Thousands of families in Sacramento County, California, may soon receive financial relief in the form of a $725 monthly cash payment, thanks to a new pilot program designed to support low-income households.

Known as the Family First Economic Support Pilot Program (FFESP), this initiative aims to assist families with young children by providing them with direct cash aid for an entire year.

Here’s a complete breakdown of eligibility, selection timelines, and when you’ll know if you’ve been chosen.

What Is the $725 Stimulus Program?

Launched in 2025, the Family First Economic Support Pilot Program is a guaranteed income initiative funded by local and philanthropic organizations in Sacramento. The program will provide $725 per month for 12 months to 200 randomly selected families, amounting to $8,700 per family.

The goal is to ease financial stress among families with children under age six and to study the broader impacts of direct financial assistance on community health and economic mobility.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for this cash support, applicants must meet several strict criteria:

• Location Requirement: Must reside in specific Sacramento ZIP codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, or 95838.
• Income Limit: Household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a family of four, that’s roughly $62,400 annually.
• Child Requirement: Must have at least one child aged 0–5 who lives in the household at least 50% of the time.
• Program Participation: Cannot be enrolled in any other guaranteed income programs.
• Priority Demographics: Preference is given to families with Black, American Indian, or Alaska Native children, as part of a strategy to reduce systemic disparities.

When Will You Know If You Were Selected?

The most recent application window ran from April 14 to April 27, 2025. Now that applications have closed, here’s what happens next:

• Selection Process: A randomized lottery will be conducted from the pool of eligible applicants.
• Notification Period: Selected applicants will be notified between May 5 and June 6, 2025.
• Notification Methods: Families will be contacted by email, phone call, or SMS. If you do not hear anything by June 6, you were not selected.

Those selected will also receive additional instructions about how to set up their payment accounts.

When Will Payments Begin?

According to the program’s timeline, monthly payments of $725 will begin in mid-June 2025 and continue for 12 consecutive months. Payments will be delivered directly via bank deposit to the account information provided during the application process.

What Is the Goal of the Program?

Sacramento officials hope the FFESP will demonstrate how direct cash transfers can address child poverty, improve long-term health outcomes, and empower families to make their own financial decisions without restrictions.

Guaranteed income programs like this have gained national attention in recent years as part of broader social safety net reform efforts. Similar pilot programs in cities like Stockton and Oakland have reported promising results in terms of economic stability and mental health improvements.

How to Stay Updated or Apply in the Future

While this round of applications is closed, Sacramento County may reopen the program or expand its scope based on the outcome of this year’s pilot. For updates or more information, visit:

• Official program website: https://ffesp.org
• Sacramento County’s Human Assistance Department: https://ha.saccounty.gov

Final Thoughts

For the 200 families selected, this program could be a lifeline during a period of high inflation, rising childcare costs, and economic uncertainty. With decisions due in the coming weeks, applicants are encouraged to check their phones and email regularly to avoid missing out on vital communications from the program administrators.

The FFESP initiative may serve as a model for future state or national guaranteed income policies—and for now, it’s one of the most impactful programs currently active in California.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.