What difference would our new proposals for a Basic Income style payment make to workers’ lives?

At the RSA we are firmly committed to not just thinking about solutions to problems in the world, but to actively testing these ideas out in reality - it’s why we strongly focus on the role of action research rather than simply producing abstract reports. Our new report, exploring the idea of a UK Basic Opportunity Fund (UBOF) as a step towards a universal basic income, is a key example of this.

The idea is that a fund should be established with an endowment from Government, invested (partly in infrastructure projects), and used to provide two years of a Basic Opportunity Dividend worth £5,000 per annum for each recipient. The funds would be available to people for ten years. The aim is to both enhance economic security and promote economic mobility.   

The UBOF not only builds upon our other work on economic insecurity and the future of work; is also designed to be tested in reality in regards to the impact it would have on real people.  As a starting point, we have outlined a number of examples of how this might provide opportunity for people in different situations.  The case studies below are fictionalised accounts that consider what the basic opportunity dividend might mean, and offer ideas of where our initial efforts in developing the UBOF could be located. (They are adapted from  Thriving, striving, or just about surviving? Seven portraits of economic security and modern work in the UK).

Flexi-worker - Martin, 44

Martin left his job in the public sector around three and a half years ago to start his own business as a self-employed photographer. When Martin was first starting out on his own, he and his partner suffered the loss of their first baby soon after childbirth, which made him more aware of the safety net he had given up when he transitioned away from being an employee.

It was at this point that he decided to take his basic opportunity dividend. There would have been no paid parental or compassionate leave without it and he couldn’t afford to take time out, so would have had to return to work straight away. However, the £5000 each that he and his partner were able to draw down have given them breathing space and enabled Martin to build his business through a difficult time. The support he was able access through the Universal Basic Opportunity Fund helped them get over a trauma and put their household finances on a more stable setting – ultimately paying more in tax in the medium term in the process.

Steady Stater - Kathryn, 35

Kathryn has been working in local government for the past 19 years. Kathryn’s job on a day-to-day basis involves making calls to follow up with local residents who are in arrears, to work out a way of collecting the council tax owed. While these calls are routine, every day feels different because her interactions with residents will vary. Kathryn regularly feels a sense of accomplishment, especially when she is able to make contact with residents that have been difficult to reach and to support them onto repayment plans.

Recently, the Council has become a verified provider of the Basic opportu­nity dividend. And it has linked the payment to a ‘work security’ scheme. To residents struggling with their rent, she can help them claim the basic opportunity dividend, take them off Universal Credit temporarily, provide them with access to support for basic skills needed in more secure work sectors including care work, and give them some breathing space. Support of £5000 per member of a household per year for up to two years in ten makes skills development, the management of household finances and obtaining more regular hours on decent pay more likely. It’s a helping hand as Kathryn sees it.

Striver - Adam, 23

After finishing his A-levels, Adam decided to find a job rather than go to university or college. He first started working in a bank, progressing from frontline roles in customer service to an analyst of mobile banking. Around two and a half years ago, he began working for a railway company managing trains. He was drawn to the job because of the employment benefits and opportunity to travel for work.

While he’s not worried about job security right now, he recognises it may be an issue in future, particularly through automation. He comes across a transporta­tion planning apprenticeship – it offers new career opportunities, but pays less in the meantime.  He phones up to enquire about it and is reminded that the Basic Opportunity Fund can help support him while he re-trains. It makes the difference - just a few extra grand a year for a couple of years, and though it’s a three year apprenticeship, that makes it doable as far as Adam is concerned.

High Flyer - Alan, mid-40s

Alan works for a small business specialising in computer sales. He was attracted to the job because of the financial incentive and the opportunity to travel. Alan enjoys a high degree of autonomy in his job, which he values more at this stage in his career. To Alan, having autonomy in work means having independence.  

Alan decides that it’s time to set up on his own despite the fact that he is supported in his current role. He goes to see a local business adviser who discusses how Alan can use the Basic Opportunity Fund as venture capital - to support his family during an inevitable decline of earnings for a couple of years. The financial support also comes with business advice and support funded by the local LEP (local enterprise partnership). Alan knows that he’ll have to pay a bit more tax as a higher rate tax payer once the two years is up until the basic opportunity dividend is paid back - much like he had to do to pay back his student loans. He’s fine with that. This support makes all the difference while he’s building his new business from the ground up.

Chronically Precarious – Kafui, 34

Kafui works for a clothing and jewellery store in one of London’s busy train stations, despite having a degree. Kafui is on a permanent contract, and is paid an hourly wage of £8.30. There are no bonuses or commissions for sales, and staff are expected to regularly purchase discounted clothing to wear to work in an attempt to attract customers.

She looks to balance her hours alongside responsibilities for caring for her child. However, this flexibility and reduced income leaves her strug­gling to pay the bills, and carrying worries over the economic security of her family. As the sole breadwinner she is responsible for all income, and so variances in her wages can have a huge impact.

Kafui has decided to take her opportunity dividend in order to take up the chance to pursue a Masters. This would allow her to seek new opportunities, particularly as her daughter is getting older. She can continue to work at the store during her studies, with the dividend providing her with greater security and flex­ibility during that period, allowing her to blend studying with fewer hours and more time to fulfil her childcare responsibilities. She sees the dividend period enabling her to transition into a higher earning position, with benefits for her and her family in terms of economic security and mental wellbeing.

Acutely Precarious – Polly, 23

As a care worker, Polly rises early to make it to her first call at 7am. She helps clients wash, dress and take their medication in the mornings and then squeezes in some paperwork before heading home for a break at noon. She eats her dinner and then returns for a second shift from 4pm to 10pm, although she’ll often clock out later. She has been in the job for a year and a half and feels passionate about the work.

Polly is recognised for doing her job well; she has been asked to train new recruits and has been given the opportunity to undertake a paid NVQ in health and social care. She is on a minimum wage and is the sole breadwinner; her partner is waiting for a disability living allowance, but is unsure if it will be granted, so they rely on her income to make a living.

When Polly is at work, she is required to complete her calls, and thus her tasks, within a certain amount of time. She finds that the time constraints are unrealistic, however, and often finishes late. There isn’t enough support from management, nor respect for her time.

Polly uses her opportunity dividend to provide her with basic security as she looks to find a new workplace that is more rewarding, supportive and economically secure. The dividend also allows her additional finances while she completes her NVQ, and support while her partner waits for the decision on their disability allowance. The dividend can smooth the transition process into a new workplace where her skills are better recognised and rewarded, and give her the confidence to make use of what she has achieved in her career and studies. She expects to make a greater contribu­tion, with less stress and earn more in the process.

These are some of the examples of where we feel the UBOF could bring great economic security and better work to the lives of people in the UK.  Through the work we are doing in these areas across the world, we will look to explore these examples in practice and to reflect on the impact that can be made.  We would welcome your thoughts on our case studies, particularly in relation to your own experiences of the different portraits, so that together we can respond to the challenges, and opportunities, many of our citizens face.

Jamie Cooke is Head of RSA Scotland.  You can follow him on Twitter @JamieACooke or share your ideas and experiences with him at jamie.cooke@rsa.org.uk

• Download 'Pathways to a Universal Basic Income' (PDF, 1MB)

• Read the report online (on Medium)