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. First payments began in December 2022 and payments continued through December 2024.

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

For more information, visit the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot homepage.

In April 2025, the County announced early findings from the pilot program--and announced 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 percent reported feeling more financially secure
• 94 percent experienced a financial emergency or unexpected expense and used program funds to manage it
• 73 percent believed the payments will continue to impact them after the program ends
• 56 percent reported reduced stress
• 70 percent said the program had a positive impact on their mental health

Learn more in this press release.

Questions?

For more information, email Cook County Bureau of Economic Development public relations specialist Kyle Garmes at kyle.garmes@cookcountyil.gov.