$725 stimulus payments: As great as the $725 stimulus payment from the government sounds, it could affect your important benefits like CalFresh and CalWORKs. The question on everyone’s mind now—will this extra money affect your existing benefits? If you’re worried about this, this article is for you. Here we’ll explain in plain language how this payment could affect your benefits and what steps you should take.
In this era of inflation, where the prices of everything are skyrocketing, a $725 stimulus payment is no less than a relief for low-income families in America. Especially for those families, for whom it has become difficult to even bear the daily expenses. Now let’s talk about California’s Sacramento Family First (FFESP) pilot program, which has started monthly direct payments from December 15.
$725 stimulus payments Overview
This program will run for a year, and a direct amount of $725 will be given to the families every month. But the question is, will this amount have any effect on your government benefits like CalFresh and CalWORKs? Let’s try to find the answer to this question in detail.
| Table Information | Description |
| Program Name | Sacramento Family First (FFESP) Pilot Program |
| Authorizing Agency | California Department of Social Services |
| Beneficiaries | Economically disadvantaged families (200 families) |
| Country Name | United States of America (USA) |
| Official Website | FFESP Website |
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Sacramento Family First Program
The Sacramento Family First Pilot Program is an initiative of California, which is specially designed for those families who are going through financial crisis. The program kicked off on December 15, and will continue for the next 12 months.
Under the scheme, 200 families are being given a direct cash transfer of $725 every month. But if you are wondering if this money will affect your other government benefits like CalFresh and CalWORKs, the answer is “no.”
Why won’t CalFresh and CalWORKs be affected?
Now note, the California Department of Social Services has made it clear that all guaranteed income (GI) programs in the state, including FFESP, are excluded from the eligibility calculation for CalWORKs benefits.
Also, pilot programs that meet certain criteria are also exempt from the eligibility calculation for CalFresh benefits. And happily, FFESP meets these criteria.
This means that if you are a beneficiary under the Sacramento Family First pilot program, neither your CalWORKs benefits nor CalFresh benefits will be affected.
What will be the impact on other benefits?
Now the question arises, will this have any impact on other government benefits such as WIC, Medi-Cal, or housing subsidies? The answer is no. According to the FFESP website, taking advantage of this pilot program will protect not only CalFresh and CalWORKs but also many other benefits.
Other benefits that will not be affected:
| Tribal TANF | Families who receive assistance under Tribal TANF will also not be harmed by this program. |
| Housing subsidies through SHRA | Housing subsidies from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will also be unaffected by this program. |
| Subsidized child care for CalWORKs | Subsidies given for child care under the CalWORKs program will also not be affected. |
However, one important thing to remember is that it is the responsibility of beneficiaries to keep in mind that the amount received under FFESP may affect their family’s total income limit and eligibility for certain other benefits.
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FFESP Benefits and Conditions
The main purpose of the Sacramento Family First program is to provide relief to economically weak families. But there are some conditions under it, which are very important to understand.
- Eligibility: This program is only for families who live in California and meet the criteria for FFESP.
- Location: If a family moves out of California, it will be removed from this program.
- Expiration: The program duration is 12 months. If eligibility is maintained, it will continue for the whole year.
A look at the new government initiative
The Sacramento Family First pilot program is not only a new beginning, but it shows that the government is still committed to helping families who are facing difficult circumstances.
While the money provided under this program may be a huge relief to those families, it is also true that such schemes do not continue for long.
Is this a permanent solution?
A bit of sarcasm is in order here. Why this “pilot program” when the government knows that people are living in financial difficulties? What will happen to these families after 12 months? Won’t they face the same problems that this scheme was launched to protect them from?
The government should perhaps understand that such programs only provide temporary relief. If they really want to bring about a change, they will have to focus on permanent solutions, such as increasing employment opportunities and controlling inflation.
Conclusion
The Sacramento Family First pilot program is definitely a relief for families who are struggling with financial difficulties. But it is only a one-year program and it is very important to keep in mind the benefits and conditions attached to it.
It will not affect your benefits like CalFresh and CalWORKs, which is a positive aspect. But after the end of this program, what will happen to those families is a big question.
The government should make such schemes more long-term and effective, so that needy families can get real benefits.
