Fairfax County To Provide Monthly $750 Economic Mobility Payments To Eligible Residents

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County is launching a new program that will provide a guaranteed monthly payment of $750 to eligible families as a way to address racial and social inequality.

The monthly payment will be provided to 180 eligible, randomly selected families for 15 months. The application portal for families to apply for the guaranteed monthly payment will be open from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3.

Participants in the Economic Mobility Pilot will be allowed to spend the $750 on whatever they want, Fairfax County said. They will also have the opportunity to receive financial coaching and expand their social networks through virtual or in-person events.

The Economic Mobility Pilot is funded by Fairfax County’s general fund, along with American Recovery Plan Act, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Fairfax County also said it exploring whether to seek philanthropic donations to the Economic Mobility Pilot.

“While Fairfax County is a great place to live, work, learn and play, persistent racial and social inequities remain, which result in significant disparities in community outcomes,” the county said Friday.

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The economic mobility strategy is grounded in the idea that “when every resident has the opportunity to reach their full potential, the entire community benefits,” the county said.

The City of Alexandria started a similar pilot program earlier this year. The Alexandria Recurring Income for Success and Equity program, also known as ARISE, is giving 170 selected participants $500 a month for 24 months.

Fairfax County said it has designed the pilot to focus on households that earn too much income to be eligible for assistance programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but are struggling to make ends meet or are unable to take financial steps that would allow for economic mobility.

Applicants must be employed, have at least one child aged 16 or younger living in the household, and have an income that falls between 150 percent and 250 percent of the 2023 federal poverty level.

In order to be eligible, applicants also must live in one of these ZIP codes: 22306, 22309, 20190, 20191, 22041, 20170, 22003, 22150, 20120 or 20151.

Documentation will be required to confirm identity, neighborhood within the identified ZIP codes, household income, employment, and at least one child 16 years old or younger in the household.

The Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot application portal will open on Saturday, Sept. 23 at midnight. The application portal will close on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Before the application period begins, the county said it will provide a list of locations where residents can get in-person application assistance. Residents can call 703-324-1050 to learn more about the pilot.

Applications must be submitted electronically. No paper applications will be allowed. All documents can be uploaded as photos. Applicants can use Google Translate to translate the application into most languages. Residents are also encouraged to visit their local Fairfax County Public Library to access computers and Wi-Fi.

Selected applicants will receive notification via email or text confirming their selection in the Economic Mobility Pilot. The monthly $750 payments will be received in the method chosen by the applicant during the application process.

Fairfax County said it will use the findings from the pilot program to understand how the cash assistance impacted the participants' lives and whether to continue or expand the program.