Guaranteed Income Programs

The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $7.5 million last week to establish a permanent guaranteed basic income program in Illinois’ most populous county. The decision follows a 2022–2024 pilot funded by $42 million in American Rescue Plan Act money that paid $500 per month to 3,250 households, with county-released survey results citing improved financial security and emergency resilience. Supporters called the pilot a historic success, while the Illinois Policy Institute criticized guaranteed income as reducing workforce participation.