Since June, California’s Family First Economic Support Pilot Program has began sending out $725 monthly payments to selected families. This program aims to test the effectiveness of a guaranteed income model, unlike the one-time stimulus checks. Over the course of the next year, eligible families are expected to receive a monthly cash boost to help cover daily expenses.
Who is Eligible and How to Claim
Applicants must live in specific Sacramento ZIP Codes 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, and 95838. Also, Sacramento residents must meet certain income thresholds of below 200% of the federal poverty line. Most notably, the applicants must be a parent or guardian of a child below the age of five. Interested families who meet the stated criteria can visit the Sacramento County social services website to obtain application information. Upon approval, recipients will receive $725 payments monthly until 2026.
Additional Services
The Family First Pilot goes beyond cash payments. Participating families receive the additional services of budget counseling, access to community resource groups, and attendance at financial wellness webinars. These comprehensive services are aimed at helping parents better utilize the funds and to promote long-term self-sufficiency.
Sacramento County officials are hoping that the combination of monthly payments and educational tools will have more effective and lasting results than cash payments by themselves.
If this pilot is successful in improving participants’ financial health and spending stabilization, California may increase guaranteed income opportunities across the state. Information collected over the next year will be vital in shaping California’s social policies in the coming years. Other states are also in a waiting period, as several regions are considering similar pilots to aid families and individuals. As California seeks to validate this approach, the state may create a new model for social assistance—one that blends regular cash payments with robust financial education.
