Guaranteed Income Financial Treatment Trial (GIFTT)
The Guaranteed Income Financial Treatment Trial (GIFTT), also published in the academic literature as the GIFT Trial, is a randomized controlled trial pairing oncology financial navigation with guaranteed income for low-income cancer patients in active treatment. Humanity Forward Foundation administers the guaranteed income payments and benefits counseling, while the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice (Center for Guaranteed Income Research) recruits participants and conducts the evaluation. The trial operates under a cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration, which waives certain SSI income and resource rules so participants can receive cash assistance without jeopardizing existing benefits. The guaranteed income payments are funded by the One Family Foundation/Social Impact Fund and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Treatment sites include the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health, with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia also listed as a partner.
Cancer, Financial Toxicity, Oncology, Medicaid, SSI Benefits Waiver, Philadelphia, Health Equity
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Humanity Forward Foundation
- City
- Washington
- State / Province
- District of Columbia
- Country
- United States
Contact
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 600
- Funding type
- Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid/Reloadable Debit Card
- Benefit details
Participants randomized to the intervention arm receive unconditional monthly cash payments of $1,000 for 12 months via a reloadable Usio, Inc. prepaid debit card, alongside financial navigation and benefits counseling; funds can be used for any purpose. A 2025 program description from Penn's Center for Cancer Care Innovation describes a later trial phase with payments ranging from $500-$1,000/month compared against a one-time restricted-use grant for the control group, differing somewhat from the original $1,000/month vs. treatment-as-usual design. If a participant dies or enters a nursing facility before the 12-month period ends, remaining payments can transfer to a designated beneficiary. Participants also receive $30-$50 incentives for each completed research survey (financial toxicity, quality-of-life, and treatment-adherence measures at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants are adults (18+) with newly diagnosed or recurrent advanced (Stage 3-4) cancer receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation (or within 12 months of systemic therapy) at a partner cancer center, with an ECOG performance status of 1-2, who are not eligible for hospice. Income eligibility is verified via Pennsylvania Medicaid beneficiary status (household income roughly under 133%-250% of the Federal Poverty Line depending on disability status), while the Social Security Administration's official notice separately describes an income cutoff at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. Contrary to a purely 'treatment-site-based, not residency-based' framing, verified sources indicate participants must also reside in specific Pennsylvania or New Jersey counties (or be a Pennsylvania resident per the published trial protocol) in addition to receiving treatment at an eligible hospital. Applicants must be able to communicate in English, Spanish, or Mandarin and provide informed consent.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Language
- English, Spanish, Mandarin
Health
- Health conditions
- Advanced cancer (Stage 3-4), in active chemotherapy/immunotherapy/radiation treatment or within 12 months of systemic therapy
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $75,000
Geography
- US states covered
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Berks, Lancaster, Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton (Pennsylvania), Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Mercer, Hunterdon, Warren (New Jersey)
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Financial navigation/benefits counseling (Family Reach Financial Treatment Program), referral to hospital social worker or financial advocate
- Research / participation requirements
The trial is managed by the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice (Center for Guaranteed Income Research) in partnership with Humanity Forward Foundation, under a cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration. Participants complete online surveys at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months measuring financial toxicity (COST), quality of life (SF-36/FACT-G), treatment adherence, anxiety/depression (HADS), food insecurity, and housing instability. Social Security Administration records are used to track mortality, earnings, and disability benefits outcomes at 2, 3, and 5 years post-enrollment. Findings are intended to inform Social Security Administration policy on SSI/guaranteed income interactions for people with cancer.
Application Process
- How to apply
There is no public/self-service application; eligible patients are identified and approached by research staff through their treating hospital's electronic health record and clinic appointments at the Abramson Cancer Center (Penn Medicine) or Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (Jefferson Health), then asked to complete informed consent and a baseline survey.
- Selection process
Eligible, consenting patients are randomized using a computer-generated randomization schedule (approximately 1 intervention : 1.5 control ratio, stratified by age and recruitment site) to either the guaranteed income intervention arm or the treatment-as-usual/control arm.
