State guaranteed basic incomes trade off with federal means tested welfare, negating solvency
Downey 2022 - Staff Attorney for the Legal Impact Network at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law [Nolan, Apr 13, Economic Security Project “States Lead the Way” Law https://economicsecurityproject.org/resource/states-lead/ Acc 6/18/23 pipk]
A guaranteed income intended to boost the economic security and well-being of recipients while reducing inequality will supplement the existing social safety net rather than replace it. A feature of the social safety net is that many programs are “means-tested” meaning that eligibility for receipt of a particular benefit (such as nutrition or medical assistance) is determined by assessing whether a person or household has the means (income and resources) to meet basic needs without assistance.55 Because of means-testing, any additional income from a guaranteed income program could impact eligibility for other programs. As such, advocates and state decisionmakers should pay careful attention to how an infusion of cash could affect guaranteed income recipients’ eligibility for other means-tested benefits programs such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and housing benefits.