Some Americans will qualify for payments worth $250 biweekly for two years, are you eligible?

Many cities throughout the country have been testing their universal basic income programs.

One area has decided to expand its program, making it available to more eligible residents.

Newark, New Jersey is paying residents $250 every two weeks for two years.

They’ve expanded the program to apply to 400 residents now.

This is the second phase of the city’s guaranteed income program.

How does the guaranteed income program work?

The first phase started earlier in the year with just 30 residents.

There are two ways Newark is going about their program.

First, half of the participants will see $250 on a biweekly basis for two years.

Next, half will be given two payments worth $3,000 twice a year.

Depending on which half you’re a part of, you could see $6,000 or $12,000.

This is just one of many experimental programs happening across the country.

How to qualify for the UBI program

A maximum number of 1,200 residents were able to apply online back in July.

Selected residents were chosen if they met certain requirements.

They needed to be at least 18, have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, and must have been impacted by the pandemic.

The portal remained open for just two hours after receiving over 1,200 applications.

This is a research study called The Newark Movement for Economic Equity, funded with $6.2 million dollars from both private and public funds under the American Rescue Plan.

After the two years of payments are up, the data will be analyzed to see what policy changes could help.

Source: FingerLakes1.Com