PERSON-TO-PERSON LIFETIME INCOME
A New Era for Universal Basic Income: Lifetime Support, Person-to-Person
The Gerald Huff Fund for Humanity, in collaboration with Capitalists for Shared Income, is proud to launch a groundbreaking initiative: the first person-to-person Universal Basic Income (UBI) plan in the United States designed for lifetime support.
For a one-time investment of $50,000, donors can directly guarantee a chosen recipient an initial payout of $2,600 per year ($50 per week), adjusted annually for inflation, continuing for the rest of their life. This innovative model bridges a critical gap in current UBI efforts.
Beyond Temporary Relief: The Power of Permanent Income
While UBI has gained national attention since Andrew Yang’s 2019 presidential campaign, most initiatives have been temporary. Programs like GiveDirectly (active in Africa since 2009) and numerous U.S. pilots—including Mayor Michael Tubbs’ Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration and the 74 concluded and 62 ongoing projects listed at basicincomepilots.com have primarily served as “proof of concept”. Even Sam Altman’s substantial three-year pilot for 3,000 people lacked the crucial element of lifelong financial security.
The Alaska Permanent Fund, established in 1982, stands as a notable exception, providing fluctuating annual dividends to every Alaskan. This program underscores a fundamental difference: a temporary cash infusion offers a “hand up”, but the knowledge of permanent, consistent income empowers individuals to truly pursue happiness and stability. It’s a recognition that in a prosperous society, everyone’s well-being matters.
Bypassing Government, Empowering Individuals
Given the federal government’s limited engagement with UBI (the Child Tax Credit being a short-lived glimpse of what’s possible with political will), innovative non-governmental solutions are emerging. Platforms like Comingle, similar to GiveDirectly, facilitate direct cash redistribution through organizational frameworks and individual bank accounts, bypassing traditional government channels.
The Gerald Huff Guaranteed Income offers a truly novel and impactful path forward. By allowing individuals, families, or communities to invest $50,000, we can directly provide the profound security of a full-fledged UBI—no questions asked, no time limit. This isn’t just another pilot; it’s a vital new proof of concept for the essential, transitional solution needed to address the disruptive effects of AI on the future of work.
Get To Know Basic Income
Get the latest info and updates about Basic Income in the U.S.
Basic Income Pilots (BIP) is a comprehensive resource that gathers all the Universal Basic Income (UBI) trials and their outcomes in one place. It provides a clear overview of UBI experiments worldwide, presenting key findings and insights to inform discussions on this innovative social policy.
The Basic Income Today Community was created by the Fund to provide news and information and to further the discussion and debate about Universal Basic Income (UBI) and its impact on the economy at large.