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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!
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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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off topic but does anyone know if the amount on P-EBT counts as income for CalFresh? i just got my SAR7 and dunno if i need to report this
No, P-EBT benefits are not counted as income for CalFresh eligibility. You don't need to report them on your SAR7 form. They're considered non-cash benefits similar to school meals themselves. The only benefit programs you need to report on your SAR7 are actual cash assistance programs like CalWORKs, General Assistance, Social Security, Unemployment, Disability, or Child Support.
Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the P-EBT hotline, try calling right at 6am when they open - that's when I finally got through last week. Also, make sure you have all your info ready: card number, zip code where it was mailed, and your kid's birthdate. The whole process only took about 5 minutes once I actually reached someone. For those still waiting, I saw on the CDSS website that they're processing about 50,000 cards per week, so it's taking time but they are working through the backlog.
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the whole calfresh system is so confusing...i never know what im supposed to report when. do i wait for the SAR7 or report right away? and some things show up random in the account without explanation...
You're right that it can be confusing! The basic rule is: 1. Report on your SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) for most changes 2. Report IMMEDIATELY if your household income goes above your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) - this amount is listed on your approval notices 3. Report IMMEDIATELY if someone moves in/out of your household who will significantly affect your eligibility For things like rent increases or utility cost changes, you can wait for your next SAR7 unless you want the potential benefit increase sooner (then report voluntarily).
This is super helpful info! I'm new to CalFresh and just got approved last month. I had no idea that reporting rent increases could actually increase your benefits - I thought reporting changes would only hurt you. Good to know for when I fill out my first SAR7. Thanks for sharing your experience with getting through to the county office too, that sounds like a nightmare but glad it worked out!
Welcome to CalFresh! You're absolutely right that it can be confusing at first. Just remember that changes like increased housing costs actually HELP your case because they increase your allowable deductions, which can raise your benefit amount. The key is being honest and reporting everything accurately. Don't be afraid to ask your worker questions during your first few interactions - they're supposed to help you understand the process. And definitely keep all your paperwork organized from the start, it makes everything so much easier later on!
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I appreciate everyone's responses! Sounds like most of us are cautiously optimistic about these new cards. I just set a reminder to double-check my address on file. After what I went through last time with the stolen benefits, I'm willing to try anything that might help. Will update here when I eventually get my new card!
I'm really hoping these new cards work better than what we have now. I had my benefits stolen twice in 2024 and it was such a nightmare trying to get them replaced. The county workers kept asking for police reports and receipts I didn't have, and I went almost a month without food assistance the second time. One thing I'm wondering about - will the new cards work at all the same stores and ATMs? Sometimes when stores update their card readers it takes a while for EBT to work properly again. I rely on a few smaller grocery stores in my neighborhood and I'm worried they might not be ready for the chip technology right away. Also, does anyone know if we'll be able to use mobile payment options eventually? I see people paying with their phones at stores and wonder if that might be even more secure than cards.
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not to go off topic but does anyone know when the next round of P-EBT is supposed to come out? my kids qualified last time but i haven't heard anything about this year
my case worker said they're doing the summer p-ebt drops in 3 phases this year. phase 1 was may, phase 2 is july, phase 3 is september. depends on which county ur in and what letter ur last name starts with
Update: So I talked to my preschool director this morning. Turns out they do participate in the National School Lunch Program but my daughter wasn't properly coded in their system as eligible for free meals (even though she is). The director is sending me a correction letter that I can submit to CalFresh. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll try using that Claimyr service to get through to someone once I have the letter.
Great news! Make sure the letter specifically states: 1. The preschool participates in NSLP 2. Your child's name and date of birth 3. Confirmation of free/reduced-price meal eligibility 4. The effective date of eligibility (should be prior to summer) 5. School administrator's signature and contact information The more detailed the documentation, the faster your case will be resolved.
Angelina Farar
Since we're talking about P-EBT in Imperial County, I want to mention that there's a second phase of benefits coming in summer 2025 for eligible children. If your child receives this first card, they'll likely get the summer benefit too. Also, to answer your original question more directly - receiving P-EBT will NOT create any problems for you. It won't affect your taxes, won't be counted as income for any other benefits, and doesn't create any reporting requirements. It's essentially a no-strings-attached food benefit for eligible children. Like others mentioned, applying for regular CalFresh is a separate process that you might want to consider. The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete.
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Skylar Neal
•This is so helpful! I'm going to apply for CalFresh this weekend. And I'm relieved to hear about the summer benefits too - every bit helps with a growing child!
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CyberNinja
Just wanted to add that you should keep that original notice letter in a safe place! If there are ever any questions about your P-EBT benefits or if you need to reference the program details later, having the original documentation is helpful. Also, once you get your card and start using it, you can check your balance online at ebtEDGE.com or by calling the number on the back of the card. The website also shows your transaction history, which is useful for budgeting and keeping track of what you've purchased. Sounds like you're all set and this is definitely legitimate - enjoy the extra help with groceries for your son!
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