remain aware of other ongoing programs.
A deadline to get $850 monthly payments, for example, is fast approaching for another ‘first-of-its-kind’ program.
There are at least five cities handing out monthly checks worth $1,200 monthly as well.
