Guaranteed income programs in Texas are not accepting applications or sending payments as of 2026. The state’s largest effort, Harris County’s Uplift Harris, was blocked by the Texas Supreme Court in June 2024 before a single payment went out and was permanently shut down in 2025. Austin’s smaller pilot finished its one-year run and has not been renewed. No new local program has launched to replace them.
Why Uplift Harris Never Paid Anyone
Harris County designed Uplift Harris to send $500 a month to 1,928 low-income households for 18 months, using American Rescue Plan Act dollars.1ABC13 Houston. Uplift Harris: Applications for Harris County Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Open Friday, Jan. 12 After Initial Delay Applications opened in January 2024, and acceptance notifications went out in March, with first payments expected in late April.2Houston Public Media. Applicants Who Were Accepted for Harris County’s Guaranteed Income Program Will Be Notified Through Friday
The Texas Attorney General sued in April 2024, arguing the program violated the Texas Constitution’s prohibition on local governments granting public money to individuals for private purposes.3The Supreme Court of Texas. Relator’s Emergency Motion for Temporary Relief On June 14, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court granted emergency relief and ordered all Uplift Harris payments prohibited pending further order.4Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Stay from Texas Supreme Court Stopping Harris County’s Unlawful “Guaranteed Income” Scheme Not a dollar was ever disbursed. Harris County later voted to reallocate the funds, and by July 2025 the county confirmed to the court the program was permanently ended.5Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Ken Paxton Defeats Harris County’s Unlawful Guaranteed Income Program
If you were accepted into Uplift Harris but never received a payment, you have no tax obligation from the program because no money changed hands.
The Austin Pilot Did Pay, and It Is Over
Austin ran its pilot through the city’s Equity Office with UpTogether and ten community organizations, enrolling 135 households for $1,000 a month over one year beginning in September 2022.6Urban Institute. Evaluation of the Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot That program ran to completion and has not been renewed.
Could a New Texas Program Launch?
Technically yes, but it’s unlikely in the near term. Four Republican-backed bills to ban guaranteed income statewide were filed in the 2025 session. Senate Bill 2010 passed the Senate and would have prohibited local governments from funding guaranteed income programs absent explicit federal authorization, with existing programs allowed to continue only until January 1, 2026.7Texas Legislature. SB 2010 Bill Analysis – Prohibition on Guaranteed Income Programs SB 2010 died in the House, and none of the four bills reached the governor.8KUT. Bills Banning Guaranteed Income Programs Fail at Texas Legislature
So there is no statewide statutory ban. What exists instead is the constitutional argument the Attorney General used against Uplift Harris, and a Texas Supreme Court that accepted it on an emergency basis. Any Texas city or county launching a new program would face the same lawsuit on day one.
If a Future Program Opens, Who Would Qualify
Both Texas pilots required applicants to live in specific zip codes identified as high-poverty or historically disinvested, and to earn below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2026 that threshold is $31,920 for an individual, rising with each additional household member.9U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines A family of four reaches the ceiling at $66,000.10HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary Applicants had to be at least 18. Some programs prioritized households with young children or facing housing instability.
Applications typically opened through an official city or county portal. You needed government-issued identification, proof of residence in a qualifying zip code such as a utility bill, lease, or voter registration, and income documentation such as pay stubs or a federal tax return. Because demand far exceeded funding, qualifying on paper never guaranteed selection. A computer-generated random lottery picked participants after the application window closed, and selected households then attended an onboarding session to choose direct deposit or a prepaid debit card.
Taxes on Payments You Received
Guaranteed income payments are taxable. The IRS defines gross income as “all income from whatever source derived,” which includes cash from a government-funded pilot the same way it includes wages or prize money.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 61 – Gross Income Defined An Austin pilot participant who received $12,000 over the year must include that amount on their federal return.
Most pilots issue a 1099 at tax time showing total payments for the calendar year. Even if no 1099 arrives, the income is still reportable. If you received Austin pilot payments and haven’t reflected them on your return, do so.
What Payments Do to SSI, SNAP, and Medicaid
The stakes here are real. Losing SSI or Medicaid can cost far more than a guaranteed income payment is worth. If a future Texas program opens and you already receive benefits, contact your local benefits office before you accept any payment.
SSI
The Social Security Administration counts nearly all cash as income for SSI. Guaranteed income payments are generally treated as unearned income, and SSI reduces benefits roughly dollar-for-dollar after a small general exclusion. A $500 monthly payment could cut an SSI check by nearly the same amount or end eligibility entirely.
SSI recipients must report any change in income to the Social Security Administration no later than 10 days after the end of the month the change occurred. Missed reports draw penalties of $25 to $100 each. Knowingly failing to report or making false statements triggers a sanction that withholds SSI payments entirely for 6 months on the first offense, 12 months on the second, and 24 months on the third.12Social Security Administration. Understanding Supplemental Security Income Reporting Responsibilities
SNAP and Medicaid
Both programs use income-based eligibility. Extra monthly cash raises countable income, which can shrink SNAP allotments or push a household over the Medicaid ceiling. Some pilots in other states have arranged waivers so guaranteed income doesn’t count against benefits, but the Texas pilots did not publicly secure that kind of blanket protection.
Where To Look for Help Right Now
With no active guaranteed income program in Texas, the standing options for low-income residents remain SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Each has its own application channel through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission or the IRS.