Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP)
The Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP) provided monthly unrestricted cash payments of $750 to 180 randomly selected, income-eligible households for 18 months (October 2023-March 2025). The pilot targeted the United Way-defined 'ALICE' population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) - working households earning above the Federal Poverty Level but below the basic cost of living in Fairfax County/Virginia. It also offered optional financial wellness coaching and social-connection events. The pilot was funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and the county's Human Services Innovation Fund, and evaluated by George Mason University researchers. The program's application period is closed and there are no current plans to continue or expand it.
ALICE population, Guaranteed income, ARPA-funded, ZIP-code targeted, Random lottery, Working families, County pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Fairfax County Department of Family Services / Neighborhood and Community Services
- City
- Fairfax
- State / Province
- Virginia
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 703-324-1050
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Number of recipients
- 180
- Funding type
- Government, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 13,500 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 750 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 18 months
- Benefit details
Selected households received an unrestricted $750 cash payment each month for 18 months (originally announced as 15 months, later extended by three months), with total disbursement of $2 million across 180 families. Recipients had complete freedom to spend the funds as they chose, with no reporting requirements tied to spending. Participation also included optional financial wellness coaching (via the Financial Empowerment Center) and optional in-person/virtual social-connection events. The specific payment delivery mechanism (e.g., direct deposit vs. debit card) was not publicly specified in available sources.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to be Fairfax County residents at least 18 years old, employed, and have at least one child aged 16 or younger living in the household. Total household income had to fall between 150% and 250% of the 2023 Federal Poverty Level (e.g., $45,000-$75,000 for a family of four, scaling up to $126,400 for a family of eight), and applicants had to reside in one of ten designated ZIP codes with high concentrations of ALICE households. Households already receiving SSI or SSDI were disqualified, while undocumented residents were explicitly eligible to apply. From the eligible applicant pool, 180 households were selected via random lottery, verified by the Department of Family Services.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $126,400
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Disqualifying
- Employment status
- Employed
Geography
- US states covered
- Virginia
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Fairfax
- ZIP / postal codes covered
- 22306, 22309, 20190, 20191, 22041, 20170, 22003, 22150, 20120, 20151
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Complementary program enrollment required
- None required, optional wraparound services offered, including Financial Empowerment Center coaching, Coordinated Services Planning referrals, and Fairfax County Employment and Training Center resources.
- Research / participation requirements
Fairfax County partnered with George Mason University's Center for Social Science Research (guided by a Community Research Advisory Council) to evaluate the pilot via participant surveys, interviews, community conversations, and focus groups. Participation in interviews/focus groups was voluntary, and participants who agreed to be interviewed received additional incentive income beyond the standard monthly stipend. A final evaluation report is slated for release in January 2026.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted online (with in-person application assistance available at select county locations) during a fixed window from September 23 to October 3, 2023. The application period is now permanently closed, with no further application rounds planned.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants who resided in one of the ten target ZIP codes and met income/employment/household criteria were entered into a random lottery. The Fairfax County Department of Family Services oversaw the random selection and led verification review of the 180 selected participants.
