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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.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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the limits r actually diffrent depending on if ur household is regular or if it has elderly/disabled ppl!! my mom is on SSI and we only had 2 meet the net income test not gross when we applied
You're absolutely right! Households with elderly (60+) or disabled members only need to meet the net income test, not the gross income test. This is an important distinction that can make a big difference in eligibility. Additionally, households with elderly/disabled members may qualify for medical expense deductions if they spend more than $35 monthly on out-of-pocket medical costs.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to apply through BenefitsCal this weekend and include all our income details and expenses. Based on what you've all shared, I think we might qualify with our deductions even though our gross is sometimes right at the limit. I'll make sure to include our full rent ($1,350/month) and utilities to get the shelter deduction. Wish me luck!
apply in person if u can!!! online system kept freezing for me but the lady at the office helped me finish in 1 visit
@Sebastian Scott Hope the application goes smoothly! With your rent being $1,350 that should definitely help with the shelter deduction calculation. Just remember they calculate it as anything over 50% of your income after the standard deduction and 20% earned income deduction. So if your monthly income varies, try to apply during a lower income month if possible - you can always report changes later if your income goes up significantly.
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Am i the only one who still uses the paper benefit reports they mail out? lol I know I'm old school but I never trusted these apps with my benefit info
Wait they still send paper statements?? I haven't gotten one in like 2 years. Did you have to request that specially or something?
You have to specifically request paper statements by calling your county office. I did it when I first got CalFresh in 2023 because my phone was too old for the app.
I'm glad to see the app is working again for everyone! For future reference, I've found it helpful to have multiple backup methods ready when the app goes down. Besides the phone number (1-877-328-9677) and the website, you can also check your balance at most ATMs using your EBT card - just select "balance inquiry" instead of making a withdrawal. Some people don't realize this option exists but it's really convenient when you're already out shopping and need a quick balance check.
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The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) rules haven't changed in 2025. It's always been limited to elderly, disabled, and homeless CalFresh recipients, and only in certain counties. The confusion comes because some people use their EBT *cash* benefits (from CalWORKs, not CalFresh) at restaurants, which is different. CalFresh food benefits can only be used at restaurants if you qualify for RMP and the restaurant participates. If you don't qualify for RMP, your CalFresh benefits can only be used for unprepared food items at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. One helpful resource is the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Locator in the CalFresh app or BenefitsCal website, which was added in late 2024. It shows all participating restaurants with their addresses and hours.
OHHHHH that explains it!!! my cousin must be using CalWORKs cash not CalFresh!! I always get them mixed up
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I checked and I don't qualify for the Restaurant Meals Program since I'm not elderly, disabled, or homeless. I'm going to try the suggestion about buying sandwich ingredients at the grocery store with my EBT and making my own lunches. Seems like it'll save me money anyway! I never knew about the difference between CalFresh and CalWORKs cash benefits before, so I learned something new.
That's exactly what I do too! Another money-saving tip - check out the manager's special/clearance section at grocery stores for discounted lunch meats and cheese that are still good but close to expiration. I've gotten some really good deals that way. Also if your grocery store has a deli counter, sometimes they'll slice meat thinner if you ask, so it goes further. Good luck with the meal prep!
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Hey Aisha! Just wanted to add that if you do get approved for RMP, definitely download the FreshEBT app on your phone. It shows your balance in real-time so you can check before ordering at restaurants. Super helpful when you're trying to budget for meals during those crazy double shift weeks! The app also has a store locator feature that sometimes shows participating restaurants, though it's not 100% complete. Good luck with getting your account set up properly!
The FreshEBT app is a great suggestion! I just downloaded it after reading this thread and it's really user-friendly. One thing I noticed is that it also sends you notifications when your benefits are loaded each month, which is super helpful for planning. @Aisha Abdullah - since you mentioned working double shifts, you might also want to look into meal prep on your days off if the RMP doesn t'work out right away. Some stores like Costco and WinCo have really good deals on bulk items that can stretch your CalFresh dollars further for quick meals you can grab between shifts.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been using RMP in LA County for about a year now. One thing I learned the hard way - even if you're eligible and your card is properly coded, some restaurants have daily limits on how much you can spend with EBT. For example, some Subways cap it at $20 per transaction. Also, during busy times (like lunch rush), their card readers sometimes glitch and show "declined" even when you have funds. Don't get discouraged if this happens - just try again or ask them to manually enter the card. The program really is a lifesaver when you're working crazy hours and can't make it to the grocery store!
Layla Sanders
Did your quarterly review (SAR7) get processed properly? Same thing happened when I forgot to include my pay stubs with SAR7 and benefits were held. Make sure you didn't get any notices in the mail requesting additional verification.
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Gavin King
•The OP mentioned their benefits arrived this morning - looks like it was just the holiday weekend delay after all. But your point about SAR7 processing is a good one for future reference. Missing verifications on the Semi-Annual Report is one of the most common reasons for unexpected benefit delays.
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QuantumQuasar
Glad to hear your benefits came through! This is such a common issue that really stresses people out. For future reference, here's what I've learned about CalFresh deposit timing: Federal holidays always push deposits back to the next business day, and sometimes it takes an extra day for the banking system to catch up. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Presidents Day weekends are the worst for this. I keep a small emergency stash of non-perishables now specifically for these situations - learned that the hard way after being caught short during a Thanksgiving weekend delay a couple years ago.
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Emma Wilson
•That's really smart advice about keeping an emergency stash! I wish I had thought of that before this happened. Do you have any recommendations for good non-perishable items that work well for families with kids? I'm thinking rice, pasta, canned goods - but wondering if there are other shelf-stable options that are nutritious and kid-friendly for future holiday delays.
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