@TechReport{iza:izadps:dp19088, author={Kalsi, Priti and Phillips, David and Swanson, Ryan and Turner, Patrick S}, title={How Temporary Cash Transfers Affect Household Finances}, year={2026}, month={Nov}, institution={Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)}, address={Bonn}, type={IZA Discussion Paper}, number={19088}, url={https://www.iza.org/publications/dp19088}, abstract={We evaluate a guaranteed basic income experiment providing twelve monthly $500 transfers to very low-income US households. During the final month of payments, a survey index of financial distress declined by 0.18 SD, and an overall well-being index increased by 0.15 SD. By contrast, collections balances from credit reports show no change during transfers and likely increase for some recipients in the year after transfers end. These results appear to be driven by changes in financial decision-making including shifts away from informal borrowing and toward future returns.}, keywords={guaranteed basic income;unconditional cash transfers;household finance;informal borrowing;financial distress;credit outcomes;scarcity}, }