All the cities testing free money programs Cities across the country are testing the waters for guaranteed income and universal basic income programs. Image: Getty Images 2021-05-03 10:00:00 UTC Even as the U.S. economy starts to trend upwards, the promise of Universal Basic Income (UBI) isn't being ignored. Cities across the country keep announcing new free cash programs for residents as recently as last week. This page, which we will update regularly, will help you keep track. The idea gained relevance in 2020, as millions of households coped with the financial impact of the pandemic. Many cities are testing out guaranteed income programs â similar in principle to UBI, but offered to a select portion of a city's population instead of all residents.Â