Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot

The Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot provided unconditional $500 monthly cash payments to 3,250 low-to-moderate-income families in Cook County for a period of two years. The County held an open application period in October 2022, and participants were selected by lottery in November 2022.

Payments began in December 2022 and continued through January 2025.

The program was supported by funding the County received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

What's next

In April 2025, the County announced early findings from the pilot program, as well as the formation of an advisory committee to guide the County’s next phase of guaranteed income programming. Survey findings indicate significant positive impacts for participants, including:

75% reported feeling more financially secure
94% experienced a financial emergency or unexpected expense and used program funds to manage it
73% believed the payments will continue to impact them after the program ends
56% reported reduced stress
70% said the program had a positive impact on their mental health

In November 2025, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $7.5 million for guaranteed income as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget. The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development is currently at the beginning of the design stage for the next phase of guaranteed income programming, which is when details around applications, eligibility and program administration are determined. Program design is expected to be complete in late 2026.

Complete this Cook County guaranteed income programming interest form to stay informed on future program announcements.

Details are also available on the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot homepage.

Other resources

Cook County supports several programs and resources that provide relief to individuals and families facing financial hardship.

These include:

211 Metro Chicago, which is a 24/7 helpline connecting the public to resources associated with housing, utility payments and more
Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt, which offers free legal help for eviction, foreclosure and consumer debt issues
Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance, which supports tenants and housing providers/landlords across Illinois who have pending cases in eviction court (Applications open through June 22, 2026)
Com-Ed Low Income Discount Program, which helps manage energy costs
Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) Utility Bill Assistance Programs, which offer support for heating, electricity and more (Application deadlines vary)
A financial education series that helps individuals with building good credit, budgeting, debt management, saving and building wealth
Get Medicaid Facts, which helps people understand upcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility and what steps they can take now to keep their coverage
A new partnership between Project Rainbow and Grow with Google that offers scholarships for Google Career Certificates to adult learners. Resources include access to training, interview preparation and real career connections.
SNAP Benefit Changes, which provides information on the new eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)