Newfoundland and Labrador is doing a basic income pilot, but it's having a hard time getting people to sign up for it because of how confusing existing benefits are. People fear increasing their income. This is the big problem with means-tested benefits. They create poverty traps. - ThreadSky

scottsantens.com • 6 days ago

Newfoundland and Labrador is doing a basic income pilot, but it's having a hard time getting people to sign up for it because of how confusing existing benefits are. People fear increasing their income. This is the big problem with means-tested benefits. They create poverty traps.

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giantreflector.bsky.social•5 days ago

Indeed. In the US, those with affordable insurance will stay poor for Medicaid during major illnesses, like cancer treatment or pregnancy/child birth. Imagine losing your house because you had a child in the hospital.

servedwithsarcasm.bsky.social•6 days ago

I am a proponent of these two things in Canada. UBI and a CPP that is a full on pension for all Canadians based on earnings and employment years much like Sweden's. These should be entitlements for all Canadians regardless of other income sources; then it's a simple matter of income tax after that.

servedwithsarcasm.bsky.social•6 days ago

Then we just drop OSA, Social Assistance, etc... and let the UBI, and CPP if retired, take over. This should lower overhead to deliver the services and be more transparent and less susceptible to fraud.

jamiethegray.bsky.social•5 days ago

You can't get out of poverty bc as soon as you earn a little more, they cut your benefits

russellbarth.bsky.social•6 days ago

they work
which is why they never get any further than limited test runs

himynameisdave.com•6 days ago

negative income tax

jacexz.bsky.social•6 days ago

Some Ontarians had it then had it ripped away. They were finally doing well enough-- paying debts, bills, groceries, and are now falling behind again. We already know it works. We can stop with the testing and move forward in implementing it

terry-cooper.bsky.social•6 days ago

Poverty trap is right: I'm in the UK. If I earn £1536 per month or more, I can claim 'Universal Credit' of around £700 per month (minus 55p for every £1 I earn over £1536). As I earn about half of that, I don't qualify for any help. Hmm.

terry-cooper.bsky.social•6 days ago

btw, there's nothing 'Universal' about it.

akawendystorm.bsky.social•6 days ago

Great program in concept. It seems that they lack the contextual understanding for these programs. For example my senior NL parents got a grant to install a wheelchair accessible shower but no contractors locally will do a grant job. Thus, great project but a failed reality.

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