India, Dec. 1 -- In a significant step forward for social policy in the United States, one of the country's most populated states has expanded a pandemic relief pilot program into a long-term financial support plan. This decision ensures that thousands of individuals with low and moderate incomes will continue to receive direct economic assistance to meet their basic requirements, setting a precedent for how local governments address economic insecurity.

Cook County, Illinois, the second-largest county in the US and home to the city of Chicago, has taken a historic step by making its Guaranteed Income trial program a permanent endeavor. This program was first started in 2022 with $42 million from federal COVID-19 relief monies. Due to th...