About the Family First Economic Support Pilot (FFESP)
What is the Sacramento Family First Economic Support Pilot (FFESP)?
It is a guaranteed income pilot for parents/legal guardians caring for children 0-5 years of age, in certain zip codes of Sacramento County, who are under 200% of the federal poverty level. 200 randomly selected participants will receive $725.00 per month for 12 months. FFESP will assess how the provision of guaranteed income to the eligible population affects families over time. Families will also have access to supportive services, such as connection to community-based organizations in their communities, access to one-on-one financial coaching, and monthly financial webinars and peer support groups.
Where did the money come from?
The FFESP is funded primarily through State Block Grant funding provided by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to DCFAS and some private funding. The State Block Grant funding was provided to counties to support prevention and early intervention, with a goal of keeping families together. CDSS specifically identified goals of reducing incidences of abuse and neglect, decreasing entries into foster care, and improving economic and other concrete resources for families. For more details, CDSS’s Five-Year state prevention plan executive summary can be accessed at this link.
In order to receive the funding, each county had to opt-in and create a Comprehensive Prevention Plan (CPP). Sacramento County’s CPP was approved by CDSS in April 2023, and a portion of the funding was designated to create and implement a guaranteed income pilot that includes an evaluation component (research on how the pilot impacts families). The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved this pilot on March 12, 2024. More information on Sacramento County’s CPP can be found at the following link.
Who is administering the FFESP?
The County Board of Supervisors reviewed a number of organizations who had submitted proposals to be the local non-profit to administer the FFESP. Eventually, they selected United Way California Capital Region (UWCCR). UWCCR has been managing guaranteed income cohorts in the City and County of Sacramento since 2021.
Why is this pilot being offered to the selected population?
The FFESP seeks to offer an additional source of reliable income to assist eligible households in our focus zip codes with a goal of improving child and family well-being and decreasing the potential of contact with or entry into the foster care system.
Eligibility, Application and Selection of Participants
Who was eligible to participate?
Selected applicants had to meet ALL four eligibility criteria listed below:
1. Residence:
Applicants must reside within one of the following zip codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, and 95838.
2. Child 0-5 years of age:
- child ages 0-5 years, and
- The child must reside with the parent/legal guardian at least 50% of the time.
Note: Only one application was allowed per household.
3. Household Income:
Applicants must have an annual household income of less than 200% of the federal poverty line (FPL). Annual household income is calculated by adding all household members’ income or wages before taxes (gross income). It does not include any government benefits you may receive. The 200% FPL income limit is dependent on household size (number of adults and children), for example:
- 2 people (i.e. 1 adult and 1 child): $40,880
- 3 people (i.e. 1 adult and 2 children, or 2 adults and 1 child): $51,640
- 4 people: $62,400
- 5 people: $73,160
- 6 people: $83,920
- 7 people: $94,680
- 8 people: $105,440
- For households with more than 8 people, add $10,760 for each additional person.
4. Not already receiving guaranteed income from another pilot or program:
Applicants may not currently be participating in other government or privately funded guaranteed income programs. Note: Immigration status does not impact eligibility. Families of any immigration status are welcome to apply.
How did selected applicants apply?
Applicants, including the final 200 selected participants, submitted an electronic application online by the deadline of 11:59 PM on March 30, 2025.
A number of community-based organizations partnered with UWCCR and the County to conduct outreach to the community and assist community members with applying. We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to each of the following organizations...
- Better Life Children
- Wilton Rancheria
- Shingle Springs TANF
- Rose Family
- Sacramento Children’s Home
- Always Knocking
- Roberts Community Development
- Neighborhood Wellness
- Mutual Assistance Network
- Simmons Center
- Asian Resources, Inc.
- La Familia Counseling Center
- Native Sister’s Circle
- Indigenous Healing Collaborative
For those who were selected through a randomized lottery process, what documents were required to verify eligibility for the FFESP?
Some examples of documents that selected participants were able to provide in order to establish their eligibility are listed below, but the list is not all-inclusive.
Documents that verified identity:
- Native American Tribal Photo ID/Enrollment card
- Driver’s License or State ID
- US Passport
- Non-United States Passport
- Military ID
- Green Card
- Certification of naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
- Certificate of citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
- Learner’s Permit
- Temporary Visitor Driver’s License
- Other governmental or Tribal issued photo ID
- Two forms of non-photo ID
Documents that verified residence in one of the eligible zip codes
- Driver’s License, state ID or government issued photo ID with home address (applicants may use this for both identity and residency verification)
- Auto Insurance card
- Lease Agreement or mortgage payment documents with home address, indicating current residency from a recent month
- House deed with full address and applicant’s name
- Utility bill, landline phone bill, internet bill or property tax bill in applicant’s name from last 90 days with service address
- Paycheck stub with address information within last 3 months with full address
- Public Assistance/benefit card or letter with full address
- Military ID with issues and expiration dates and full address
- Medical Insurance card or registration paperwork
- Residency verified by a current service provider
Documents that verified household income:
- Notice of Action or proof of participation in CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, etc.
- Most recent Federal Income Tax Form (Form 1040, Schedule C or other filed tax form)
- Wage documents from a relevant time period for all adults in the home that earn income:
- Most recent paycheck stub(s) from employer(s)
- W2 or 1099s
- Unemployment award letter (last 12 months)
- Self-employed tax forms
- SSDI income forms
- Letter on company letterhead with gross monthly/annual income
- Bank statement showing income deposits/transactions
Documents that verified that a selected participant was the parent/legal guardian caring for a child ages 0-5 (one or more may be used)
- Doctor’s note/medical visit summary
- Birth records
- Child’s birth certificate
- Daycare/Pre-school/school records
- Other documentation that speaks to eligibility requirements
How were FFESP participants chosen?
Two-hundred eligible participants were randomly selected after the application period closed on March 30, 2025. The research partner for this Pilot, MEF Associates, hosted the online application and used a random number generator to make the initial (conditional) selection of applicants.
The randomly selected applicants were contacted and informed of their acceptance by email, phone and text message by United Way staff and asked to provide verification of their eligibility. Additionally, all selected applicants completed a benefits counseling session during which a trained United Way staff member reviewed any potential impact that receiving FFESP funds might have on their current public benefits. If no concerns were identified and all required documentation was submitted, the conditionally selected applicant was formally admitted as a participant in the FFESP
If an initially selected applicant was determined to be ineligible or withdraws their application, additional applications were selected via the same randomized and review process until 200 eligible participants had been selected and enrolled into the FFESP. Selected participants were also given additional information and provided consent to participate before enrollment in the program.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions about the FFESP, you may contact UWCCR Guaranteed Income Program Manager, Kirt Lewis, at kirt.lewis@uwccr.org.
FFESP Guaranteed Income – How it works?
What is the cash amount? For how long?
Enrolled participants are presently receiving $725 per month for 12 months (1 year). The first payment was issued June 15, 2025 and the last payment will be May 15, 2026.
How can participants spend these payments?
Participants are free to choose how to best spend the money to meet the needs of their family. UWCCR offers on a voluntary basis additional assistance to help connect participants to other community-based organizations or services should they have a particular need or interest.
How do participants receive the funds?
Enrolled participants chose to either sign up for a debit card or open a bank account to receive FFESP funds. Those interested in opening up a bank account were supported with the necessary steps to open up an account with SAFE Credit Union. Payments are sent directly to participants on the 15th of each month, starting May 15, 2025.
Program recipients were asked to open a Freedom checking account with our financial institution partner, SAFE Credit Union, before the first payment was sent out. Payments have then been deposited directly into their checking account every month. Freedom checking accounts do not earn dividends and have no monthly service fees. Participants will be eligible for all SAFE Credit Union’s customer service support and access to over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Program recipients may also decide to transfer funds monthly from SAFE Credit Union to the financial institution where they currently bank.
Is there any reason why payments would be discontinued?
If a family permanently moves out of state or it is later determined that a family does not meet the criteria of the FFESP, the guaranteed income will be discontinued.
Are there any other additional requirements for pilot participants?
No, there are no additional requirements. However, participation in the research component of the FFESP is greatly appreciated (more on this below) and United Way staff contact participants once a month for the purpose of connecting them with additional resources that may be helpful. Participants can decline to receive these monthly calls at any time throughout the duration of the pilot.
Public Benefits & Taxes
Does receiving cash assistance from the FFESP affect other benefits like CalFresh and CalWORKs?
The State of California, Department of Social Services, has determined that all guaranteed Income (GI) Programs throughout the State are exempt from eligibility calculations for CalWORKs benefits, and pilots that meet certain criteria can also be exempt from eligibility calculations for CalFresh benefits. The FFESP meets the required criteria; thus FFESP funding does not affect eligibility or benefit calculations related to CalWORKs or CalFresh. Other benefits were also assessed and determined to not be impacted by these payments, such as Tribal TANF, housing subsidies through the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), subsidized childcare through DHA for CalWORKs participants, and WIC for families who also receive CalWORKs, CalFresh, and/or Medi-Cal.
However, FFESP funds may change the total household income threshold for participants and may impact their eligibility for other benefits not listed above. Participants are highly encouraged to monitor their benefits and communicate any concerns of a loss of benefits to United Way staff.
Is the FFESP funding taxable?
DCFAS has also assessed that the guaranteed income should be non-taxable. However, participants are encouraged to consult with their tax preparers to confirm that payments are non-taxable. A letter of participation was provided to participants, and this letter can be provided to tax preparers and other entities as needed.
FFESP Research Project
Is the FFESP being evaluated/ Is research being completed to assess outcomes?
Yes. MEF Associates is leading the evaluation to understand how receiving a guaranteed income affects families over time. MEF has or is the process of administering several surveys to learn about children and families who are participating in the pilot:
- Baseline and follow-up survey: Applicants completed a short eligibility screening and a baseline survey. This survey was mandatory for participation in the pilot However, many questions were optional. MEF has also invited participants and a subset of applicants who were not selected to participate in the pilot to complete the survey a second time at the end of the pilot.
- Snapshot surveys: MEF is also administering voluntary snapshot surveys to gather information from participants and a subset of applicants who were not selected to participate in the pilot every other month after the first cash payment.
MEF Associates will be combining information from these surveys with data from government agencies (such as DCFAS and DHA) to understand how the pilot affects participants and their families. All data will be confidential, and MEF Associates will never identify participants by name in any reports or written materials.
Additionally, MEF Associates will be working with pilot participants and a subset of applicants who were not selected to participate in the pilot who volunteer to tell their stories about how receiving—or not receiving—the guaranteed income affects their families. This evaluation will contribute to research that informs expansion of guaranteed income as a strategy to support families.
An Independent Review Board (IRB) has reviewed and approved the FFESP research activities.
Do participants have to participate in the research study?
Aside from completing the application, which includes an initial survey, continued participation in the research is voluntary. If participants initially decide to participate in the research and change their mind after submitting their application, they can let the research team know, and they will be excluded from further research activities.
Who can answer my questions about the research study?
If you have questions or concerns about the research study, you can contact the MEF Associates research team at SacramentoGIstudy@mefassociates.com.
If you have concerns or complaints about the research study, or do not feel comfortable reaching out directly to MEF Associates, you can also contact the DCFAS Director at dcfasdirector@saccounty.gov.