Many people await every month for their payment checks to arrive, especially for those who are living in a difficult situation at home. In this context, there are different payments aimed to help, or at least to alleviate, the financial situations of many families. In this case, we are talking about the SNAP program, as you know, this is a program that ensures that people in need could have easy access to fresh food.
This month, many families from California are going to receive an extra payment of $725. The reason? A new stimulus check called Sacramento Family First (FFESP), and it aims to help 200 randomly chosen families to reduce their necessities.
It is important to highlight that, California is a state where, according to the last data (2023), there are 18.9% of population living under the poverty threshold, that is, there are at least 7.3 million people living in necessity. So, this kind of programs are very useful to help them to cover the basic necessities, such as rents, food or education of the children. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about this new payment below, let’s go!
What is the Sacramento Family First?
The previous program, FFESP, emerged as an aid program for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide extra benefits to those who were already receiving SNAP. This program was temporary, and, unfortunately, ended at the beginning of 2023, leaving SNAP credit as the only food benefit.
In that gap appears the Sacramento Family First, which will work somewhat differently but has the same goal: to supply the country’s most disadvantaged families.
It is not a payment, it is a stimulus check.
Please, remember that this is not a cycle payment but a stimulus check, this will only be received once (during a whole year) to those families the program selects.
So, keep in mind that this payment will be sent randomly to those families who apply for it, and that this will be only a relief for many families.
State decisions and other important information
This check belongs to the fiscal year 2025, but, its extension or repetition will depend on future decisions in Congress and on the allocation of state funds, in case the proposal for state co-financing comes into effect in 2028.
When will this payment arrive?
According to the schedule published by the program’s website, it is estimated to be around next June 15. $725 will be received by eligible families across 12 months, making June 2026 the last month to receive it.
How to apply for this stimulus check?
It is quite easy! You can apply by completing the form on the official website of the program. You will need to verify your personal documentation, residence, annual income, and legal guardianship of a child between 0 and 5 years old. You can read more about this by visiting ffesp.org.
Those payments may look like a simple payment, but for millions of families, there is a difference between living and surviving, between having lunch or deciding if they can go to the hospital, for example. That’s why it is so important to understand how they work and how to make the most of these payments. If you think you can qualify for this money, do not hesitate to apply for it!!
Sacramento County’s Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (DCFAS) has partnered with United Way California Capital Region for a new Guaranteed Income Pilot called the Family First Economic Support Pilot. The pilot gives qualifying families guaranteed payments of $725 a… pic.twitter.com/iheloiwovU
— Sacramento County (@SacCountyCA) September 5, 2024