In a significant move aimed at supporting its lower-income residents, Cook County, Illinois, has unanimously sanctioned a plan to distribute $500 monthly to thousands of its citizens. This initiative marks a substantial commitment from the nation’s second-largest county, which is investing $7.5 million to establish a permanent guaranteed basic income program for its most financially vulnerable individuals.
This decision follows an earlier trial phase initiated in 2022, during which Cook County, alongside other local governments, experimented with similar programs funded by federal COVID-19 relief. As reported by FOX News, these early efforts were backed by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, amounting to $42 million.
These federal funds facilitated the creation of the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, specifically designed to support low-income residents and families enduring financial difficulties. The program’s pilot phase provided $500 monthly payments to 3,250 households over a two-year period, set to conclude in December 2024.
At its inception, this pilot was recognized as the largest federally funded guaranteed income initiative in the United States, underscoring Cook County’s commitment to pioneering economic support solutions for its residents.
The program provided payments of $500 to 3,250 low-income households for two years until December 2024.
The pilot was considered the largest federally funded project in the United States at the time.
Following its raging success, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to fund the permanent guaranteed income program in the 2026 fiscal year.
Funding for the program will come from the county’s equity fund and eventually may be taken from a federal pandemic fund.
Cook County Illinois announced their now permanent guarenteed basic income program
The program will provide $1,000 per month to low income households with no strings attached
Eligibility requirements and program applications have not been announced.
The director of the Economic Security Pilot, which advocates for economic equality programs and policy, praised the county for the major step toward economic equality in a statement.
‘At a time when the federal government is stepping back from its responsibilities to working families, Cook County is leading the way to ensure people can afford basic necessities,’ said Sarah Saheb.
Sahab called the pilot program a ‘historic success’.
County officials believe the permanent iteration will echo the resounding benefits of the previous pilot entity, which ended last year.
Commission President Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement: ‘We launched the Promise Pilot to test a simple but powerful idea: that direct cash support helps residents live healthier, more stable lives.
‘Now, thanks to promising early results and the dedication of our partners and participants, we are ready to take the next step.’
Previous pilot programs have provided between $500 and $1,000 to families in need
According to the Cook County American Rescue Plan, participants in the initial wave were selected in a lottery, which they had to apply for.
A report from April 2025 showed that most pilot families used their government-issued funds on necessities, including food, rent, utilities, and transportation.
Survey findings indicated that 75 percent of the families who participated in the pilot program feel more financially secure.
The vast majority used program funds to manage some financial emergency, and 70 percent reported a positive impact on their mental health.
The Cook County American Rescue Plan found that 83% of participants lived in the suburbs and 56% were working.
Cook County has approved the largest federally funded guaranteed income program in the US
One participant told the US Sun that the program felt like she had ‘jump-started adulthood.’
‘Being part of this pilot felt like something I manifested, and I’m proud that Cook County is continuing this work,’ said Promise Pilot Participant Nikita Smith Jr.
More than 100 guaranteed income programs have been tested in the United States since 2018 and have grown in popularity since the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Cook County experimented with a program that provided one-time payments of $1,000 to homeowners, according to the Chicago Crusader.
While many US counties have found them to be beneficial, some studies have suggested that the cost outweighs the benefits.
In 2024, Forbes reported that participants in guaranteed income programs do not necessarily improve their job or their health thanks to the money provided to them.
The study even suggested that offering $1,000 can lead to people working less. The outlet’s reporter called such programs ‘expensive’ and ‘inefficient.’
The Daily Mail contacted Cooke County commissioners for more information.
