Stimulus payment in California – $500 per month

There is a new stimulus payment available in the Golden State, but to be eligible, you must first meet some specific requirements. If you currently reside in California, most specifically the City of Pomona, you could earn up to $9,000 in total benefits. A pilot program known as the Universal Household Grant offered residents of the City of Pomona who were impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak up to $500 each month for eighteen months. Learn more about this stimulus payment initiative, along with all the requirements for 2024. 

How can you apply for the stimulus payment in the City of Pomona?

According to the Pomona stimulus payment initiative, interested applicants should apply before Monday, July 8th, at 11:00 pm. It is important to underscore that households may apply even if they receive state benefits such as Medicaid, MediCal, Pell Grants, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program. Additionally, to be eligible to receive the $500 monthly payment for more than one year, applicants should meet the following requirements: 

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Live in the city of Pomona.
• You must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of four at the time you apply.
• Have been impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic.
• Set an income limit at or below 65% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
• Must agree to an informed consent form.

Besides providing households with monthly payments to cover their monthly expenses, the Pomona stimulus payment program aims to examine the impact of economic aid on the most needy families, who will be eligible for bonuses of up to $50 if they participate in surveys and training sessions.

Understand how the application process works, step by step

In total, 600 qualified applicants are selected at random for participation in the program and are assigned to one of two groups. In the paid group, two hundred and fifty (250) eligible applicants will be selected. They will receive incentive payments of $500 per month for 18 months. Likewise, another 350 eligible individuals will be selected to participate in the control group and will receive a subsidy of $20 per month for eighteen months for having participated.

Furthermore, candidates should know that regardless of whether they are part of the paid or controlled group, they will receive a $50 bonus for completing each survey administered by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Pomona’s HUGs program will provide free benefits counseling and resource navigation services to select applicants in both its fee-for-service and control groups. Los Angeles County will also provide additional options, such as career counseling, parenting classes, and financial coaching.

When will eligible households receive their $500 stimulus payment?

From all eligible applications, the Pomona Stimulus Payment Program will randomly select 600 participants. Those selected will be divided into two groups: a payment group of approximately 250 applicants, each receiving a $500 monthly stipend; and a control group of 350 applicants, each receiving a $20 monthly stipend. In contrast, the control group will consist of 350 applicants. Lastly, eligible candidates will receive a stipend of $20 per month for one year and a half. 

There will be another lottery after the start of the payments in which 300 program participants—150 from each group—will be randomly selected to have the resource navigation services at no cost. As previously mentioned, don’t forget that the deadline to apply for these stimulus payments is July 8 at 11:00 p.m. PST, so if you’re interested, you’ll want to apply as soon as possible. On July 10th, selected candidates will be chosen by lottery. Those chosen will receive their first payment from the City of Pomona’s Income Security Program on August 26.