The actual UBI element in Covid payments was minimal. Most of the money went into traditional unemployment benefits, which make low-income jobs unattractive by increasing the effective tax rate to something like 80% or 90%. That's one of the key issues UBI is supposed to fix.
UBI would require complete restructuring of income taxes and benefits. Everyone would receive a fixed sum every month, standard deductions and other common deductions/tax credits would go away, and you would pay something like 40-50% combined income/payroll tax for every dollar you earn.
UBI would require complete restructuring of income taxes and benefits. Everyone would receive a fixed sum every month, standard deductions and other common deductions/tax credits would go away, and you would pay something like 40-50% combined income/payroll tax for every dollar you earn.