According to the State of California Franchise Tax Board’s official website, there’s a Stimulus Check program in one US state aimed as low-income, economically vulnerable families. The program, which some people may not even be aware exists, is aimed at enhancing child and family well-being, and if it’s successful in achieving its objectives, similar programs will likely be run on a larger scale in the future.
Stimulus Check pilot program targets low-income families in 1 county of 1 state
There are many stimulus programs run across the United States that target residents of a specific state or country. California has one of these in operation as a pilot project and it’s intended to mitigate economic pressure on families who are struggling under the burden of limited income and the rising costs of living due to inflation.
Sacramento has its vulnerable families’ best interests at heart
The initiative was launched in December 2024 to reduce economic inequality and improve child welfare in vulnerable families. The initiative is currently being updated after an evaluation of the three months it’s been in operation.
The families who benefit were selected by lottery after the applications closed on October 13, 2024. A new application period may open in the future and information about this will be released via official state channels.
This program is called the Sacramento Family First Economic Support Pilot (FFESP) and it sees qualifying families receiving a Stimulus Check of $725 each month. The pilot program identified 200 beneficiary families and the payments are scheduled to run for a year with the last check going out on November 15, 2025.
What’s happening with the FFESP payment schedule?
The fourth $725 payment for March was supposed to be processed on March 15, but there’s been a delay and the Sacramento Family First schedule is being updated. This has not been finalized yet, so beneficiaries of the FFESP program will need to be patient while they wait for their Stimulus Checks for March.
Sacramento County spokeswoman Macy Obernuefemann explained:
“The Sacramento County Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services is working alongside its community partners on updating and expanding the Family Economic Support Pilot Program, as well as reviewing the payment schedule. The program is currently in the process of being updated and there is no payment schedule available at this time.”
While the initiative strives to remain operational, the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services echoed the message without providing any further clarity to the families relying on these funds to cover their basic living expenses for the month ahead:
“The Family First Economic Support pilot program is in the process of being updated. More information will be available soon.”
It’s expected that an update will be issued soon, so recipients waiting for payment can follow the official channels for news on the revised payment date and the future of the program.
Eligibility criteria for the Sacramento Family First Economic Support Pilot
These are the criteria whereby families in Sacramento state, California, were assessed to qualify for the FFESP financial support initiative:
- Zip code: Qualifying families have to reside at an address that falls under one of the following zip codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95828, or 95838.
- Children in the household: Each qualifying family must have at least one child member between the ages of birth and five years old.
- Demographics: The family must belong to one of the following demographic groups: African American, American Indian, or Native American.
- Income level: The family’s annual income must not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For example, this works out to an earning limit of $60,000 per family of four.
If you do not qualify for the FFESP, you could try applying for the Recovery Rebate Credit if you didn’t claim it in your 2021 tax return in the 2022 tax season.