Since spring 2020, throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused financial hardships for many, the federal government has given out two stimulus checks to eligible citizens. California is now doing the same, giving a one-time check of at least $600 to all Californians who are eligible to receive it. For most, the money should arrive in four to five weeks after filing taxes, with direct deposit, or six to seven weeks if received by mail. 

California state legislators passed the bill on Feb. 22, approving the stimulus checks for about 5.7 million eligible Californians. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the COVID-19 relief package on Feb. 23. The $7.6 billion package gives stimulus checks to eligible recipients, and also sets aside more than $2 billion in grants for small businesses. 

The $600 stimulus checks will go to people who make $30,000 a year or less, around 350,000 undocumented workers who make between $30,000 and $75,000 a year, CalWORKS recipients and people who are blind, people over the age of 65 and people who are disabled, according to Calmatters. 

For undocumented workers who also make $30,000 or less per year, they will qualify for another stimulus check, which would give them $1,200 total. 

For people who make $30,000 or less per year, and undocumented workers, the check should come in four to five weeks, if using direct deposit, after filing a tax return. If the check is mailed, it can take six to seven weeks after filing taxes to arrive, according to Calmatters.

For CalWORKS recipients, the payments will be put on an EBT card and should arrive by mid-April. For people who are blind, people over the age of 65 and people who are disabled, the timing is still being worked out with the federal Social Security Administration, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Also included in the relief package, is $100 million in emergency financial aid for qualifying students taking six or more units at a California Community College and $6 million for outreach and application assistance for college students made eligible for CalFresh, which is a food assistance program. It also includes $24 million for financial aid and services through Housing for the Harvest, which supports agricultural workers quarantining due to COVID-19, according to a  Los Angeles Times article.