Press Release

Cook County Makes Guaranteed Income Permanent in 2026 Budget Proposal

10. 09. 2025

ESIL applauds Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for doubling down on nation-leading program

CHICAGO, IL – As working families struggle amidst an affordability crisis, Cook County Board President Toni 

Preckwinkle is taking bold action to make Cook County’s guaranteed income program permanent, putting money directly back in the pockets of working families. This $7.5 million investment will make the Cook County program the largest permanent program in the country at a time when families are bracing for devastating cuts from the federal government. ESIL is a proud partner with Cook County on this program and ESIL Director Sarah Saheb is a leader on the program’s advisory committee. 

“At a time when the federal government is stepping back from its responsibilities to working families, Cook County is leading the way to ensure people can afford basic necessities,” said ESIL Director Sarah Saheb. “Cook County’s guaranteed income pilot was a historic success, and we are thrilled to see Board President Toni Preckwinkle make this program permanent. ESIL looks forward to partnering on the next phase of this nation-leading program as we ensure even more money, opportunity, and freedom reach families across the county.” 

Launched in 2022, the first phase of guaranteed income in Cook County, the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, was the largest publicly funded program in the nation. With $42 million in federal funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, the two-year pilot provided monthly, no-strings-attached payments of $500 to 3,250 households. The final payments were distributed to participants in January 2025.