"The idea as it's usually proposed wouldn't incentivize people not to work, because unlike most welfare programs today the benefits wouldn't go away because you took a job. It's best thought of as "Universal Social Security", because it would work just like that except it would benefit everyone, not just senior citizens. Seniors get checks regardless of their lifestyle or wealth; this just expands it to everyone. Further it would probably replace a lot of existing welfare programs. Rather than the complicated set of agencies offering tax credits, housing vouchers, food stamps, etc, you get one check to spend as you wish, whether you work or not. If you want to improve your lifestyle, do and buy nice things, you'll work. But your subsistence will no longer be tied to having a job and willingness of others to pay for it. It would probably incentivize against people taking particularly shitty jobs for especially low wages. But that's probably not a bad thing. It's true that some people..." - Eric P