by Tyler Prochazka | Aug 10, 2025

The possible future of social welfare took center stage with the premiere of a new documentary from UBI Taiwan. The film, which played to a sold-out crowd, chronicles the life of a single mother, Ms. Yu, who received unconditional financial support for two years.

The documentary, which premiered August 3 after three years of production, explores how a guaranteed income, free from work requirements or bureaucratic hurdles, shaped Ms. Yu’s choices, well-being, and aspirations. At the start of the film, she is navigating the challenges of raising her son while struggling with Taiwan’s complex social welfare system. 

The first phase of UBI Taiwan’s pilot program provided her with NT$10,000 ($300 USD) a month for one year.

With the basic income, Ms. Yu purchased a study desk for her son and found a more suitable job. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few months into the pilot. The basic income payments became a lifeline during her treatment.

“In one of the most difficult times in my life, I was lucky to encounter UBI Taiwan,” Ms. Yu said. “I felt I needed to participate (in the pilot) to help me survive.”

Following her diagnosis, UBI Taiwan successfully fundraised to extend her basic income for a second year at NT$5,000 ($150 USD) a month, a period which concluded this month. Inspired by her experience, Ms. Yu became an advocate for the policy. 

“The experiment changed my life, and I hope to become a part of the effort to promote this idea,” she said.

Founded by a coalition of local activists, academics, and international policy experts, UBI Taiwan is a non-profit organization with the mission to research basic income as a solution to economic inequality and welfare inefficiencies.

“We hope this film can be a mirror to what society could look like if everyone had the security to breathe, to dream, and to rebuild,” said Tyler Prochazka, founder of UBI Taiwan, during a post-screening discussion.

The organization has launched a series of public campaigns since its founding, positioning Taiwan as an emerging voice in the global UBI debate. BIEN’s Chairman Dr. Sarath Davala said UBI Taiwan’s pilot program is important to “demonstrate that basic income works in reality.”

“Pilots interrogate the existing welfare system and the inadequacies of the existing welfare system,” Davala said.

Social entrepreneur Wu Yende added a philosophical perspective in the film: “Humanity’s problem today isn’t whether we produce enough. It’s how we distribute it.”

The premiere comes as UBI Taiwan prepares to present its findings at BIEN’s annual congress in Brazil later this month. The organization is also planning a second, expanded phase of its pilot program and is calling for a broader legislative conversation around basic income, particularly as Taiwan prepares for its second universal cash payment.

“This documentary represents just one stage of our broader journey,” said Jiakuan Su, UBI Taiwan’s chairman.

Leading up to the premiere, UBI Taiwan ran a social media campaign titled “Life should be like this ___” (生活，本該如此 ___), inviting the public to fill in the blank by imagining a life free from financial precarity.

The film ends on a similar, thought-provoking note, leaving the audience with a question: If your basic needs were covered, what would your life become?

For more information, visit: 🔗 UBI Taiwan Official Website

Written by: Kai Lechman-Su and Tyler Prochazka