Lindsay is a town in Ontario Canada which was selected as one of four municipalities (Hamilton, Brantford, Brant County, Lindsay and Thunder Bay) to participate in a study which approximates Universal Basic Income. Note this is not a true UBI project based on how the money is distributed:
Following a tax credit model, the Ontario Basic Income Pilot will ensure that participants receive up to:
$16,989 per year for a single person, less 50% of any earned income
$24,027 per year for a couple, less 50% of any earned income
People with a disability will also receive up to $500 per month on top.
Working and going to school during the pilot
Participants can go to school to further their education or begin/continue to work while receiving the basic income. The basic income amount will decrease by $0.50 for every dollar an individual earns through work.
A true UBI would be more like a dividend payment (UBD) which would be distributed equally to everyone in the society nor matter their income level and would not be reduced based on money earned. This is a pilot studying a welfare system with the a built in peril (watch Milton Friedman's Explanation).
Sorry I digress
A new community based online media site has been set up in one of these communities (Lindsay) which aims to document the progress of this pilot but as well look at and promote other community initiatives. I encourage anyone with an interest in UBI/UBD to check out the site and keep abreast of the their news.
