Sounds like what is really meant is a Basic Minimum Income (BMI, everyone gets at least the minimum, anyone less than that is raised up to it), not a Universal Basic Income (all citizens get a certain amount of money).
A BMI of $12,000 a year is comparable to current US welfare spending, not counting SSI. That's about $230 a week. Even that's a little bit of a disincentive to work, but if it went down gradually instead of all at once, that disincentive would be greatly decreased. For instance, a person with no income would get $12,000; a person who only had a part time job that paid $8,000 wouldn't just get $4,000 to bring them up to $12,000; but maybe $8,000 to bring them up to $16,000. Someone who made $12,000 might get $6,000 to bring them up to $18,000. Someone making $16,000 might get an additional $4,000 to bring them up to $20,000. And it might top out with an adult making $24,000 getting no extra assistance; and they probably wouldn't care to lose half their income to go on the dole.
There have been a few experiments that indicate most reduced working as a result of these kinds of benefits takes the form of quitting that third job or staying in school longer before quitting to get a job, or going on the dole temporarily to finish college. It might also push up wages for low-end jobs to improve retention when a basic income is available.
A BMI of $12,000 a year is comparable to current US welfare spending, not counting SSI. That's about $230 a week. Even that's a little bit of a disincentive to work, but if it went down gradually instead of all at once, that disincentive would be greatly decreased. For instance, a person with no income would get $12,000; a person who only had a part time job that paid $8,000 wouldn't just get $4,000 to bring them up to $12,000; but maybe $8,000 to bring them up to $16,000. Someone who made $12,000 might get $6,000 to bring them up to $18,000. Someone making $16,000 might get an additional $4,000 to bring them up to $20,000. And it might top out with an adult making $24,000 getting no extra assistance; and they probably wouldn't care to lose half their income to go on the dole.
There have been a few experiments that indicate most reduced working as a result of these kinds of benefits takes the form of quitting that third job or staying in school longer before quitting to get a job, or going on the dole temporarily to finish college. It might also push up wages for low-end jobs to improve retention when a basic income is available.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.