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Those who are eligible can receive monthly payments of $500 for 12 months from a $32 million fund.
The Chicago Resilient Communities Guaranteed Income Pilot launched in April 2022 to help low-income families through payments of $500 per month.
5,000 residents were selected to receive annual payments from the program that lasted until 2023.
In April of this year, the city’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, announced that an additional US$32 million would be invested in the guaranteed income program, for NBC.
The additional investment results from Chicago’s need to spend the $576 million the city received from the federal government.
Chicago received money from the American Rescue Plan Act that Joe Biden signed into law in 2021, an economic stimulus bill aimed at facilitating recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
If the city is unable to spend the money soon, it will be returned to the federal government.
“When I took office, I wanted to ensure that the money the city received from the federal government was used to help communities most impacted by the pandemic and the many long-standing inequities it has exacerbated,” Johnson said.
“My administration has developed a plan to ensure these funds are used strategically to directly and concretely impact the lives of people in Chicago.”
Applicants to the initial program had to meet four eligibility requirements:
- Reside in Chicago.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- They experienced economic difficulties related to the pandemic.
- Have a family income equal to or less than 250% of the federal poverty line.
The reopening date for registration is not yet known, but residents can read more about the program on the website pilot website.
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Those who are eligible can receive a payment from the Boulder, Colorado Food Tax Reduction Program.
The program is offering $104 to individuals and $318 to families in tax relief.
The city is refunding its residents some of the money they paid in city sales taxes on groceries.
How does Guaranteed Income work?
The Guaranteed Income and Universal Basic Income programs have gained popularity recently.
After the Biden administration’s 2021 American Rescue Plan sent stimulus money to local governments, dozens began testing guaranteed income (GI) systems.
The specifics vary, but GI typically involves payments to people with low incomes. Unlike traditional welfare, there are no work requirements, drug tests, or other restrictions.
Some have advocated for a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which would go to everyone regardless of how much money they earn at work. Alaska has used a similar system since the 1970s.
Proponents say this alleviates poverty while encouraging work, unlike classic welfare, which cuts benefits to people who start earning “too much” money to qualify.
Opponents argue that such a system is too expensive to operate on a large scale and suggest that Americans should avoid becoming dependent on government money.
With some cities touting the success of GI programs, some Republican-led states have taken steps to ban them. States like Texas and Iowa, for example, undermined major spending plans by pushing against GI.
There are three eligibility criteria to qualify for the payment:
- Submit an application form and meet financial eligibility requirements.
- I lived in Boulder for all of 2023.
- Be at least 62 years old for the entire 2023 calendar year, OR a person with a disability, OR a family with children under 18 in the household for the entire 2023 calendar year.
Registration opened on March 1, 2024 and closed on June 30, 2024.
Residents can learn more about the program or apply online at the website city website.
In related news, Americans can still receive a $1,400 payment from the IRS if they meet three criteria.
Additionally, the deadline has been extended for Americans to receive payment on a $181 million chicken settlement.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
