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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Nick Kravitz
Update: I called the number on my letter today and actually got through after only waiting 20 minutes! The person confirmed it's just an internal reorganization and my benefits and certification period aren't changing. They also gave me an email address specific to Team 24 that wasn't on the letter: team24.calfresh@countydss.gov (sharing in case it helps someone else). Thanks everyone for the help and advice!
That's fantastic! And thank you for sharing the email - that's actually really useful information. Email addresses for specific teams aren't usually published, so that's a great resource. Just remember that sensitive personal information shouldn't be sent by regular email, but you can use it for general questions and follow-ups.
Mateo Silva
•Save that email!!! And always email so you have a record they cant deny later!!!!
Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the transition, you can also request a case summary or status letter from Team 24 once they're fully handling your case. This will show your current benefit amount, certification period, and any pending actions. It's free and gives you peace of mind that everything transferred correctly. I always do this when there's any kind of change to my case, even if it's just administrative. Better to have documentation showing everything is still on track!
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Ravi Sharma
I've been through this exact situation with LA County DPSS. A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call, ask specifically for "Permanent Homeless Assistance" - don't let them transfer you around or tell you it doesn't exist. Some workers try to push you toward temporary assistance because it's easier for them to process. 2. The landlord will need to fill out a verification form, but DPSS has a template they can email you. Make sure your landlord is willing to work with government assistance before you get too far in the process. 3. If you're having trouble reaching your worker, try calling the main DPSS line early (like 7:30 AM) right when they open. You'll get through faster than calling mid-day. 4. Keep receipts for everything - your current housing situation, any money you've spent on temporary housing, etc. They want documentation of your homelessness. 5. The whole process took about 10 days for me from application to getting approved, but the actual payment to my landlord was within 2-3 days after approval. Don't give up if they tell you no initially - sometimes you have to advocate for yourself. Your kids need stable housing and you're doing the right thing by pursuing every option available. You've got this!
This is such practical advice! I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:30 AM - I hadn't thought about timing making such a difference. And good point about making sure the landlord is willing to work with government assistance upfront. I don't want to get my hopes up and then find out they won't accept it. The 10-day timeline gives me hope that this could work out before my current housing situation expires. I've been keeping all my receipts like you suggested, so I should have the documentation they need. Thank you for the encouragement - hearing from someone who actually went through this process successfully makes me feel like it's really possible. Some days it feels overwhelming but knowing others have made it through helps me stay focused on the goal of getting my kids stable housing.
I'm a single mom who went through something similar in Orange County last year. One thing I learned that might help you - if the $2400 deposit is more than what CalWORKs Permanent Homeless Assistance will cover, ask your potential landlord if they'd be willing to split it differently. Some landlords will accept first month's rent + partial security deposit upfront, then let you pay the rest over the first few months. Also, make sure to mention to your CalWORKs worker that you're facing a custody issue - sometimes that can expedite processing since stable housing is considered in the best interest of the children. Document everything you're doing to secure housing in case you need it for court. LA County also has the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that might still have funds available - it's separate from CalWORKs and could potentially help with move-in costs. Worth asking about when you call 211. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your family. Housing insecurity doesn't define you as a parent - your determination to find solutions does.
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Ezra Beard
im so glad u asked this i was confused too!! got 4 cards for my 2 kids (2 rounds of benefits) and thought maybe they sent duplicates by accident lol
CyberSiren
I'm in the same boat as you! Just got my second round of P-EBT cards and was super confused at first. Reading through all these comments has been really helpful - I had no idea each kid was supposed to get their own card. I've been treating them like regular EBT where the whole family shares one card. Good thing I kept all the cards from the first round! Now I need to figure out which card belongs to which kid since they all look pretty similar. Does anyone have tips for keeping track of multiple P-EBT cards?
Nia Williams
•Hey CyberSiren! I had the exact same problem keeping track of which card belonged to which kid. What worked for me was using a small label maker to put each child's initials on the back of their cards. You could also use colored stickers or even just write their names on a small piece of tape. I keep all the cards in a small envelope in my wallet with a note listing which card goes with which kid and the remaining balance on each. The child's name is printed on the front of the card too, but it's in small print so the labels really help when you're in a hurry at the store!
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Just chiming in as another newcomer to the CalFresh system! Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful. I'm in Orange County with a last name starting with S, and I received my Summer EBT benefits about 2 weeks ago (around May 20th). Like others mentioned, it just appeared on my existing EBT card as an extra $240 for my two kids - no separate notification or card needed. For anyone still waiting, I'd definitely recommend checking your balance regularly through the app rather than waiting for mail notifications. The county offices seem overwhelmed with calls about this, so the online tools are probably your best bet for checking status. Also wanted to say thanks to everyone who explained the difference between the old pilot programs and the new standardized system - that context really helps understand why there's still some confusion out there!
@Beatrice Marshall Thanks for sharing your Orange County experience! It s'so reassuring to hear from other newcomers who ve'successfully received their benefits. I m'also new to CalFresh just (started in February and) this whole thread has been incredibly educational. Your tip about using the online tools instead of calling is spot on - I tried calling our county office three times and never got through to a human. The ebtEDGE app has been a lifesaver for checking balances. I m'in Kern County with a last name starting with M, and I received mine about a week ago. Like you said, it just showed up as extra funds on my existing card $360 (for my three kids .)For anyone still reading this thread and waiting, don t'give up! The system really does seem much more reliable now compared to what people described from previous years.
As someone who just went through this process for the first time, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully help others! I'm in Fresno County with a last name starting with P, and I received my Summer EBT benefits on May 25th. Like everyone else mentioned, it just appeared as extra funds on my existing EBT card ($240 for my two kids) with no separate notification. What really helped me was calling my kids' school directly - the office staff actually knew more about the Summer EBT timeline for our county than the CalFresh hotline did! They told me that since my kids were already enrolled in the free lunch program and we're current CalFresh recipients, everything would be automatic. For anyone still waiting, I'd suggest checking not just your EBT balance but also logging into your BenefitsCal account. There was actually a small notification there about Summer EBT processing that I didn't notice until after I'd already received the benefits. The whole experience has made me realize how much more organized this program is now compared to what I was expecting based on older online posts. Definitely keep checking your balances - it'll show up!
Nia Watson
One more thing - make sure you keep the P-EBT card even after you use up the benefits. If they issue additional pandemic-related food benefits in the future (which seems likely given the new assistance programs being discussed), they'll reload the same card rather than sending a new one.
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Seraphina Delan
•That's great to know! I'll be sure to put it somewhere safe after we use the benefits. I've heard horror stories about people throwing out cards and then having to go through the whole replacement process when new benefits were loaded.
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Micah Trail
Anyone know if the P-EBT 4.0 benefits expire? The P-EBT 3.0 benefits had some kind of expiration date and I lost like $200 because I didn't know about it until too late 😡
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Jabari-Jo
•Yes, P-EBT 4.0 benefits will expire if not used. Benefits expire after 274 days (about 9 months) of inactivity on the card. Make sure you use the card at least once every few months to keep it active. Set a calendar reminder if needed - this is one of the most common ways people lose benefits.
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