Upward Mobility Act of 2026

The Upward Mobility Act of 2026 would establish a 5-year pilot program allowing up to 5 states to consolidate multiple antipoverty programs - including SNAP, TANF, child care assistance, housing benefits, and energy assistance - into a single grant. States would design new benefit structures that reduce "benefit cliffs" (where increased earnings lead to loss of benefits) to improve employment outcomes and reduce reliance on direct assistance. The bill requires states to measure outcomes like employment rates, earnings, and reduced dependence on benefits using third-party evaluations, with participants not receiving additional benefits outside the pilot. States would receive grants based on previous funding from these programs, while maintaining emergency contingency funds for crisis periods.