GBI Pilot Program Overview 

In 2023, the City of Rochester is piloting a year-long program that will provide a Guaranteed Basic Income, or GBI, to selected Rochester residents who live at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program is founded upon the belief that people in poverty are best positioned to make informed financial decisions that address their households’ needs.

The guaranteed income pilot will provide monthly payments of $500 to 351 individuals for 12 months. It is unconditional, which means there are no strings attached: no work requirements, and no restrictions on how the money can be used.

Other communities are also exploring guaranteed income pilot programs. Rochester’s program will provide additional information to help determine the impacts of a guaranteed income and influence future policy decisions around broader poverty reduction programs.

Although the application window will be short, the City of Rochester expects a significant response. A total of 351 households will be selected to participate. Qualified applicants will be chosen at random so everyone has a fair chance at participating. The more people who apply, the lower the chance of being selected to participate.

Applications were open on Thursday, June 22 at 10 a.m. and remained open for one week, through Thursday, June 29 at 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility Criteria

You must meet specific qualifications to be considered to receive GBI payments. All participants will go through an eligibility process, and you will only be selected for the program if you meet all of the requirements.

• Only one individual per household can participate in the program.
  • A “household” means people who live in the same home and share finances. For instance, parents and children, or people who are married.
  • Roommates who do not share finances are not considered one “household.”
  • Visit healthcare.gov/glossary/tax-household for more information and examples.
• Your household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Qualified incomes are as follows:
  • Single person — $26,973
  • 2 people — $36,482
  • 3 people — $45,991
  • 4 people — $55,500
  • 5 people — $65,009
  • 6 people — $74,518
  • 7 people — $84,027
  • 8 people — $93,536
• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must be a City of Rochester resident and have been a resident for at least one year before applying.
• You must live in a specific area of the City of Rochester to apply (shaded blue sections of map below represent qualifying areas):