California CalFresh
CommunityGovernment Services
Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Live agent or your money backRefund policy
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
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 :)
Will there be another P-EBT 0-6 reload in 2025? Running out of benefits
My family has been relying on the P-EBT 0-6 benefits for my twins who just turned 4. Our last reload was about 6 weeks ago, and we're starting to get worried as funds are getting low. Does anyone know if California is planning another reload soon? I checked the CDSS website but couldn't find any clear information about future P-EBT distributions for 2025. I know they sometimes announce these things last minute. Has anyone received any notification letters or heard anything from their county worker? Getting really anxious as grocery prices keep climbing.
Join the conversation
CalFresh benefits drastically reduced after adding new household member - need urgent help!
I recently added my sister to my CalFresh household after she moved in with me and my two kids (she lost her job). I reported the change through BenefitsCal and uploaded her ID and income verification documents. Our benefits just came through and they dropped from $650/month to only $175!! How can this be right? We're a household of 4 now with even LESS total income than before (she's only getting unemployment). I called the county office repeatedly but get disconnected every time. My sister has dietary restrictions too (celiac) so our food costs have actually gone UP. Do I need to file an appeal? Is there a calculation error? We literally cannot feed everyone on $175/month.
Join the conversation
One other thing to check - make sure they didn't accidentally count your sister's previous income from before she lost her job. I've seen cases where they mistakenly used old income information rather than the current unemployment. Also, did you report her as "mandatory" or "non-mandatory" when adding her? Everyone who lives together and purchases/prepares food together should be mandatory.
I'm pretty sure I listed her as mandatory since we definitely shop and cook together. But maybe they did use old income info... she was making a lot more at her previous job than she gets on unemployment. I'll specifically ask about that when I call tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
hey did u ever get this resolved?? my friend just had her benefits drop after adding her mom to the case too so wondering what happened with yours
Yes! Finally got through yesterday. Turns out they had accidentally counted my sister's previous income FROM HER JOB along with her unemployment! So they had us at like $5,500 household income instead of $3,900. They fixed it and our benefits are going up to $780 next month, plus they're giving us back pay for this month's shortage. Tell your friend to check if they did something similar!
That's amazing Emma! So glad you got it sorted out. My friend is dealing with the exact same thing - they added her mom who's on social security and their benefits dropped way more than they should have. I'll tell her to specifically ask them to check if they're double-counting income sources. Thanks for the update!
MyBenefits CalWIN app not working - need safe alternatives to check CalFresh EBT balance
I've been using the MyBenefits CalWIN app for years to check my EBT balance and transaction history, but it seems like it's completely stopped working on my phone. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but it just crashes when I try to log in. I need something reliable to track my CalFresh spending since I'm on a tight budget for groceries this month. Are there other legitimate apps I can download that are safe to use with my EBT card info? I'm hesitant to just put my card details in any random app. Has the county officially moved to a different app that I don't know about? Any help would be appreciated!
Join the conversation
Update: I downloaded both BenefitsCal and ConnectEBT. The ConnectEBT was super easy to set up and I can see my balance right away. The BenefitsCal was more complicated - I had to create an account and then it asked for my case number, which I had to find on an old notice. But now I have access to everything! Thanks everyone for your help!
glad it worked out for u! ya connectebt is way easier just for quick balance checks
Make sure you set up 2-factor authentication in BenefitsCal. There's been a lot of account hacking lately where scammers try to change people's direct deposit info for cash benefits.
I'm still confused about all this. So CalWIN is completely gone now? I have my annual recertification interview for CalFresh next week and I'm worried I'm supposed to be using some new system I don't know about. Will my EBT card still work the same? And when they say "BenefitsCal" is that the same as the old "MyCalFresh" website or something completely different? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to lose my benefits because I missed some announcement.
Great questions! Let me clarify: 1. Your EBT card works exactly the same at stores regardless of which system/app you use to check it 2. BenefitsCal has replaced both CalWIN and MyCalFresh (it's a new unified system) 3. For your recertification interview, you should receive instructions specific to your county 4. You won't lose benefits just because you haven't switched to the new system yet If you're worried about your recertification interview, you can create a BenefitsCal account now, but you can also still complete your recert by phone or with paper forms if needed.
This is really helpful clarification! I was panicking that I'd somehow missed a deadline or something. I'll try setting up the BenefitsCal account before my interview next week so I'm prepared. Is there anything specific I should have ready when I create the account, like documents or case numbers?
Where to withdraw cash from EBT card in South Bay & how PIN works?
Hey everyone, I just got approved for CalFresh and received my EBT card last week. I need to take some cash out (not the food benefits part, but the cash assistance portion). Does anyone know good ATM locations in the South Bay Area where I can withdraw without fees? Also kind of embarrassed to ask, but is the PIN process the same as a regular debit card? Do I just insert the EBT card and use the same PIN they sent me for purchasing food? First time using this system and don't want to look clueless at the ATM. Thanks for any help!
Join the conversation
One important thing to remember - always check your balance before withdrawing! You can check your CalWORKs cash balance for free by calling the number on the back of your EBT card (1-877-328-9677) or using the BenefitsCal website/app. I learned this the hard way after getting hit with an insufficient funds fee once when I assumed money had been deposited but it was delayed.
Good advice! I downloaded the app this morning and it's showing both my food and cash balances. So helpful to have that info before heading to the ATM.
Just wanted to add that if you're in the South Bay area, the ATMs at most County Federal Credit Union locations are also part of the surcharge-free network for EBT cash withdrawals. They have branches in San Jose, Campbell, and Santa Clara. I've used the one on Stevens Creek Boulevard several times without any issues. Also, pro tip - if you're ever unsure about an ATM, look for the "Quest" logo on the machine - that's the network that processes EBT transactions. If you see that logo, you should be good to go!
Does my preschooler qualify for P-EBT/Summer EBT (Sun Bucks) with CalFresh?
Hi everyone, I'm a bit confused about this Summer EBT program (Sun Bucks?) I've been hearing about for 2025. My son is 4 years old and started preschool last fall. We're currently receiving CalFresh benefits for our household. Does anyone know if he would qualify for the Summer EBT program? I keep hearing different things from other parents. Some say preschoolers don't qualify, others say they do if the preschool participates in a meal program? I don't want to miss out if he's eligible! Thanks for any help.
Join the conversation
I just wanted to share that in my experience, following up with the county office BEFORE summer starts makes a huge difference. Last year, families who proactively checked their children's eligibility status in May were able to resolve issues before the benefit distribution started. Those who waited until July or August to check often missed out because of the backlog of requests. So definitely call your CalFresh office soon to verify your son's status!
That's great advice, thank you! I'll definitely call them this week. I appreciate everyone's help in figuring this out!
Just wanted to add that you can also check if your preschool participates in the federal meal programs by looking them up on the California Department of Education's website. They have a searchable database of schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program. This might save you a phone call and give you the info right away! The database is usually pretty up-to-date, and if your son's preschool is listed there, he should definitely qualify for Summer EBT as long as you're on CalFresh.
Anastasia Popov
UPDATE: Our P-EBT card just got reloaded this morning! $198 for each child, which I think covers June and July. So they're definitely starting to issue the June payments now. Check your cards everyone!
0 coins
Sean Murphy
just checked mine and got it too!!! same amount $198 per kid
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
For anyone else following this thread who might be confused about P-EBT eligibility: 1. The P-EBT 0-6 program is continuing through fiscal year 2025 (ends September 2025) 2. Children must be under 6 years old 3. Your household must receive CalFresh benefits or be newly eligible under the expanded income guidelines 4. Benefit amounts for 2025 are $33 per child per eligible month 5. Payments come every other month, covering two months of benefits ($66 per child typically) 6. The schedule for 2025 has benefits being issued in January, March, June, August, October, and December If you're having trouble accessing your benefits or have questions about eligibility, contact your county CalFresh office. The P-EBT customer service line (877-328-9677) is often overwhelmed, so reaching your direct county worker is usually more effective.
0 coins
Nia Davis
lol good luck "contacting your county worker" - they NEVER answer and the voicemail is always full!!!
0 coins
Zoe Papanikolaou
@Nia Davis I totally feel your frustration! The county phone system is absolutely broken. What s'worked for me is showing up in person at the county office first thing in the morning - they can t'ignore you when you re'standing right there. I also keep a log of every time I call with the date/time so I can reference it if I need to file a complaint. It s'ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic information about benefits our kids are entitled to.
0 coins