BREAKING: Cook County Launches Guaranteed Income Program Critics Say Is Ripe for Abuse

[Conservative Angle]

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Democrats in Illinois just passed a program to send out “guaranteed basic income” to anyone who needs it.

This is a separate $500 on top of already existing welfare programs, like unemployment or SNAP benefits.

But, critics are sounding the alarm, warning that programs like these are too risky.

Not only do they put a burden on the taxpayer, but they are also prone for fraud.

Watch this clip from Fox News:

Backup here, if needed:

JUST IN: Illinois Democrats are being accused of STEALING from the taxpayer after passing "guaranteed income" VERY susceptible to fraud

They're just sending money out to everyone who "needs" it.

This is a recipe for disaster.

"These programs are ON TOP of any welfare… pic.twitter.com/s86xkjabxt

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 2, 2025

JUST IN: Illinois Democrats are being accused of STEALING from the taxpayer after passing “guaranteed income” VERY susceptible to fraud

They’re just sending money out to everyone who “needs” it.

This is a recipe for disaster.

“These programs are ON TOP of any welfare programs people already receive!”

Right now, the program is launching in Cook County.

This can’t continue.

The program in Cook County, IL was piloted over the last couple of years with a few thousand families.

The Cook County website provided more information on the pilot program:

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 December 2024.

The program was supported through 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–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

Now, the county’s Board of Commissioners has approved extending the program, which will cost the taxpayer $7.5 million starting next year.

Fox News has more details:

The second-largest county in the United States has established a permanent guaranteed basic income program after the success of a previous pilot version.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $7.5 million for a permanent guaranteed basic income program last week. Chicago, the largest city in the Midwest and third-largest in the country, is the county seat for Cook County.

Cook County made headlines as it established the guaranteed basic income program after many local governments across the country launched pilot versions.

Guaranteed basic income programs have become a trend across the U.S. in recent years with more than 100 pilots launched since 2018. Mayors for Guaranteed Income grew into a coalition of 150 mayors pushing pilot programs, offering low-income participants up to $1,000 a month with no strings attached. The group has pushed pilot programs that have been adopted by municipalities across the country.

The Cook County program was launched in 2022 with the aid of federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Once the largest publicly funded program in the nation receiving $42 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot provided monthly payments of $500 to 3,250 households for two years, with no strings attached.

Economic Security Illinois Director Sarah Saheb described Cook County’s guaranteed basic income pilot as a “historic success” and said that when the federal government was “stepping back from its responsibilities to working families, Cook County is leading the way to ensure people can afford basic necessities.”

What do you think?

Do you support guaranteed basic income programs?

The post <a href=https://wltreport.com/2025/12/02/breaking-cook-county-launches-guaranteed-income-program-critics/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=breaking-cook-county-launches-guaranteed-income-program-critics target=_blank >BREAKING: Cook County Launches Guaranteed Income Program Critics Say Is Ripe for Abuse</a> appeared first on Conservative Angle | Conservative Angle - Conservative News Clearing House

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