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The Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot provides
unconditional $500 monthly cash to 3,250 low-income households
from December 2022 through December 2024. According to the
county, 58% of the program’s households include children.
The money comes from federal taxpayers via the American Rescue
Plan Act.
The county is holding a series of four Community Voices meetings
to solicit input from residents on the future distribution of
ARPA funds. The last of the meetings is scheduled on Sept. 11.
County officials also encouraged residents to complete an online
survey about ARPA funding.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle supports the
guaranteed income program.
“Decades of research shows that people spend cash benefits
wisely, leading to more financial stability as well as improved
physical, emotional and social outcomes,” Preckwinkle said in a
statement.
Lupe Castillo is the Republican candidate for Congress in
Illinois’ Fourth District. Castillo wondered who the benefactors
would be if the guaranteed-income program expands.
“We have people in our city and in our county that are coming
in. Are they going to be the ones getting into this money?”
Castillo asked.
Castillo said elderly people in Chicago are struggling.
“Senior citizens, I think, need it more than anyone else.
They’re on a fixed income, and they’re struggling to pay their
bills and trying to buy their food and trying to buy their
medicine. Who are the people that are going to be getting this
$500 every month?” Castillo asked.
Cook County is also seeking input on its Medical Debt Relief
Initiative, which is also funded by ARPA money from federal
taxpayers.
Castillo said the debt-relief money should not go to everyone
and anyone who asks for it.
“Yes, people are on Medicare. Once again, I’m sorry to sound
like I’m one-sided on the elderly, but I see them struggling,”
Castillo said.
Federal taxpayers are not the only ones covering medical debt in
Illinois.
Earlier this year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 5290,
which dedicated approximately $10 million of state taxpayers’
money to purchase outstanding medical debt, with the goal of
erasing nearly $1 billion of medical debt.
The governor tweeted this week that “Illinois is erasing nearly
$1 billion of medical debt for our residents. And we’re making
sure it’s not included on your credit report.”
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