Cook County, which includes Chicago, has made its guaranteed minimum income permanent [View all]
Source: Business Insider
Nov 22, 2025, 3:47 PM ET
Many American cities and counties have been experimenting with a novel concept: Giving financially vulnerable residents free money every month without expecting anything in return. The goal is to let those people decide for themselves how best to spend the extra cash, rather than requiring them to spend it on certain kinds of food or other necessities.
When those programs end, many report largely positive results. Few, however, are ever made permanent. Cook County in Illinois, which includes Chicago, is now an exception.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026 budget proposal on Thursday, and it includes $7.5 million for a guaranteed basic income program. Cook County had earlier run a basic income experiment for two years. It provided $500 a month to 3,200 households during that time. The last payment went out in January.
"The County will invest $7.5 million to continue supporting the Guaranteed Income program, providing direct unconditional monetary support to help residents live healthier and more stable lives," the county's now-approved budget proposal says.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-cook-county-illinois-chicago-ubi-2025-11
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