Inside Stimulus Check Lottery where 200,000 desperate Americans are hoping for $500 a month in cash – are you one of the lucky few?

MORE than 180,000 cash-strapped Americans frantically filed applications for a guaranteed income program that would earn them $500 monthly checks for two years.

But desperate applicants in Cook County, Illinois had to wait, and thousands were left disappointed as just 3,250 people were randomly selected for the money in a lottery.

1

The lucky ones benefit as residents can spend the money as they please and do not have to pay taxes on it.

Cook County is not the only guaranteed income program that offers a lottery selection process.

In fact, officials in Alexandria, Virginia, revealed that around 4,000 people applied for a program that would see 175 families receive $500 in recurring payments.

Monthly checks in Cook County are mailed to adults whose income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty line.

For a single person, the threshold is $33,975 per year.

The application process ended in October, which meant thousands had to wait in agony.

George Hicks, 70, said that Chicago Sun Times at the time he would use the money to pay his bills and keep his car in good shape.

But he accepted that the chances of being selected were slim.

He revealed that if he wasn’t singled out for the money, he would live “day by day.”

Luz Maria Corcoles, 74, said she would use the $500 monthly payment to make repairs to her home.

She told the Sun-Times that she is looking into ways to keep the cold air from entering her property.

She said, “I can’t buy new windows; they’re expensive and I can’t afford them. I have to find a way to improve things.”

Officials planned to contact the successful candidates by mid-November, and most will receive their first check next month.

The first payment will be made to all 3,250 people by the end of January at the latest.

Officials have said the successful applicants will not have to pay taxes on the cash.

HELPING HAND

Guaranteed income schemes have been rolled out across the country as city officials look for ways to help struggling citizens amid inflation and the cost of living crisis.

More than 170 people in Alexandria will pocket $500 in monthly payments for two years starting in January.

Funds are awarded to struggling residents as part of the city DEVELOP Program.

So said Canek Aguirre, Councilor of the City of Alexandria 7News: “As the saying goes, ARISE, we try to lift people up.”

Officials announced that a total of about 4,000 applications were submitted.

And they said that the successful candidates will be notified by email, SMS or phone.

Bosses warned that Americans who don’t hear about their applicant should assume they’re missing out on the money.

And 3,000 cash-strapped Americans in Madison, Wisconsin, applied to receive $500 monthly payments for 12 months.

However, only 155 people were randomly selected from the candidate pool.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said: “A guaranteed income could open so many doors for people facing turbulent times.

I hope that a growing group of mayors will lead the way in educating people about the concept and get involved in pilot programs to show that households are making really smart choices and are best positioned to find their way out of poverty. “