DCo Thrives

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is guaranteed income?

  Guaranteed income is a recurring payment provided with no strings attached. This means that participants have the freedom to choose how they spend the money. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net.

• Why has the county decided to undertake a guaranteed income pilot program?

  The goal of the DCo Thrives pilot program is to determine the effectiveness of guaranteed income in improving well-being for children and families in Durham. By not restricting how participants can use the guaranteed income, we express our confidence that Durham families are the experts on their own lives and, as such, are the best ones to determine how to use the money to support their family. We want every child and family in Durham County to thrive. 

  Other guaranteed income programs throughout the US have shown increased positive brain activity in babies, increased likelihood of time spent doing enriching activities with children, decreased stress, and improved employment outcomes.

  According to 2021 Census data, 8.7% of Durham families were living in poverty. Of all Durham families living in poverty, the greatest proportion were living in single family households, with 5.7% being in single female households and .08% living single male households. By implementing a guaranteed income program for low-income families, Durham County intends to positively impact the well-being of children and families.

• Am I eligible to apply to participate in DCo Thrives?

  If you meet ALL of the below eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply to DCo Thrives! 

  Eligibility Criteria:

  • You live in Durham County
  • You are 18 or older
  • You parent a child under the age of 18
  • You have a household income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Durham. The below table depicts the 30% AMI for Durham. 

  
• How will individuals be selected to participate?

  125 individuals will be randomly selected to receive the guaranteed income. Another 125 families will be randomly selected to participate in the control group, who will not receive the guaranteed income but will be invited to participate in surveys for research purposes. 

• If selected, what are the payment amounts?

  Participants will receive payments of $750 a month for 12 months.

• Does the money have to be used in a certain way?

  No. The $750 monthly payments have no strings attached. Participants can use the money however they need.

• What happens if I am selected?

  Individuals that are selected to receive the monthly payment will be contacted via email or phone within a month after the application period ends. A representative from the program will be available to answer any questions, and you will have the option to meet with a benefits counselor before deciding whether to enroll in the program or not. You can opt out at any time.

• What is a Randomized Controlled Trial, and why is DCo Thrives designed as one?

  A randomized controlled trial is a type of study that compares information between two groups, in this case the individuals that receive a monthly cash payment and those who do not. Both groups will be asked to fill out surveys and will be compensated $100 for their survey completion. Data from the DCo Thrives pilot program will be used to help understand the effectiveness of guaranteed income programs in Durham and beyond. 

• What is a participant’s role in the research?

  Surveys are conducted every month from the start of the pilot program. If you decide to participate in research, you will be asked to complete the surveys online on your own. Your answers are completely confidential, and you will be compensated for your time with $100 per completed survey.

  We will also connect state and local administrative credit, health, and education records about you and your children. Again, this information will be kept confidential and will never be released in a way that could identify you. You may also be invited to participate in an optional interview with the research team.

• How will information that I provide be used?

  Your survey responses and any administrative data will be aggregated with other peoples’ responses and information, and the data will be analyzed by researchers. 

• Can I opt out of the research?

  Yes, you can opt out of the research at any point during the study. Individuals who are selected to participate will receive information about how to opt out after they are selected.

• Who is administering DCo Thrives?

  Durham County has selected Durham Children’s Initiative to administer the DCo Thrives pilot program. Research and evaluation are being conducted by a collaborative team from Appalachian State University’s Family Economic Policy Lab and Duke University’s Office of Evaluation and Applied Research Partnership.