Chicago has unveiled the largest guaranteed income program in the nation.
Chicago has just started the nation's largest guaranteed basic income pilot program, according to officials, and has therefore taken the lead in the fight for universal
basic income.Up to 3,250 qualified residents will receive $500 per month in financial assistance from the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot for a
period of two years.Chicago residents can start applying for the program on Thursday and continue until October 21. Payments are expected to start in December.
The following requirements must be met by applicants: they must reside in Cook County, be at least 18 years old, not be enrolled in another program that provides
guaranteed income, and have a household income that is at or below 250% of the federal poverty threshold.
Citizenship or immigration status verification questions won't be included in the application process. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement:
"After months of hard work, Cook County is thrilled to be unveiling the application site for the largest publicly-funded guaranteed income experiment in American history."
The Cook County initiative launches as the city of Chicago starts distributing $500 checks to 5,000 households chosen for its own financial aid program.
In an effort to aid locals in recovering economically from the epidemic,
the city's Department of Family and Support Services has committed $31.5 million to the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot.