Guaranteed Income and Cash Infusions: A Three-Part Series

This set of three publications explores how direct investments via cash infusions and transfers boost individual and family financial well-being. These briefs are designed to pull together what is known about the need for, the innovations in, and the effects of cash infusion and transfer programs on the financial security of recipients, their families, and their communities. They are intended to inform a diverse set of US-based stakeholders, including policymakers, employers, funders, researchers, and public, private, and nonprofit program designers interested in boosting financial security for residents, workers, and families in the face of widespread economic insecurity.

The first brief, “Guaranteed Income and Other Cash Infusions: A Review of Evidence,” illuminates the importance of positive cash flow in household finances.

This issue brief examines the reasons behind the growing interest in and the conceptual value of access to guaranteed income and cash infusion programs. The paper reviews definitions related to these programs and the evidence from previous studies of cash infusion programs in the United States and abroad.

The second brief, “Guaranteed Income and Other Cash Infusions: Lessons from LIFT and Family Independence Initiative,” is a set of two case studies of small, unrestricted cash transfer programs.

This issue brief describes the program models, outcomes, and design lessons from two innovative, multi-site nonprofits in the United States—Family Independence Initiative and LIFT—that provide unrestricted cash infusions to their members. This issue brief is intended for public, private, and nonprofit program designers, funders, and others interested in implementation lessons and outcome data from these unrestricted cash infusion programs.

The third brief, “Guaranteed Income and Other Cash Infusions: Opportunities for Scale,” explores how direct investments via cash infusions and transfers boost individual and family financial well-being.

This brief describes strategies and existing stakeholder platforms that could be leveraged to bring guaranteed income and other cash infusion programs to a broader population in order to help more families create slack in their budget. It includes examples of current programs, pilots, and policies in place today, and identifies critical logistical considerations and remaining research questions.