One state has decided to pay $725 to families so as to provide some sort of economic relief. Cost-of-living costs continue to impact many families. This state has developed a program in support of families in the state known as the Family First Economic Support Program (FFESP). A select group of citizens will start receiving this benefit from June 15, 2025. The group of citizens receiving this payment was chosen based on specific criteria. The FFESP wishes to help communities manage their day-to-day expenses, including those of housing, childcare, and food.
Ways to use the funds from the FFESP
The very first $725 payment that goes out on June 15 comes with no restrictions in terms of how it can be utilized. The fund can be used by families to cover the costs of all essentials, including:
- Medical expenses incurred
- Costs of transport
- Childcare costs
- Housing bills or rental payments
- Any groceries
- Baby or child essentials
Unlike benefits from the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), there is no restriction on what can be purchased with this money and where purchases can be made. No penalty will be charged irrespective of how this sum of money is used.
Understanding FFESP and which state this payment will be issued in
It was the Sacramento Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services that decided how helpful it would be if families in need could have 12 months’ worth of guaranteed income. Thus, this Family First Economic Support Program (FFESP) was launched in California to provide financial assistance, albeit temporary.
While the program is meant to offer financial assistance to selected families, it is also used as a way to collect data as to how having guaranteed income in a year could assist families in need and could enforce financial decision-making.
The FFESP is still a pilot program; however, after favorable data is collected, it could become a yearly program that targets one specific population group. This FFESP is one such state-based initiative that may have resulted in rumors being made about the $2,000 stimulus checks that could be received by all citizens.
More about the group receiving the first $725 payment
The first payment is set to go out on June 15, 2025, to the selected families in the state who were notified by May 5 and June 6.
The program is meant to target a specific group of residents in Sacramento County who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Citizens have at least one child below the age of five living in their homes approximately 50% of the time.
- Citizens live in one of the following ZIP codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, or 95838.
- Citizens are not part of any other guaranteed income program.
- Citizens earn below the 200% federal poverty level, adjusted according to household size.
Thus far, a group of around 200 families has been selected for this trial phase of the program. These eligible families were selected at random after having submitted forms between April 14 and April 27, 2025.
The group of selected families for this Sacramento Family First Economic Support Pilot Program will receive a guaranteed income each month for an entire year until June 2026. The number of participating families is limited now; however, the intention may be to increase this program or use data from this program to reinforce policy changes.
The hope is that a form of guaranteed income from this Sacramento Family First Program will assist Californians to stay financially afloat despite the increasing living costs. The program is also one that may pave the way forward for other state-offered income support programs should the data collected from this FFESP yield favorable results.
This is yet another initiative put forward in the state of California to assist families to put children’s needs at the forefront and while this program is just in this state, it may inspire other states to follow suit.
