Final weekend to apply for $850 in direct payments for two years – find out if you’re eligible

THIS Sunday is the final day to apply for Georgia's guaranteed income program called Her Hands.

The new program will provide monthly payments of $850 for two years to over 650 Black women who are at or below two times the federal poverty line.

The $13million partnership between the Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund (GRO) and GiveDirectly, will cater to three areas with the largest racial wealth gaps and poverty in the US.

The first project’s site is Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward area with applications accepted from May 2 until May 15 at 11.59pm.

The second site to launch will be in Clay, Terrell and Randolph Counties in Southwest Georgia.

Those applications will open in June.

The final project site is not yet announced, but will be revealed this month and applications will open in July.

This no strings attached Georgia program is among the largest guaranteed income initiative in the US - designed by and for Black women - and the largest in the South.

Amir Farokhi, Atlanta council member and co-chair of the Old Fourth Ward economic security task force said in a statement: “Georgia has some of the starkest economic insecurity and instability in the country, especially for Black and Brown women.

"The GRO Fund is setting out to test big ideas to tackle this challenge. But the work is grounded in people first, not theory."

Participants will be selected from a randomized lottery of eligible applicants.

Half of the recipients will receive $850 a month for 24 months, while the other half will receive a lump-sum payment of $4,300 first, followed by 23 months of $700 payments.

Are you eligible?

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Must live in Old Fourth Ward or parts of Sweet Auburn
• Must be a woman who’s at least 18 years old
• Impacted from Covid-19, including health problems or loss of employment
• Income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level

The earnings threshold is $27,180 per year for individuals and $55,500 for a family of four.

Applications will be accepted until Sunday May 15 at 11.59pm.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, head to the In her Hands website and click on your location to apply.

Other guaranteed income programs

The Los Angeles “Breathe" program provides residents $1,000 monthly payments for three years, totaling $36,000.

The program was designed to help those who have been negatively and financially impacted by the pandemic.

Last July 2021, New York City launched its first guaranteed income program called The Bridge Project.

The first round chose 50 mothers to receive $500, every two weeks, for three years.

Another 50 mothers will then receive $1,000 a month for three years.

The income payments came with no strings attached.

Denver, Colorado created the Denver Basic Income Project, randomly selecting eligible participants.

Three separate groups would receive funds:

• 260 individuals would receive $6,500 upfront, and another $500 a month for 11 months
• Another 260 individuals get $1,000 a month for 12 months
• And 300 individuals are given $50 a month for 12 months in a comparison group

Philadelphia started a guaranteed income pilot program earlier this year offering 60 people $500 a month for a year.

The recipients were chosen from a pool of 1,100 people who receive federal aid through TANF or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Automatic payments totaling millions are being considered under a new proposal.

Plus, Maine residents could see direct payments of $850 this summer.