New California Stimulus: Are You on the List for $725 Monthly Payments?

If you re one of the families in Sacramento County getting those monthly payments you re maybe wondering Is this really free money Or maybe Will I have to pay this back later Let s clear things up right now You do not have to pay this money back This isn t a loan It s not a tax credit advance It s real help meant to encouragement families who need it the most of Here s the full story behind it and what it means for you So What Is This Payment These monthly checks are part of a local Sacramento County plan called the Family First Economic Assistance Pilot It launched in mid- to help certain low-income families raise their kids in more stable conditions The idea is simple when families have enough money to meet basic necessities like rent food and child care kids are more likely to be safe healthy and happy That s what this venture is trying to help About families are receiving per month from June through July no strings attached Who Is Getting This Help This isn t a statewide stimulus and it s not for everyone It s a focused pilot effort meant to reach families with A child under the age of Very limited income Living in specific neighborhoods in Sacramento County Identifying as Black African American American Indian or Native American The families were chosen earlier this year through a lottery based on eligibility If you re getting the payment it s because you met all the criteria and were selected If you didn t apply or weren t chosen unfortunately the scheme is closed for now but it could expand in the future What Can You Use the Money For Anything you need There are no rules on how you have to spend this money Whether it goes to rent groceries diapers bus passes or just catching up on bills it s totally up to you You won t be required to submit receipts track spending or prove how you used it The point is to trust families to make their own decisions You know what your kids need better than anyone Do You Owe It Back Later Absolutely not This money is not a loan You do not have to pay it back ever You also don t need to worry about this affecting your taxes your Social Measure or other benefits in majority of cases Still it s constantly smart to double-check with a caseworker if you re receiving other types of aid It s not a trap It s help Why Is Sacramento Doing This Because too often families end up in tough situations not because of bad parenting but because of poverty If you ve ever struggled to pay rent lost child care or had to choose between food and gas you know how fast stress builds up And when things spiral kids feel it too This venture is trying to prevent that It s based on a simple idea assistance families early and you avoid bigger problems later Administrators hope this cash help can help families stay stable and keep children out of the child welfare system What If You re Not in the Project If you weren t selected or if you live outside Sacramento County this particular activity might not be available to you right now But more and more cities and counties are launching similar guaranteed income pilot programs So while you may not be getting this check there might still be other local or state help available and I can help you search for that if you want If you re one of the families receiving this money here s what matters majority of It s real It s yours You don t owe it back It s meant to make life a little easier while you care for your child not harder Use it in the way that makes the preponderance sense for your family And if you ever feel unsure about what to do next or whether you re still eligible Sacramento County s Department of Child Family and Adult Services can help