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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.
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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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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.
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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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Update? Were you able to get through to PG&E or get any emergency food assistance? This happened to me last year (though it was with my car insurance, not PG&E) and I ended up having to wait 7 business days for the refund. The most effective thing was filing a complaint with the Department of Insurance, which might be different for utilities. For me, going to the local CalFresh office in person worked better than calling - they provided a one-time emergency supplement once I showed them my bank statement. Hope you got this resolved!
Thank you for checking back! I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and actually got through to PG&E this morning! They admitted it was an error in their system and promised a refund in 3-5 business days. I also went to a food bank yesterday that gave us enough to get through a week. I'm going to try visiting the CalFresh office in person tomorrow like you suggested. I'll update if I get the emergency supplement approved!
I'm so glad you're making progress with this! That's exactly what I was hoping would happen with the Claimyr service - it really does help cut through PG&E's phone maze. Three things I'd suggest for your CalFresh office visit tomorrow: 1) Bring printed bank statements showing both the unauthorized withdrawal and your current low balance, 2) Take a photo of your PG&E account showing the credit balance (proves it was their error), and 3) Ask specifically for a "household emergency supplement" rather than just "emergency benefits" - the exact terminology can sometimes make a difference with county workers. Also, if the first worker you speak with says no, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Different workers sometimes interpret the emergency rules differently. Really hoping you get approved for the supplement - keep us posted!
This is such helpful advice! I never would have thought about the specific terminology to use. I'm definitely printing everything out tonight and taking photos of my PG&E account like you suggested. It's really reassuring to know that different workers might have different interpretations - I was worried if the first person said no that would be it. Thank you for taking the time to give such detailed guidance, it means a lot when you're dealing with something this stressful!
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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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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.
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!
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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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!
Connor Richards
Has anyone tried the chip-enabled EBT cards? My worker mentioned California is slowly rolling them out to help prevent skimming. I'm on the waitlist but they said it could be months before I get one in my county.
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Lucy Lam
•The chip cards are being piloted in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego counties first. Statewide rollout won't be complete until mid-2026 according to the current timeline. The chips do help with in-store skimming but won't prevent all types of fraud. You can request one, but as you noted, the waitlists are long in most counties.
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Maya Diaz
This is absolutely infuriating! I'm a single mom with two kids and had my benefits stolen twice in the last 5 months - $467 in December and $421 just last month. The stress of not knowing if your food money will be there when you need it is unbearable. I've been following some of the advice here - downloaded the BenefitsCal app to freeze my card between uses, joined the Facebook group someone mentioned, and I'm definitely going to file for that administrative hearing. The fact that we have to become experts on federal regulations and jump through all these hoops just to feed our families is ridiculous. What really gets me is how the county workers act like WE'RE the problem when we report theft. Like we're trying to scam the system instead of being victims of actual criminals. The whole system needs an overhaul, and I'm ready to fight for it. Count me in for any coordinated media outreach or legal action!
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