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“give everyone $20,000 a year instead”

Needs vary over time.

NOTE: This is information only about what is done in England and is not a recommendation of mine:

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs.

To claim you must:
live in the UK
be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
be under State Pension age
have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

....

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility

You’ll get one standard allowance for your household.

Monthly standard allowance
If you’re single and under 25 £338.58
If you’re single and 25 or over £424.90
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 £528.34 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over £666.97 (for you both)

If you have children
You’ll get £303.94 a month for each child that lives with you.

If your first child was born before 6 April 2017, you’ll get an extra £47.94 a month for that child.

You get money for each child until the 31 August after their:
16th birthday
19th birthday, if they’re in eligible education or training – for example, they’re studying for GCSEs, A levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers and SVQs or NVQs up to level 3

You might get an extra monthly amount if any of your children are disabled.

You’ll either get:
£164.79 - the lower amount
£514.71 - the higher amount

The higher amount is for a child who:
gets the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
gets the higher rate of the daily living part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
is blind or severely sight impaired

Childcare costs

You can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re working. If you live with your partner both of you need to be working, unless one of you is unable to work due to a disability or health condition.

The childcare needs to be from a registered provider. You can get help paying for childcare including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after school care and holiday clubs.

The most you can get each month is:
£1,071.09 for one child
£1,836.16 for 2 or more children

You need to pay your childcare costs up front and claim the money back as part of your payment. You can get support to help you pay your childcare costs up front. Talk to your work coach after you’ve made your claim.

If you have a disability or health condition
You might get an extra monthly amount if you cannot work because of a health condition, disability or long-term illness.

If you have a severe health condition or disability that’s unlikely to change or you are nearing the end of your life £429.80
If your health condition or disability is assessed as less severe or your condition may improve over time £217.26

If you care for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit
You could get an extra amount known as a ‘carer’s element’. This is added to your Universal Credit if you care for someone who gets one of the following benefits:

Adult Disability Payment – standard or enhanced award
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care award
Constant Attendance Allowance - full day rate, intermediate rate or exceptional rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Constant Attendance Allowance - full day rate with a War Disablement Pension
Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate
Personal Independence Payment – either rate of the daily living part
You need to provide care for them for at least 35 hours a week.

You’ll get an extra monthly amount of £209.34. If you live with your partner and you both care for the same person, you’ll only get one extra monthly amount.

You may also be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

If you have over £6,000 in money, savings and investments, your payment will be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. Another £4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete £250.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get

You could get £86.45 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.

If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance