By  Marta Jewson

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Guaranteed Income programs mirror pandemic support findings

Some of the results of the Rooted School study echo larger, household findings from The Center for Law and Social Policy, which found families reported more stability after the introduction of two pandemic-era programs, the Child Tax Credit and economic impact payments, through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Still, two-thirds of Americans say they couldn’t cover living expenses for one month if they lost their primary income source. One suggested policy solution is to supply families with guaranteed monthly income to keep them stable.

But lawmakers have also targeted young people for additional support. The Young Adult Tax Credit Act would provide a universal $500 monthly payment to all 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States. “Our social safety net rightfully has programs for childhood and seniors, but it fails to address the prevalence of young adult poverty,” said Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, a co-sponsor of the Young Adult Tax Credit, who noted that he sees nearly 25% poverty among young adults in his state. (It stands even higher, at 26%, among young adults in Louisiana.)