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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One more important tip - whether you use the app or not, I highly recommend checking your EBT account regularly for suspicious transactions. If your benefits are stolen, you need to report it within 10 days to have the best chance of getting reimbursed. California now has a benefit theft reimbursement program, but there are strict timelines for reporting.
That's really good to know. I had no idea there was a reimbursement program now. I lost almost $400 last year and just had to deal with it. I'll definitely check my account more often.
Ava Johnson
my sister got her ebt stolen and they replaced her benefits but it took like 3 months so dont depend on getting it back quick
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this happened 2 me 2!!! i got skimmed 4 like $250 and they only gave me back like $220 something. i called and they said it was bcuz of transaction fees from the ATM that they dont replace. did u withdraw any cash from ur ebt? they dont replace those fees
Interesting! I did withdraw $40 cash at one point to pay my neighbor back for giving us a ride to the grocery store. Maybe that's where the $15 went - in transaction fees? Seems really high for a fee though...
Have you checked if your county has a specific form for contesting replacement amounts? In Sacramento County, we have a "Benefit Replacement Dispute Form" that you can submit if you think the replacement amount was calculated incorrectly. Most counties have something similar. The form typically asks for your transaction history and requires you to mark which specific transactions you're disputing. It's usually processed within 3-5 business days rather than waiting for a regular case review which can take weeks. Also, for anyone dealing with card skimming: immediately change your PIN through the BenefitsCal portal rather than waiting for the new card. Sometimes thieves will continue attempting transactions even after you've reported the card stolen.
That's really helpful, thank you! I'm in San Bernardino County - I'll ask if we have a similar form when I call. And thanks for the PIN change tip too. I did change my PIN right away but I'll make sure to remind friends who might deal with this in the future.
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Emma Davis
If you're really struggling without the extra allotments, make sure you report ALL your expenses on your SAR7 and recertification. A lot of people don't know they can deduct childcare costs, excess medical costs (for elderly/disabled household members), and a homeless shelter deduction if applicable. Also, if your income dropped, report it right away - don't wait for your next SAR7. You might qualify for more regular benefits that way.
This is really helpful advice. I pay $950/month for childcare for my youngest and wasn't sure if that counted. I'll make sure to include that on my next report. Do you know if after-school programs count as childcare expenses too?
Emma Davis
•Yes! After-school programs definitely count as childcare expenses if they allow you to work or attend school/training. Make sure you have receipts or some documentation. It can make a big difference in your benefit calculation!
just want to add that you should check your EBT card balance regularly using the app or calling the number on the back of your card. sometimes they load benefits without any notification. and ya the pandemic extra benefits are over - my family really misses those too. made a huge difference for us.
Thanks for the tip about checking regularly. I'm downloading the app now. And yeah, sounds like those extra benefits were really helping a lot of families.
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Noah Ali
had this happen 2x already this year...its gotten so bad. now i just transfer my benfeits to my other account as soon as they hit so theirs nothing to steal. wish theyd fix this problem but they dont care about us
Ava Kim
•wait what??? you can transfer CalFresh to another account????? i never heard of this before????
This is incorrect information. You cannot transfer CalFresh benefits to another account - they can only be used via the EBT card for eligible food purchases. The commenter may be confusing CalFresh with CalWORKs cash benefits, which can be transferred to a personal bank account in California.
UPDATE: I wanted to follow everyone's advice here. I filed the CF 303 form online through BenefitsCal and used Claimyr to get through to a real person at my county office. The worker was super helpful and processed an emergency replacement for 60% of my benefits that will be available when my new card arrives in a few days. The rest will be replaced after the investigation, which she said typically takes 10 business days. Thank you all for your help! This forum literally saved my family from going hungry.
Emma Garcia
•That's amazing news! So glad you got the emergency replacement. Make sure to check your mail carefully for the new card - they come in very plain envelopes that can look like junk mail.
Ruby Knight
I'd like to clarify some information based on the updated California Department of Social Services protocols implemented in 2025: 1. CalFresh benefits CAN still be replaced when stolen electronically, contrary to what some recipients have been told 2. The official replacement process now requires: - Form EBT-2259 ("Request for Benefit Replacement Due to Electronic Theft") - Police report filed within 5 days of discovery - Statement detailing when/where you last used the card - Copy of your EBT transaction history (available on the app) 3. The county has 10 business days to make a determination 4. If denied, you have appeal rights through the state hearing process For prevention, the new enhanced security features include: - Card lock/unlock feature in the EBT mobile app - Biometric verification option (fingerprint/face ID) - Geographic transaction limitations you can set - Purchase amount alerts - Category blocking (prevent ATM withdrawals entirely) I'd recommend setting up all these security features before your benefits arrive. They're all available in the CalFresh EBT app under "Security Settings.
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Maya Diaz
•This is SO helpful, thank you! I just checked the app and found all these security features. I had no idea they existed! I've turned everything on and feel a lot better about tomorrow's deposit now.
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Nina Chan
my caseworker told me to just spend all the benefits on the first day which is what i do every month now. bulk shopping at costco then no worries about theft!!!
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Tami Morgan
•That's actually not ideal advice from a nutrition standpoint. CalFresh is designed to last a full month, and studies show households that spend all benefits at once often experience food insecurity in the final week of the month. Better to use the security features and shop throughout the month to ensure consistent access to fresh foods.
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