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!
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- 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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UPDATE: Finally got through to a CalFresh worker! Turns out they did send verification requests by email AND mail, but the mail one went to my old address somehow even though I've updated it everywhere. They needed current pay stubs because my employer reported a different income amount to the state database than what I reported when I applied (my hours fluctuate slightly week to week). The good news is they're reinstating my benefits immediately since I provided the pay stubs today, and I'll have emergency funds loaded onto my EBT card within 24 hours. They also updated all my contact info and enrolled me in text notifications! Thanks everyone for your help and advice - this community was invaluable when I was panicking!
glad u got it fixed! how did u finally get thru to someone??
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above! Was connected to a real person in about 15 minutes. Definitely worth it because I had already wasted hours trying to get through on my own.
So glad you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people sign up for text notifications - email is so easy to miss. It's crazy how the system can flag accounts for "verification" even when nothing has actually changed on your end. The fact that your employer reported slightly different hours to the state database shows how sensitive their automated matching system is. At least now you know for next time to check both email AND make sure your address is updated everywhere in their system. Hope your emergency benefits come through quickly!
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Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I called my daughter's school district this morning and they confirmed she'll be automatically enrolled since she receives reduced-price lunch. The cards should arrive in early June, and they said I don't need to do anything else. This will be a big help for our summer grocery budget!
That's awesome news! So glad you got it figured out. Just a heads up - when you do receive the card, make sure to activate it right away and check the balance. Sometimes there are delays in loading the funds even after you get the physical card. Also, the Summer EBT cards work just like regular EBT cards at grocery stores, but they can't be used at restaurants or for hot prepared foods. Perfect timing with summer break coming up!
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my cousins kid got pebt but they dont get calfresh they just get free school lunch is that different?
Yes, that's a different eligibility pathway. P-EBT 4.0 has multiple ways to qualify: 1. Children under 6 in CalFresh households 2. School-age children who receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program 3. School-age children who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals Your cousin's child likely qualifies through the school meal program rather than through CalFresh. The benefits work the same way regardless of which eligibility pathway applies.
I'm in a similar situation with my 5-year-old who's not in kindergarten yet but we've been on CalFresh since last fall. Reading through these comments is so helpful - I had no idea about the automatic issuance for kids under 6! I've been stressing about having to apply separately. Does anyone know roughly how long the cards are taking to arrive once they're mailed out? I want to make sure I don't miss it or that it doesn't get lost in the mail. Also wondering if there's a way to confirm our mailing address is correct in the system without having to call that overwhelmed hotline.
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UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for their advice. I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested and actually got through to a real person at the county office today! They helped me file the CF 303 form over the phone and took my police report number. Because I have no food for my kids, they're issuing an emergency replacement of $400 (about half) that should be on my card by tomorrow, with the rest coming after they complete the investigation. They also helped me set up the EBT app alerts so I'll get notified immediately if there are any suspicious transactions in the future. Thank you all for your help during this stressful time!
That's great news! So glad you were able to get emergency help. Just a tip - make sure to change your PIN immediately if you haven't already, and check your card for any signs of tampering. Sometimes these thefts happen because of skimmers placed on EBT card readers at stores.
Yes! They had me change my PIN immediately. And I'm going to be super careful about where I use my card from now on - only at major grocery stores where the card readers seem more secure.
I'm so sorry this happened to you! It's terrifying how common EBT card theft has become. I work at a local community center and we see families dealing with this almost weekly now. A few additional tips that might help others in similar situations: 1. Always cover your PIN when entering it - even if no one seems to be watching 2. If a card reader looks loose, damaged, or different from usual, don't use it 3. Check your balance frequently through the app or by calling the number on your card 4. Report suspicious activity immediately - don't wait The fact that you got emergency replacement benefits so quickly is encouraging! It shows the new theft protection rules are actually working when people know how to navigate the system properly. Thank you for sharing your experience - it will definitely help other families who face this same situation.
Gemma Andrews
Update: I ended up going to the 7-Eleven instead and got a sandwich and some fruit with my EBT. Thanks everyone for your help and for the restaurant list! I'm going to save that for future reference even though I don't qualify for the restaurant program. Maybe someday they'll expand it to all CalFresh recipients.
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Dallas Villalobos
•glad u found something! 7-11 sandwiches actually not bad in a pinch
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Abigail Spencer
Just wanted to add that some grocery stores like Vons and Ralphs have pretty good deli sections where you can get cold prepared foods with EBT - sandwiches, salads, sushi, etc. It's not hot food but it's ready to eat and sometimes cheaper than convenience stores. The one on University Ave has a decent selection if you're still in that area. Also FYI - farmer's markets often take EBT too and some have prepared foods that qualify!
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