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If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
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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So glad you got your card sorted out! I'm actually dealing with something similar right now - my card stopped working yesterday and I think the magnetic strip got damaged. Good to know about being able to go to any county office in California. I was dreading having to wait for a replacement in the mail. Going to call around tomorrow to find the closest office with a working card printer. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You're welcome! I'm glad my experience could help someone else. Definitely call ahead to make sure they have a working card printer - saves you the trip if their machine is down too. Most offices can print a new card on the spot if you bring your ID. Hope you get it sorted out quickly!
Just want to add that if you're in a real emergency situation with kids to feed, some local food banks or churches might be able to help with emergency food assistance while you're waiting for your replacement card. I know it's not ideal and you shouldn't have to rely on charity when your benefits are right there, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for the kids. Also, if you have any neighbors or family who shop at stores that accept EBT online (like Amazon Fresh or Walmart grocery pickup), you might be able to ask them to order groceries for you and pay them back once your new card arrives. Just another option to consider!
This is really helpful advice! I didn't even think about food banks or churches as an option. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when our benefits are literally sitting there waiting for us, but you're absolutely right - when you have kids to feed, you do whatever it takes. The online grocery idea is smart too, especially if you have family or friends who are willing to help out temporarily. Thanks for thinking of practical solutions!
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I'm dealing with something similar right now - my benefits got cut off unexpectedly last week and I've been getting the runaround trying to figure out why. One thing that helped me was calling the fraud hotline (1-800-344-8477) instead of the regular customer service line. They have shorter wait times and can sometimes see what's happening with your case even if they can't fix it directly. They told me there was a "pending verification" flag on my account that I never got a notice about. At least now I know what documents to bring when I go in person. Also, if you have kids under 6, you might qualify for WIC as a backup food assistance program while you get this sorted out. Hang in there - the system is definitely broken but your family deserves these benefits.
Thank you so much for the fraud hotline tip! I never would have thought to try that number. I'm definitely going to call them tomorrow - if they can at least tell me what's wrong with my account, that would be huge progress. And I'll look into WIC too as a backup. Really appreciate you sharing what worked for you!
I'm so sorry you're going through this - the phone system is absolutely awful and it's infuriating when you need help urgently. A few things that have helped me and others I know: 1. Try calling your county's main CalFresh line instead of the EBT customer service - they can actually help with benefit issues while the EBT line is just for card problems 2. Call right at 8:00 AM sharp on weekdays, preferably Monday or Tuesday 3. Have your case number, SSN, and SAR7 confirmation ready before you call 4. If you submitted your SAR7 on time but benefits stopped, there might be a verification request that got lost in the mail or sent to an old address Also check if there are any local food banks or emergency food assistance programs in your area while you're getting this resolved. Many don't require applications and can help bridge the gap. The 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local emergency food resources. Don't give up - you and your kids deserve these benefits and there are people in the system who do want to help once you can reach them. The fraud hotline number someone mentioned above is also worth trying if the regular lines don't work.
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Also want to mention that some LA County offices have walk-in hours specifically for emergency situations like yours. The Crenshaw office and the Willowbrook office both have same-day emergency appointments available if you get there early (usually before 8am). Bring everything - eviction notice, pay stubs, IDs for everyone, birth certificates, rent receipts if you have them. One thing that helped me was writing a brief letter explaining my situation and timeline before going in. It helped the worker understand the urgency right away instead of me trying to explain everything verbally while stressed. Also ask about the General Relief program as a backup - it's not as much money but can sometimes bridge the gap while CalWORKs processes. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful. Ask to speak with a supervisor and use the exact phrase "I need emergency homeless assistance due to imminent homelessness." The magic words matter in this system unfortunately.
I'm currently going through a similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. Like others have said, you definitely need CalWORKs, not CalFresh. But here's something that might help with your timeline concerns - LA County has a "Housing and Homelessness Prevention" program that works alongside CalWORKs. When you apply, make sure to specifically mention that you have children and are facing "imminent homelessness" - this can qualify you for expedited processing. I was told by a case worker that families with minor children get priority for emergency assistance. Also, while you're waiting for CalWORKs to process, check if your area has any emergency rental assistance programs still running. Some still have COVID relief funds available. The LA County Development Authority website has a list of current programs. One more tip - if you have any documentation showing you've been a good tenant (like on-time rent payment history), bring that too. It can help when you're trying to secure new housing with the assistance. Good luck, and don't hesitate to be persistent with the county office!
Thank you Hannah! This is really helpful information. I didn't know about the Housing and Homelessness Prevention program or that families with kids get priority. I'll make sure to mention both of those things when I go in tomorrow. The tip about bringing rental payment history is smart too - I do have receipts showing we've paid on time for the past year. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what you've learned from your own situation. Hope things work out for your family too!
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FINAL UPDATE: My benefits were finally loaded this morning! Full amount, no reduction. For anyone else experiencing this issue, definitely try that special hotline number that was shared. I got through in about 15 minutes yesterday, and they confirmed my case was affected by the system update but was scheduled for processing last night. Sure enough, funds were there this morning. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
Great news! Glad it worked out. This is why I always tell people to keep checking their EBT balance daily when there are issues. The funds can appear at any time without notification. And always keep documentation of these situations in case it happens again!
So glad to see this resolved! I'm dealing with the same issue in Fresno County - benefits were supposed to load on the 12th and still nothing. Just tried that special hotline number and actually got through in about 8 minutes! The rep confirmed my case is in the queue and should process within 24-48 hours. She also mentioned they're prioritizing households with children and elderly members, so if that applies to anyone still waiting, definitely mention it when you call. Thanks for sharing all the updates throughout this thread - it really helped knowing I wasn't alone in this situation!
Emma Wilson
I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family. EBT fraud is unfortunately becoming more common and sophisticated. Here are some immediate steps you can take while waiting for your benefits to be restored: 1. **Emergency food assistance**: Call 211 right now to find local food banks, soup kitchens, and emergency food programs in your area. Many don't require paperwork and can help immediately. 2. **School meals**: Make sure your kids are getting free breakfast and lunch at school if they're eligible. 3. **Emergency CalFresh**: Ask your caseworker about emergency food assistance or expedited replacement benefits due to "household hardship with minor children" - this is different from the fraud investigation and can sometimes be processed in 3-5 days. 4. **Document everything**: Keep all your case numbers, call logs, and any documentation. Take photos of your empty EBT balance as proof. In my experience helping families with benefits, fraud claims typically resolve in 10-15 days despite the 30-day window they quote. The key is to keep calling and emphasizing that you have children with no food. Don't give up - you deserve to have your stolen benefits restored quickly. Stay strong, and please update us when you get resolution. We're rooting for you and your family.
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Ava Garcia
•Thank you Emma for such a comprehensive response! I'm definitely going to call 211 first thing in the morning. I had no idea about the "household hardship with minor children" option - that sounds like it could really help bridge the gap while waiting for the fraud investigation. I've been so overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do next. It's reassuring to hear that most cases resolve in 10-15 days rather than the full 30 they quoted me. I'll make sure to keep emphasizing that I have 3 kids when I call tomorrow. Really appreciate you taking the time to write all this out!
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Lorenzo McCormick
I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - having your food benefits stolen twice in one day with 3 kids to feed is absolutely devastating. I went through EBT fraud last year and want to share what helped speed things up for me: **Immediate actions:** - File a police report online (most departments allow this now) - having a police report number can help expedite your case - Call your county CalFresh office directly (not just the EBT fraud line) and specifically request "emergency replacement benefits due to household hardship with minor children" - this is a separate process from fraud investigation and can be processed in 3-5 days - Call 211 immediately for emergency food resources - food banks, community meals, etc. **For follow-up:** - Keep calling every 2-3 days with your case numbers. Be persistent but polite, and always mention you have 3 children with no food - Ask to speak with a supervisor since your total fraud amount ($799) is substantial - Set up alerts on your new EBT card through ConnectEBT.com to catch any suspicious activity immediately In my experience, most fraud claims actually resolve in 10-15 days despite the 30-day estimate they give. The emergency replacement benefits can help bridge that gap. Don't let them make you wait without any help - you have options for immediate assistance while the investigation is pending. Hang in there - this community is here to support you through this.
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