How steady cash payments affect adult health and wellbeing
Experimental evidence on the relationship between income and health
Researchers will give some adults regular unconditional cash payments to learn how having more steady income changes physical and mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324645 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, the program randomly assigns people either to receive ongoing cash payments or to a comparison group that does not receive those payments. The study follows adults over time, using surveys about mood, anxiety, access to care and behavior plus physical measures like blood pressure and blood tests. The intervention is run in partnership with two nonprofit organizations and includes regular follow-up to track changes in health and wellbeing. Results will compare the treated and comparison groups to understand how changes in income relate to health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 or older, especially those with financial instability or low income who live in areas served by the partnering nonprofits, are the likely candidates for participation.
Not a fit: People under 21, those who do not live in the recruitment areas or are not randomized to receive cash, and people with health problems unrelated to income are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show that providing steady cash improves mental health, reduces stress and may improve physical markers like blood pressure and blood glucose.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cash-transfer and guaranteed-income pilots have shown promising improvements in mental wellbeing and some health behaviors, but large-scale randomized evidence in the U.S. is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bartik, Alexander Wickman — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Bartik, Alexander Wickman
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.