City of St. Louis
Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program
Update 2/12/24:
Thank you for being part of the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) Program. Every three months, we’ll email you a link to a short survey about how the extra $500 per month has affected your life. We appreciate you taking the time to answer the questions. Your answers will help the City of St. Louis develop new programs.
Update: 11/1/23:
The application window closed on November 1, 2023, at 5 pm CST. No more applications will be accepted. Program Overview
The City of St. Louis, Missouri through the Office of the Mayor and the Office of the Treasurer are partnering with FORWARD to administer a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program for qualified residents. Recipients will receive a $500 monthly stipend for up to 18 months total.
As of Nov 1st, 2023 at 5 pm CST, the application window was closed and applications are no longer being accepted.
If you are selected, you will be contacted by email with more instructions.
Program Overview
The City of St. Louis, Missouri through the Office of the Mayor and the Office of the Treasurer are partnering with FORWARD to administer a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program for qualified residents.
Recipients will receive a $500 monthly stipend for up to 18 months total.
The timeline for application as well as eligibility requirements are:
Phase 1: Program Information: Oct 10th – Oct 23rd
Eligible residents interested in being notified when the application window opens are asked to sign up on the website. This page is open to gather reliable contact information for those interested in applying for the program.
Phase 2: Application Period: Oct 23rd – Nov 1st 5pm
We invite all eligible residents to take advantage of this opportunity to apply. Documentation requirements include Photo ID and Proof of School Enrollment (school documentation with parent, guardian, dependent name and address, like a recent report card or enrollment document).
Phase 3: Document Verification: Nov 6th – Nov 13th
Applicants chosen via lottery will be invited to submit financial documentation and verification of City of St. Louis residency. Timely submission of documents will increase the chance of participation.
NEED SUPPORT?
If you need help with this online application, please email us at:
stlgbi-support@forwardplatform.zendesk.com or call us at 1-855-582-3973.
For all media inquiries only, please contact Felice McClendon, mcclendonf@stltreasurer.org
Eligibility Requirements
Households must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Guaranteed Basic Income Program:
- You must be a parent or legal guardian of a child or dependent under the age of
18 enrolled in a public school (St. Louis Public Schools or a St. Louis Public Charter
School) - You must live within St. Louis city limits.
- Your household must have experienced a negative financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The total income of ALL income earners in your household must be less than 170% of the federal poverty level.
Family Size | 170% of 2023 Federal Poverty Level |
For a Family of 2 | $33,524 |
For a Family of 3 | $42,262 |
For a Family of 4 | $51,000 |
For a Family of 5 | $59,738 |
For a Family of 6 | $68,476 |
For a Family of 7 | $77,214 |
For a Family of 8 | $85,952 |
For a Family of 9+ | Add $8,738 for each additional person |
Required Documents
The following documents will be used to verify the above eligibility:
Options:
- Driver’s License
- Valid Passport
- State-Issued Identification Card
- Military Identification Card
- Resident Alien Card (Green Card)
- Federal Employee Identification Card
- Tribal Identification Card
- Consular Card
Options:
- Recent utility bill (within 60 days)
- Current lease agreement or mortgage statement
- Current property tax bill
- Recent official government or city correspondence addressed to, you the applicant
- School enrollment documentation that also includes parents names and address as address verification documentation.
Options:
- Official 2023-2024 school enrollment or registration documentation with the dependent’s name, grade level, and school name, addressed to the applicant as the parent/guardian.
- A recent report card or school-issued correspondence confirming the dependent’s enrollment in a St. Louis City public school addressed to you as the parent/guardian.
Options:
- WIC Letter
- SNAP Letter
- Verification of Government Benefits
- Current SSI/SSD Award Letter
- Proof of Unemployment
- 2 Most recent pay stubs
- Pension letter
Self-Employed:
- Income tax returns from the most recent tax year, 1099, bank statements of profit and loss statement to show income
No income:
- Federal income verification
- Agency attestation for zero income is acceptable for unhoused residents and undocumented individuals
You can store documents in your profile so that you can easily find them to include in your applications. These file formats are supported: .doc, .docx, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg, .pdf, .png, .xls, and .xlsx
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI), also sometimes called Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a financial assistance program that provides individuals with a set amount of money on a regular basis, no strings attached. This income is designed to cover basic living expenses and can be spent according to the recipient’s discretion. The idea is to offer a safety net that can alleviate poverty and give people the freedom to pursue opportunities without the constant stress of financial insecurity.
The primary aim of this specific GBI program is to encourage upward social and economic mobility among its recipients. By providing a financial cushion, the program hopes to empower individuals to invest in education, small businesses, or other avenues that may be otherwise financially inaccessible. This is part of a broader strategy to address systemic poverty, improve community well-being, and assess the effectiveness of direct cash transfers as a social policy tool.
The program is funded through American Rescue Plan funds and Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall philanthropic initiative, with operational support from Deaconess Foundation.
Currently, this initiative is an 18-month pilot program. The purpose of running it as a pilot is to gather data and insights on its effectiveness, after which the results will be analyzed to determine whether such programs should be expanded, modified, or made permanent.
The program is designed to benefit around 540 participants. It is limited by current funding.
Unfortunately, no. The program is designed exclusively for residents of St. Louis City, as it is funded and administered by local government and private donors focusing on this specific community.
There are no restrictions in how the money should be spent. Recipients will receive a debit card with ATM access.
Applications that are found to be fraudulent will be immediately disqualified from the program. There will be no possibility for appeal in such cases, and legal action may be taken against the individual for fraud.
To stay informed about any developments, changes, or announcements related to the program, please keep an eye on this official landing page. Updates will be regularly posted here to keep you informed.
Yes, these awards are considered taxable. We recommend consulting a tax professional in order to make an informed decision in accepting Guaranteed Basic Income and its affect on your taxes.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the program, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be 18 or older.
- You must be a parent or legal guardian of a child or dependent under the age of 18 enrolled in a public school (St. Louis Public Schools or a St. Louis Public Charter School.
- You must be a resident of St. Louis City.
- Your household must have faced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Your household income must fall below 170% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Yes, there is an income-based criteria. The total income including ALL income earners must be below 170% of the Federal Poverty Level to be considered for the program. This threshold is set to target families and individuals who are financially vulnerable and could benefit the most from the additional income.
Family Size | 170% of 2023 Federal Poverty Level |
For a Family of 2 | $33,524 |
For a Family of 3 | $42,262 |
For a Family of 4 | $51,000 |
For a Family of 5 | $59,738 |
For a Family of 6 | $68,476 |
For a Family of 7 | $77,214 |
For a Family of 8 | $85,952 |
For a Family of 9+ | Add $8,738 for each additional person |
Absolutely, special groups such as students, retirees, and unemployed individuals can apply for the program as long as they meet all the other eligibility criteria. The program is designed to be inclusive and cater to a wide range of residents facing economic hardships.
No, only one application per household is permitted. This rule is in place to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources among the community, so that as many households as possible can benefit from the program.
To prove your eligibility, these documents are needed
- Government-issued photo ID
- Proof of address (such as a utility bill)
- Evidence of school enrollment for your student (like a report card or school ID)
- Proof of household income (e.g., SNAP Letter, WIC Letter, ect).
- Verification that you have faced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be an attestation within the application and does not need paper verification.
Recipients will be asked to attest each quarter that their eligibility has not changed. If your circumstances change during the 18-month period of the program, you will remain eligible as long as you continue to reside within the St. Louis City area. However, if you move out of the area, your eligibility may be revoked.
If you believe you have been wrongly deemed ineligible for the program, you can request an appeal by sending an email to the designated appeals address. Make sure to provide all relevant information and documents to support your case. The appeal process is designed to ensure fairness and accuracy in eligibility assessments.
Each benefit impacts differ in whether cash assistance programs are viewed as income. The City has contracted with a vendor to provide benefits counseling if your initial application is approved and you are invited to submit documentation. We want you to have all the information you need to make a financially informed decision for your family.
Application Process
To start your application, you’ll need to click on the “Apply” button at the top of this page when it becomes available during the application window. Rest assured, there is no fee to apply for the program. The application is designed to be as accessible as possible to encourage widespread participation.
Yes, Applications will be open October 23rd- November 1st. It’s crucial to check this page regularly for updates on when the application window opens and closes.
Once you have been selected to proceed for review, you will be asked to upload scanned or photographed copies of the required documents. These include a photo ID, proof of address, evidence of school enrollment, and proof of income. All documents should be submitted through the same secure online application portal.
After the application window closes, via a lottery process applicants will be selected to upload their documents for review. All others will be held on the waitlist in case some of the selected applicants withdraw. The processing time for applications is approximately one month from the date of submission. This time is needed to verify all provided information and documents to ensure they meet the program’s eligibility criteria.
You’ll receive notifications via text and email. Make sure your contact information in your application is accurate. If selected, you’ll get a message to complete your application. If we don’t hear back, we’ll follow up by phone, email, and text during the verification phase from November 6th to November 17th, 2023. Incomplete or inaccurate contact info may result in missed notifications or eligibility issues.
You can check the status of your application by logging into the application portal. Updates regarding the progress of your application, including any next steps or requirements, will be available there, and will also be emailed to applicants.
The application portal is designed to be multilingual to accommodate applicants who may not be fluent in English. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete the application, please contact us via email for personalized assistance.
If your application is denied, you have the option to appeal the decision. However, it’s important to note that this program is highly competitive, and not all appeals will be successful. To initiate an appeal, you’ll need to follow the specific guidelines and procedures outlined in the denial notification you receive.
After Approval
Once your application is approved, further instructions will be communicated to you via email. This will typically include details on when you can expect to receive your preloaded payment card, as well as other pertinent information about the program. While waiting, it’s advisable to regularly check your email and the application portal for updates.
Should you need to update your contact information, you can do so by logging into the application portal. You would have received a link via email at the time of your application, which you can use to access the portal. Once logged in, you’ll be able to edit your personal details, including your address, email, and phone number, to ensure you receive all program-related communications.
If you wish to opt-out of the program or have feedback to share, you can reach out via email. The contact information would have been provided to you at the time of your application, usually in the form of a welcome or confirmation email. Your feedback is valuable and will be considered for the ongoing improvement of the program.
The most effective way to get in touch with the program administrators is through email. This ensures that there is a written record of your query, allowing for a more organized and efficient response. The email address for contacting the administrators would have been shared with you at the onset of your application process, either on the application portal or via a confirmation email.
Payments for the program will be made through preloaded cards that will be mailed to your registered address. These cards function like debit cards and can be used for purchases both online and in stores. This method was chosen to streamline the payment process and provide recipients with easy access to their funds.
Your privacy and security is a top priority for us. We only require your name and address for the purpose of mailing the preloaded card. No additional financial information, like your bank account or social security number, is needed. The payment cards themselves are also secured with various safety features to prevent unauthorized access.
If you encounter any issues related to your payments, such as not receiving your card or facing difficulties with transactions, detailed support information will be provided to you via email upon your selection into the program. This email will contain contact details for the customer service team dedicated to handling payment-related concerns.
Research Questions
Information you submit as a participant in the GBI program that is not identifiable will be shared with the research team. This includes answers to questions on your program application that are not personally identifying, responses to study surveys, and transaction data from your GBI payment card.
No individualized data about you will be shared with WashU if you choose not to participate in the study.
The data we collect will be shared with a credit reporting bureau for research purposes. This will allow the research team to understand the impacts of guaranteed income on credit scores, debts, and other credit indicators. However, any information that could be used to identify you will be removed before it is shared with the research team, and all your data will be kept safe and only accessible under strict controls, and deleted when it is no longer needed for the study. Any information that could personally identify you will never be made public under any circumstances.
The data will be used to study the effects of the GBI on spending habits, financial stability, and increased wealth among participants. This will help in understanding the overall impact and efficacy of the program.
If you withdraw, the data collected up to that point might still be used for the study, but it will always remain anonymized.
Yes, the findings of the research will be made public, and you can access them to see the overall impact of the GBI program for participants and the community.
No, your eligibility for the GBI is not affected by your decision to participate or not participate in the research component.
Apart from using the preloaded card, there will be two surveys to gather more insights, and you will be compensated $20 for each survey you complete. You will also have the opportunity to volunteer to be interviewed in late 2024 by the research team. Interview participants will be compensated $50. Participation in the survey and interviews are optional.
All data provided to WashU will be anonymized, ensuring that individual spending habits cannot be traced back to specific participants. Data will only be shared publicly in aggregate (combined with all other study participants).
The research is a collaborative effort between the city of St. Louis and WashU paid for by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and a private philanthropic donor.
The findings will provide valuable insights into the benefits and challenges of the GBI, which may inform future policy decisions regarding the program’s continuation or modification.
Yes, participation in the research component is optional, and it will not affect your receipt of the GBI.
City of St. Louis Program Partners
FORWARD – Implementation Partner
MoCaFi – Payment Disbursement Partner
The Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis – Research Partner
Brown School Evaluation Center at Washington University in St. Louis – Research Partner
FORWARD is administering this Guaranteed Basic Income Program on behalf of The City of St. Louis.
ABOUT FORWARD
FORWARD is the leading Integrated Program Administration solution that incorporates all essential components, people and technology into a single streamlined workflow to effectively, securely, and equitably administer critical resources to help communities thrive.