California EBT
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach California EBT? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the CA DSS
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the CA DSS drops your call
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
EBT Income Reporting Issue: Called Wrong State, What Now?
Hey everyone, I'm having some issues with my EBT and income reporting. I called the number I was given, but the people who answered were from a different state than what I expected. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not sure if I should call again or what to do next. Any advice would be appreciated!
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EDD case closed due to missing paystub, but I submitted it. How to get case reviewed?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. My unemployment case was closed because of a missing paystub, but I've already submitted it. Now I can't seem to get anyone to review and process my case. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice on how to get them to look at my case again?
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guys. we need to organize and do something about this. its not ok that so many of us are struggling to get basic help. maybe we should start a petition or contact local news?
I'm down. This has gone on for way too long. We need to make some noise!
Count me in. I've got some experience with community organizing. Let's brainstorm ideas!
@Maria Gonzalez - I had this exact same issue a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I filed an appeal through the online portal (there's usually an "Appeal" or "Request Review" button in your account dashboard). When filing the appeal, I uploaded the paystub AGAIN along with a detailed explanation of when I originally submitted it. I also took screenshots of my submission history as proof. It took about 3-4 weeks, but they eventually reopened my case and processed everything. Don't give up - the appeal process actually seems to work better than trying to get through on the phone!
EBT Card Issues: Tips for Actually Reaching a Human at the Office?
Hey everyone, I'm having some issues with my EBT card and I need to talk to someone at the office. Has anyone had any luck getting through to a real person lately? I've been trying for days and keep getting stuck in the automated system. Any tips or tricks would be really appreciated!
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I'm bout ready to camp outside their office til someone helps me tbh
Lmao mood. I'll bring the snacks if you bring the tent 🏕️
I feel everyone's frustration here! I've been dealing with EBT issues for months. One thing that's worked for me is calling the main line and immediately pressing 0 multiple times as soon as the recording starts - sometimes it bypasses the menu entirely. Also, try calling on Tuesdays or Wednesdays around 2-3pm, seems to be less busy then. And definitely have your case number, SSN, and PIN ready before calling. Keep trying y'all, we got this! 💪
EBT benefits suddenly discontinued after interview and submitting docs - DPSS not answering. Help!
My EBT benefits got cut off out of nowhere and I'm freaking out. I did everything right - had my interview and sent in all the paperwork they asked for. Now I can't even buy food. Anyone know why this might have happened or how to fix it? I've been trying to call but can't get through to a real person. This is so frustrating!
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Have you tried reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes their office can help push things through faster.
Ugh, I've been there and it's the worst feeling! One thing that helped me was calling the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) instead of the main DPSS line - sometimes it's easier to get through and they can at least tell you the status of your case. Also, if you're completely out of food, look into local food banks while you're sorting this out. Most don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap. Hang in there! 💙
CA EBT: Tips for reaching customer service? Impossible to get through
Has anyone else been having trouble getting through to EBT California Customer Service? I've been trying to reach them for days now and it's driving me crazy. Their office hours are so limited and the phone lines are always jammed. I really need to talk to someone about my benefits but it feels impossible. Any tips or tricks for actually getting a human on the line?
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I've been dealing with this nightmare for weeks too! One thing that finally worked for me was calling their alternate number (the one for reporting lost/stolen cards) and then asking to be transferred to customer service. The wait time was still long, but at least I got through to the queue instead of getting a busy signal. Also, try calling during lunch hours (12-2 PM) - I think fewer people call then. The system is absolutely broken and shouldn't be this hard, but sometimes you gotta work around their dysfunction. Hang in there! 💪
I've been struggling with this exact same issue! After reading through all these suggestions, I think I'm going to try a combination approach - calling the lost/stolen card number first thing in the morning like @Astrid Bergström and @Mateo Sanchez suggested, then asking to be transferred. If that doesn't work, I might consider the Claimyr service that @Zoe Stavros mentioned, even though $20 feels steep. It's just so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic help with our benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - at least we know we're not alone in this mess! 🙏
This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to dealing with EBT customer service and honestly had no idea it was this difficult. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less crazy for getting so frustrated with the busy signals. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy and the lost/stolen card number trick. It's really sad that we have to develop all these workarounds just to access basic services, but I'm grateful for this community sharing tips. Solidarity! ✊
Ravi Sharma
Has anyone had luck with the mobile app? I heard they updated it recently but idk if it's any better for reporting income changes.
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Freya Thomsen
I tried it last week. It's a bit better, but still glitchy. Better than being on hold for hours tho!
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Omar Hassan
I've been through this exact same thing! The phone system routing is a nightmare. What helped me was asking the person who answered (even though they were from the wrong state) if they could transfer me to the correct state department or give me a direct number. Sometimes they have internal numbers that bypass the main system. Also, try calling your local county social services office directly - they often have better knowledge of the right numbers to call and can sometimes handle income reporting changes themselves. Don't give up, the system is broken but there are ways around it!
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