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State pilots expand guaranteed-income research; department releases procurement for senior pilot
Summary
CDSS told the Budget Subcommittee that California’s guaranteed‑income pilots — serving pregnant people and former foster youth — are underway and that the department released a request for applications this morning for senior pilot partners.
The California Department of Social Services told the Assembly Budget Subcommittee that the state’s guaranteed‑income pilots are entering an expansion phase and that the department released a request for applications for new grant partners to operate a senior guaranteed‑income pilot.
CDSS said the original statewide pilots — launched with 2021–22 budget funding — provide unconditional, recurring cash payments to pregnant people and former foster youth. The department reported nearly 2,000 participants across seven funded pilot sites that provide $600 to $1,200 per month for 12–18 months; CDSS expects a final evaluation report by fall 2027. The governor’s 2024–25 budget added $5 million to prioritize older adults in the guaranteed-income pilot program and the department said it issued an application request the morning of the hearing.
Why it matters: Guaranteed‑income pilots are explicitly intended to test whether recurring, unconditional cash improves housing, health and economic outcomes. Lawmakers, researchers and advocates testified that the pilots provide evidence to design potential long‑term programs and to inform broader safety‑net reforms.
What the department and advocates said
- CDSS reported that five of seven current pilots are participating in a randomized control trial and the statewide evaluation will measure outcomes such as housing stability, food insecurity, labor market participation and educational attainment.
- The department said the senior pilot design will emphasize low‑burden enrollment, benefits counseling, partnerships to identify eligible participants and embedding evaluation where feasible.
- Mona Mastry of Economic Security California urged lawmakers to treat guaranteed income as both a direct anti‑poverty tool and a set of administrative principles — lower barriers, fewer punitive rules and more flexible cash — that could be embedded into the existing safety net.
Committee questions and next steps
Lawmakers asked how guaranteed‑income pilots could be scaled or merged with other benefits. CDSS and advocates said options include embedding guaranteed‑income design principles into existing programs (for example, modifying eligibility rules or providing direct cash supplements) and pursuing permanent revenue sources to support expansion.
Quotations
"Unrestricted cash works," said Mona Mastry, director of strategic initiatives for Economic Security California, summarizing evidence from Stockton and multiple local pilots.
"As of October 2024, seven CDSS‑funded pilot programs across California have completed enrollment offering guaranteed income payments of $600 to $1,200 per month to nearly 2,000 individuals," CDSS summarized in committee testimony.
Ending
CDSS said the senior‑priority request for applications was posted and that the department will evaluate applications and continue to monitor pilot outcomes; members asked the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Department of Finance to assist with road‑mapping longer‑term funding options.
