09/01/2022
Summary:
- The Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot was developed to benefit low-income Chicago residents and families facing economic hardship caused by COVID-19. This manual release will provide clarification on how these payments may affect eligibility for benefits.
- Households who participate in the pilot will receive a cash payment of $500 a month for 12 months to provide economic stability.
- Due to Public Act 101-0415, and the Chicago Recovery Plan, money received from the Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot will be considered exempt for Cash, SNAP and medical eligibility.
Public Act 101-0415 allows financial assistance, wages, cash transfers, and gifts that are provided to an individual enrolled in a program or research project whose purpose is to investigate the impacts of policies or programs designed to reduce poverty, promote social mobility, or increase financial stability for Illinois residents to be excluded for the purposes of determining eligibility and benefit levels for public assistance wherever allowed by federal law.
Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot
The Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot is a pilot program being conducted by the City of Chicago, the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) and the Inclusive Economy Lab at the University of Chicago.
The Pilot is designed is help support 5,000 low-income households by issuing a payment of $500 per month for 12 months to provide additional economic stability.
To participate in the lottery, residents must live in the City of Chicago, be 18 years or older, have experienced economic hardship related to COVID-19, and have a household income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Cash/SNAP/Medical
Verification is required for those receiving or applying for Cash, SNAP and medical. The cash payment received from the Pilot is considered exempt unearned income for the purposes of determining Cash, SNAP, medical eligibility. The Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot is not considered to be a Work and Training program.
IES
When entering income received from the Chicago Resilient Communities Income Pilot in IES, workers should select Other Exempt as the unearned income type on the Unearned Income-Details page. Document in Case Comments the unearned income received and that it is exempt.
Manual Revisions
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Theresa Eagleson
Director, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
