To help citizens cope with rising fuel prices, the city of Chicago will soon offer stimulus checks to low-income residents. These stimulus checks from Chicago will be in the form of pre-paid gas cards and transit cards. Eligible residents will get either a $150 prepaid gas card or a $50 transit card.
Stimulus Checks From Chicago: Who Will Get Them?
The stimulus checks from Chicago are part of the Chicago Moves program, which was approved by the City Council by a very thin margin (26-23) on April 27. Under the program, the city will send out 50,000 gas cards preloaded with $150 each and 100,000 transit cards preloaded with $50 each.
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“Chicago Moves is a financial assistance program providing $12.5 million in transportation relief to Chicagoans in need,” the program’s website says.
About 75% of these cards will go to the lower-income communities or the residents in community areas facing higher mobility hardships. The remaining will go to eligible recipients across the rest of the city.
Recipients of gas cards will be able to use them at stations within the City of Chicago. The transit cards are usable at Ventra vending machines in CTA stations, Ventra retail locations, or on the Ventra website or mobile app.
How To Apply For The Chicago Moves Program
Authorities have started accepting applications for the Chicago Moves program from April 27. Those who meet the requirements will be entered into a lottery. The state will use the lottery to determine the recipients who will get the cards between May and September.
To be considered for the stimulus checks from Chicago, an applicant needs to be a resident of Chicago, be at least 18 years old, and have a household income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income.
Additionally, those applying for the gas card need to have a current and valid city sticker with accurate mailing information for their vehicle. The lottery will be conducted in the second week of May, June, July, August and September.
“To be considered for each month’s lottery, applications must be submitted by the first day of that month,” the program’s website says. “If you are not selected in the month's drawing you are automatically entered into the next. Only one application will be accepted.”
You can apply for the lottery online at the Chicago.gov/ChicagoMoves website, or in person at any Chicago Public Library location. You can also mail your application (ATTN: Dept. of Finance: Chicago Moves, 121 N. Lasalle St., Floor 7).
Those who are selected for the gas or public transit card will be notified by email. Selected recipients will get the card by mail, or they can collect it from City Hall. Applicants need to specify their preferred delivery method when completing the application.
