Who Qualifies for the First Permanent U.S. Guaranteed Income Program Offering $500 a Month?
- Author: Leo Olson
- Posted: 2025-12-04
Cook County, Illinois, is officially the first place in the United States to make a guaranteed income program permanent, marking a major shift in how local governments support working families.
After a successful pilot funded with $42 million in federal pandemic aid, county commissioners voted last week to allocate $7.5 million in the 2026 budget to keep the initiative going for years to come.
The decision instantly puts Cook County at the center of the national conversation around guaranteed income, a model that provides recurring cash payments to help households stay afloat without requiring specific work, training, or spending conditions.
What Is the Guaranteed Income Program?
Guaranteed income is a policy approach where governments or nonprofits give individuals direct, no-strings-attached monthly payments — typically aimed at low- or middle-income households.
Families receive a predictable amount of money (often $500 to $1,000) that they can use on whatever they need most: food, rent, utilities, transportation, medical costs, or emergencies.
Cook County’s program became one of the country’s largest after its 2022–2023 pilot, delivering $500 a month to 3,250 households across the region.
Who Is Eligible for the Permanent Program?
While updated eligibility rules tied to the new $7.5 million expansion will be released soon, Cook County leaders say the permanent version is expected to follow the same framework as the pilot.
Based on the original rules, the program targeted:
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Low- and middle-income Cook County residents
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Households facing financial hardship
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Individuals struggling with rising costs for food, rent, childcare, and transportation
Feedback from the pilot drove the decision to lock in the program’s future. According to a survey by Economic Security Illinois:
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75% of participants said they felt more financially secure
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94% used the money to cover urgent financial emergencies
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Families reported better mental health, lower stress, and improved stability
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Most used the monthly payments for essential needs — especially food, rent, utilities, and transportation
These improvements, county officials say, justified transitioning the program from temporary aid into a long-term economic support tool.
How Much Will Participants Receive?
The guaranteed income amount remains the same:
$500 per month, no conditions attached.
The new budget ensures the county can continue serving thousands of households, though the exact number of available slots will depend on final program design and cost distribution.
Full program details, including future application windows, are expected to be released as Cook County finalizes its 2026 rollout plan.
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