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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!
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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 :)
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Chloe Martin
Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! Looks like I'll stick with my plan to go shopping after 6am on the 11th. Good to know that the time hasn't changed, and I appreciate all the extra information about how the system works.
I've been on CalFresh for about 3 years and can confirm the 6am timing is still accurate. One tip I learned - if you're planning to shop right at 6am, I'd recommend waiting until at least 6:05am just to be safe. Sometimes there can be a few minutes delay in the system processing, especially on heavy benefit days like the 1st-3rd of the month when lots of people are accessing their benefits at once. Also, some store card readers seem to take a minute or two longer to connect with the EBT system in the early morning hours. Better to wait those extra few minutes than have an awkward declined transaction at checkout!
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GalaxyGlider
Since no one has mentioned it yet - if you need to check your balance but don't want to use an app, you can always call the number on the back of your EBT card (877-328-9677). I know you mentioned preferring not to call, but it's good to know the option exists if your phone is having issues or you're somewhere without good internet. Just another option to have in your back pocket!
that phone system is such a pain tho. takes forever to get thru all the prompts. the app is waaaaay faster
Amy Fleming
Welcome to CalFresh! I've been using it for about 6 months now and wanted to add a few tips that helped me when I was starting out. Definitely get the Providers app like everyone mentioned - it's been a lifesaver. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: many grocery stores have special sections or sales for EBT users, but they don't always advertise it well. At my local Ralph's they have a discount produce section that's perfect for stretching your benefits further. Also, if you shop at stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts, they sometimes have "EBT eligible" tags on sale items which makes it easier to spot good deals. Oh, and don't be shy about asking store employees if you're unsure whether something is EBT eligible - most of them are pretty helpful about it. The cashiers usually know right away if an item won't go through. Good luck with everything!
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Ravi Kapoor
Update: Thank you all for your responses! I showed this thread to my godmother, and while she still insists "they used to do it back in the day," she's now convinced it won't happen with my application. I think I've calmed her fears enough that she's not going to kick me out, lol. My phone interview is scheduled for next week, so hopefully everything goes smoothly from here!
Freya Larsen
•Glad to hear it worked out! Good luck with your interview. Just be honest about your situation, have your verification documents ready, and you should be fine. The CalFresh workers are generally pretty helpful.
Jacob Lee
Great to hear you got it sorted out! Your godmother probably was remembering something real from decades ago - the old welfare system was much more intrusive back then. But today's CalFresh is totally different. For your phone interview, just have your ID, proof of where you're staying (maybe a letter from your godmother), and any income documentation ready. Since you're new to California, they might ask about your move from Tennessee, but that's totally normal. The fact that you properly closed your SNAP case in TN before applying in CA shows you're doing everything right. Hope your interview goes smoothly and you get approved quickly!
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Nia Jackson
So glad you got it figured out! The system errors happen way too often. Did they say anything about giving you an extra month of benefits since they messed up so bad? sometimes they do that if you ask
Luca Romano
No, they didn't mention anything about extra benefits as compensation. Should I call back and ask about that? I wasn't sure if that was something they even did. The stress of not knowing how I'd buy groceries when we get back home was pretty intense.
Jamal Harris
•You can definitely ask about supplemental benefits for the administrative delay! It's called "restorative payments" or "replacement benefits" and they're supposed to provide them when their error causes you to miss benefits you were entitled to. Document the stress and any additional costs you incurred (like having to buy expensive convenience store food, etc). Some counties are more willing to approve these than others, but it's worth asking since this was clearly their system error, not anything you did wrong.
Jamal Wilson
•Absolutely ask about it! When I had a similar system error delay last year, I had to specifically request the supplemental benefits but they did approve them. They gave me an extra $200 to cover what I had to spend on more expensive food during the gap. The key is to mention that their error caused you financial hardship - especially with having a young child to feed. Don't let them brush you off, this is a legitimate entitlement when it's their mistake!
Sophia Russo
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been stressing about this same issue for weeks. Like @Miguel Ramos, I was getting an extra $298 on top of my regular $623 for my family of 3, and it just disappeared after May. I had no idea it was called the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement or that it was always meant to be temporary. I wish they had sent out clearer notices about when it would end - I would have budgeted differently if I knew. The information about Summer EBT is a lifesaver though! I'm heading to BenefitsCal.com right now to apply for my two kids. Has anyone actually received their Summer EBT benefits yet? I'm curious about the timeline for when they get loaded onto the card.
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Zara Mirza
•Hey @Sophia Russo! I'm in the same boat as you - just applied for Summer EBT last week after reading about it here. From what I've read on the BenefitsCal website, they say it can take up to 10 business days to process the application and then another few days for the card to arrive by mail. Some counties are faster than others though. I called my county office yesterday and they said Summer EBT benefits are being loaded throughout July, so hopefully we'll see them soon! The fact that it's $120 per child really helps - that's almost what I was getting from the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement. Really wish they had communicated better about that program ending too. At least we found this community to help each other figure things out!
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Andre Dubois
This whole situation is so frustrating! I've been dealing with the same thing - my extra $156 vanished after May and I had no clue why. I'm a college student with a part-time job and that extra money was crucial for buying fresh groceries instead of just ramen and canned food. Thank you @Keisha Johnson and @Zainab Omar for explaining about the Fruit and Vegetable Supplement ending - I literally had no idea that's what it was called or that it was temporary. The lack of communication from CalFresh is really disappointing. I'm definitely going to look into the Market Match program at my local farmers market. Does anyone know if the Summer EBT program is available for college students too, or is it just for families with children under 18?
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