Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the DSS
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the DSS drops your call
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!
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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
make sure u activate it as soon as u get it!!! and pick a pin u wont forget my friend lost her pin and had to go thru whole process again
Thanks for the tip! Will definitely create a PIN we can remember easily. Did your friend have to call to reset her PIN or was there another way?
Mei Chen
just got my sons card today!!!! so they really are still sending them. check ur mail careful cuz like someone said it looks like junk mail totally
Omg that's great news! I'll be extra careful checking the mail this week. Did it come in a plain white envelope with no obvious markings?
Yes! Plain white envelope with just our address - no logo or anything. I was literally about to toss it thinking it was another credit card offer. The only way you can tell is if you look really close at the return address which says something about EBT services. Super easy to miss!
Join the conversation
Oliver Cheng
I'm experiencing the same issue today! My benefits were supposed to deposit this morning but nothing showed up. Called the customer service line and they confirmed my case is active too. This seems to be affecting multiple people - wondering if there's a system-wide delay happening with the weekend processing. Has anyone heard anything official from the county about deposit delays today?
Join the conversation
Congrats on getting approved! Just wanted to add that you can also check if your local grocery stores have any CalFresh incentive programs. Some stores like Whole Foods and certain independent markets offer 10% discounts on produce when you use EBT. Also, if you're ever unsure about what you can buy with CalFresh (like whether energy drinks or prepared foods are covered), there's a good USDA app called "SNAP Retailer Locator" that also has info about eligible items. Welcome to the program - it really does help with food security!
Thanks for mentioning the store incentive programs! I had no idea places like Whole Foods offered discounts with EBT. That SNAP Retailer Locator app sounds really useful too - I was wondering about what I could and couldn't buy. This community has been so helpful with all these tips I never would have known about otherwise!
Congratulations on getting approved! I remember that same panic when I first got my CalFresh approval letter - the wording really is confusing. Everyone here is absolutely right that your benefits roll over month to month and don't expire for 274 days. I've been on CalFresh for about a year now and I usually have a small balance that carries over each month, which actually helps me budget better. One thing I wish someone had told me early on is to sign up for text alerts through the BenefitsCal app - they'll notify you when your monthly benefits are deposited and remind you about important deadlines like your SAR7 report. Makes managing everything so much easier!
Yara Khalil
•That's such a great tip about the text alerts! I'm definitely going to set those up once I get my card. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who's been using CalFresh for a while that having a small rollover balance actually helps with budgeting. I was worried about "wasting" benefits by not spending everything each month, but it sounds like that flexibility is actually one of the program's strengths. Thanks for the encouragement!
Join the conversation
Dmitry Popov
Hey Dylan! Welcome to CalFresh and this community! I'm also pretty new to the program (got my card about 7 months ago) and had the exact same confusion when I first started. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - you definitely can't withdraw cash or transfer funds from your CalFresh EBT card since it's strictly for eligible food purchases only. One thing that really helped me when I was starting out was downloading the FreshEBT app in addition to the ebtEDGE app others mentioned. It's super user-friendly for checking your balance and transaction history, plus it has a really helpful feature that shows you nearby stores that accept EBT. Also, don't stress too much about making mistakes while you're learning! I accidentally tried to buy shampoo with my EBT card on my second shopping trip (thought it might count as a "necessity" lol) and the cashier was totally understanding about removing it from my order. Most store employees deal with EBT transactions all the time and are really patient with newcomers. This community has been such an amazing resource for navigating everything - from finding the best deals to understanding all the program rules. Everyone here really gets what it's like to be new to government assistance programs. Welcome, and don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up!
Hey Dylan! Welcome to CalFresh and this amazing community! I'm also pretty new here (got approved about 5 months ago) and had the exact same questions when I first received my card. Everyone has already given you spot-on advice - CalFresh benefits are strictly for food purchases only, no cash withdrawals or bank transfers possible. One thing that really helped me when starting out was creating a simple shopping list on my phone with items I knew were definitely EBT-eligible (basics like bread, milk, fruits, vegetables) for my first few trips. It gave me confidence at checkout and helped me get familiar with the process without stress. Also, I discovered that many grocery stores have customer service desks where you can ask questions about EBT acceptance if you're ever unsure about something. The staff are usually really knowledgeable and helpful - don't be shy about asking! This community has been such a valuable resource for learning all the tips and tricks. Everyone here understands what it's like to navigate this system for the first time and is incredibly supportive. Welcome aboard, and feel free to come back with any other questions that come up. You're going to do great!
QuantumQuest
Thanks everyone for the helpful info! I checked my BenefitsCal account again and noticed there's actually a new notice I missed that mentions the 3.0 rollout for my county (San Diego). Looks like my 2-year-old should start receiving benefits in July and my 4-year-old in August. At least now I have some clarity on the timeline. Does anyone know if they prorate benefits if your child turns 6 during a month?
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
•Yes, they do prorate the benefit. If your child turns 6 during a month, you'll receive the benefit for the days they were still 5. For example, if they turn 6 on the 15th, you'll get about half the monthly benefit amount for that final month. The system calculates this automatically based on the birth date you have on file, so just make sure that information is correct in your account.
0 coins
Miguel Diaz
This is such helpful information! I'm in Fresno County with a 3-year-old and have been wondering about this too. It's frustrating how little communication there is from the county offices about these changes. I called last month and the worker had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the 3.0 benefits. Good to know it's automatic once our county starts the rollout - at least we don't have to submit separate applications. Does anyone know if there's a way to sign up for text alerts or email notifications when new benefits get added to your EBT card? Sometimes I don't check the balance for a few days and it would be nice to get a heads up.
0 coins