One of The Nation's Largest Basic Income Experiments Is Now Underway

One of the largest guaranteed basic income pilots in the US has opened up applications in Illinois.

Cook County residents will be able to apply to become one of 3,250 households that will receive monthly, no-strings-attached $500 payments. The payments will last for two years. Cook County and Los Angeles County will both have programs that measure the effectiveness of basic income once the payouts begin. Future basic income frameworks on the state and federal level could be influenced by the pilots' results.

Cook County hopes the pilot can improve participants' financial and health outcomes and provide some new insights on the impacts of direct cash payments. Residents above the age of 18 with a household income of less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level are not eligible for the pilot. Cook County's program can't meet the definition of universal basic income because of the income restriction. The program is open to everyone regardless of citizenship status. Data collected during the pilot will be analyzed by researchers at the Economy Lab.

Cook County is proud to be launching the application portal for the largest publicly-funded guaranteed income pilot in American history. Nearly 34% of Cook County residents will be eligible to participate, and I encourage everyone who qualifies to apply.

There was a successful guaranteed income experiment in California last year. The program gave $500 per month to 125 people who lived in neighborhoods below the city's median income. The funds were given with no strings attached so residents could use them as they please. Researchers found that recipients found full-time employment at a higher rate than those who did not. The recipients improved their health in many ways.

"SEED gave people the dignity to make their own choices, the ability to live up to their potential and improved economic stability going into the turmoil of the Pandemic," said Michael Tubbs. Los Angeles, Oakland, and Boston have all started running their own guaranteed income trials. 1,000 L.A. Country residents are expected to receive $1,000 a month for three years.

Andrew Yang, a dark horse candidate in the last presidential election, made universal basic income the focal point of his platform, renewing interest in the idea. After failing to advance in New York's mayoral elections, Yang failed again. The interest in UBI still lives on despite the fact that Yang mostly moved on to shilling forcryptocurrencies.

Universal basic income was supported by a majority of US voters in 2020, up from the previous year. The young voters who identified as Democrats supported the poll. According to a survey conducted around the same time, a small majority of Americans oppose basic income.