California CalFresh
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Can't reach California CalFresh? 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 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 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 :)
Approved for emergency CalFresh 2 weeks ago but still no EBT card - can I pick one up before the holiday?
Hey everyone, I applied for CalFresh and got approved for emergency benefits almost 2 weeks ago (they said I qualified for expedited service). The worker told me I'd get my EBT card in 3-5 business days, but it's been 10 business days now and still nothing in my mail. I'm getting really worried because my refrigerator is empty and I was counting on those benefits. Does anyone know if I can just go to my county office tomorrow to pick up a card in person? Also, with the upcoming holiday, will offices even be open this week? I've tried calling the customer service number, but after being on hold for 45 minutes, I got disconnected. Getting desperate here...
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CalFresh EBT card suddenly showing 'lost/stolen' status but funds intact - skimming prevention?
So confused right now. Went to use my EBT card this morning at the grocery store and it got declined. The cashier said something about the card being reported as lost/stolen/damaged! I immediately checked BenefitsCal and my case shows active with all my balance still there (about $428). I never reported my card missing and I literally used it 3 days ago with no issues. Could this be some kind of automatic fraud protection because of all that EBT skimming that's been happening? Has anyone else had their card randomly get cancelled without requesting it? I still have the physical card in my wallet! How long will it take to get a new one? I was counting on using those benefits for this week's groceries...
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whats the update? did u get ur new card yet or find a way to use ur benefits?
Thanks for checking! I ended up using that mobile payment option that someone mentioned above - was able to set it up through BenefitsCal and use my benefits at Safeway yesterday with just my phone! The new physical card should arrive next week according to the customer service rep I finally reached. The whole situation is still frustrating but at least I have access to my benefits now.
This is really helpful info everyone! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the mobile payment option or that they were being so proactive about fraud prevention. Good to know what to expect if this happens to me. Quick question - when you set up the mobile payment through BenefitsCal, do you need to verify your identity again or does it just link to your existing case automatically? Also wondering if there are any fees for using the mobile option vs the physical card?
Can I change my EBT PIN before it arrives in the mail? CalFresh card activated but waiting on PIN
Just got approved for CalFresh and received my EBT card yesterday, but still waiting on the PIN to come in the mail. My kids are hungry and I need to use these benefits ASAP! The county worker said it could take another 3-5 business days for the PIN to arrive. Is there any way to create/change a PIN before I get the official one? Can I call some number or go online to set it up myself? Really don't want to wait another week when we need groceries now. Anyone know a workaround?
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Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve your PIN issue? If you're still waiting, I recommend contacting your local food bank as well. They can often provide emergency food assistance while you wait for your CalFresh benefits to become usable.
That's amazing news @Zara Shah! So glad you were able to get your emergency PIN and feed your family. Your experience will definitely help other parents in similar situations. It's frustrating that the system makes it so hard to access benefits when people are in urgent need, but at least there are workarounds like the Claimyr service and emergency PIN options that more people should know about. Thanks for updating us on how it worked out!
This is such great news! I'm new to this community but seeing how everyone came together to help @Zara Shah really shows what these forums are all about. I just applied for CalFresh myself and was worried about potential delays, but knowing about resources like Claimyr and the emergency PIN option gives me peace of mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it s'so valuable for newcomers like me to learn from people who ve'actually been through the process!
Can I fax my CalFresh recertification paperwork or is online submission required now?
I've got my CalFresh recertification due next week and I'm stressing out about how to submit it. My internet at home is super unreliable right now (thanks to my lovely neighbors who keep "borrowing" my wifi). I'm wondering if I can still fax my recertification forms like I used to do before the pandemic? The packet I got in the mail mentions BenefitsCal online but doesn't clearly say if faxing is still allowed. I'd prefer to fax since I have access to a free fax machine at work. Has anyone successfully submitted their recertification by fax recently? Do they actually process faxed forms or will this delay my benefits?
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One more thing about faxing - make sure to KEEP YOUR FAX CONFIRMATION PAGE showing it went through successfully. I learned this the hard way. If they claim they never received it, you need that proof. I take a picture of the confirmation with my phone right away now so I don't lose it.
yessss this!!! they tried to tell me they didnt get my stuff once but i had the paper that showed it went thru and they magically "found" my paperwork lol
Update: I took everyone's advice and decided not to risk the fax route. I went to my sister's house to use her internet and submitted through BenefitsCal. It was actually easier than I expected! The website even gave me a confirmation number and email. Thanks everyone for your help - definitely saved me from potential benefit delays!
That's great news! Online submission is definitely the most reliable method these days. Make sure to check your BenefitsCal account in about a week to see if they need any additional verification documents from you. Glad it worked out!
So glad you got it submitted! I was stressing reading your original post because I know how nerve-wracking those deadlines can be. Online really is the way to go when possible - faster processing and you get that instant confirmation. Hope your recertification goes smoothly and your benefits continue without any hiccups!
CalFresh recertification denied - can my mom still use leftover EBT balance?
So my mom just found out her CalFresh recertification was denied last week. Something about her income paperwork not matching what they had on file (she works part-time at different places). She's planning to appeal but we're confused about the EBT card. There's still like $340 left on there from her previous benefits. Is she allowed to keep using that money for groceries while the appeal is happening or will they take it back? Don't want her to get in trouble for using benefits she's not entitled to anymore. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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my aunt had the same thing happen she just reapplied instead of doing the appeal thing cuz its faster sometimes
Interesting! I didn't know you could just reapply instead of appealing. Did she have to wait a certain amount of time before reapplying?
you can reapply right away but the problem is you might not get benefits backdated to when you were cut off. with an appeal you can get all the missed benefits if you win. that's why i always say APPEAL dont just reapply!!
That's actually a very smart approach. She can absolutely do both simultaneously - file the appeal to potentially recover backdated benefits AND submit a new application to get the process started again. Just make sure she discloses on the new application that she's also appealing the previous case.
That's exactly what I'm going to tell her to do! Appeal for the backdated benefits and file a new application too. Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice - this community is amazing. I'll update once we hear back on her case.
Miguel Castro
UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your help! I went to my county office this morning and got my EBT card. There was a bit of a line but once I got to the window, it only took about 10 minutes. They said my card had been mailed out but probably got lost. The benefits were already loaded and I set up my PIN right there. So relieved I went before the holiday closure!
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LunarEclipse
Great news!! Glad you got it sorted out before the holiday!
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NebulaNinja
So glad you got your card! This is exactly why I always recommend going in person when there are delays. The mail system for EBT cards seems to have issues pretty frequently. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful for others who might be in the same situation to know that going to the office works and doesn't take too long once you get to the window.
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