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.
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 :)
When will CalFresh deposit March 2025 benefits? My card balance is zero
Anyone know when CalFresh is loading benefits this month? My EBT card is completely empty and my kids are asking for breakfast. I usually get my benefits on the 3rd (my case number ends in 3) but it's already the 4th and nothing's there. Called the customer service number but couldn't get through - just endless hold music for 40 minutes before I had to hang up for work. I can't afford to keep missing work hours sitting on hold. Is there a delay this month or should I be worried my benefits got canceled? Really need this money for groceries ASAP!
Join the conversation
Can CalFresh replace food lost in Merced flood disaster? Need help ASAP
Hi everyone, we just went through the terrible flood here in Merced County last week. Our apartment got water damage and we lost power for 3 days. I had just spent $425 on a big grocery haul the day before the flood hit (was trying to stock up for the month since my benefits just loaded). Everything in our fridge and freezer spoiled and had to be thrown out. I've heard CalFresh might have some kind of disaster replacement program? Does anyone know if I can get emergency replacement benefits for the food we lost? Do I contact my county caseworker or is there a special disaster department? Never been through this before and my kids are asking when we'll have real food again (staying with my sister who can barely feed her own family). Any advice appreciated.
Join the conversation
did they ask for exakt $ amount of food u lost? my friend in stockton had a fridge die and they made her list everything item by item and it was a huge pain
They asked for an approximate total but didn't make me list every item. I showed them my receipt from FoodMaxx which had most of the groceries on it ($356) and then estimated another $70 for the stuff I had leftover from previous shopping trips. They seemed fine with that approach.
Glad to hear you got help! For anyone else reading this in the future who's dealing with a similar situation - the most important things to remember are: 1. Report within 10 days of the food loss 2. Get that CF 303 form filled out completely 3. Provide as much documentation as possible 4. If it's a widespread disaster, check if D-CalFresh has been activated And if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, services like Claimyr can help you reach a live person instead of waiting on hold for hours. That 10-day window is critical and can't be missed!
EXACTLY!! And remember the county WILL try to deny you if they can find any reason! I always tell people to submit everything IN WRITING too so they can't claim they "never received your call" - which happened to me before. The system is RIGGED against us!!
When will 2025 P-EBT cards be distributed for children under 6? Can't find info anywhere
Has anyone received info about when they'll be sending out the P-EBT cards for kids under 6 this year? My daughter is 4 and we got benefits last year but I haven't heard anything about the 2025 distribution. Nothing in the mail yet, and the website just says 'distribution pending.' Called the P-EBT hotline twice but got disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes each time. The school district office said they don't handle P-EBT for under 6. Anyone know the timeline or who I should contact??
Join the conversation
I was confused about this too and finally found some information in the FAQs section of the California CDSS website. According to their updates, the P-EBT for children under 6 years old follows a different issuance schedule than school-aged children. They're planning to distribute benefits to under-6 children in batches throughout March and April 2025. If your child received P-EBT benefits before, they should use the same card. If this is your first time, you'll get a new P-EBT card in the mail. The benefit amount will be $46 per eligible month for most children, though it varies based on school closure data in your area. Hopefully this helps! The communication around these benefits could definitely be clearer.
Thank you! $46 per month isn't a ton but it definitely helps with how expensive groceries have gotten. I'll just keep checking our old card and hopefully it loads soon.
Where to check 2025 CalFresh supplemental benefit amount for household of 4?
Hey everyone! I just got a notice that CalFresh is doing some kind of supplemental payment in August for eligible households, but the letter doesn't say how much we'll get. We're a household of 4 (me, husband, 2 kids) with monthly income around $3,100. Currently get $825 in CalFresh. Where can I check how much extra we might get with this supplement? Is there a calculator or chart somewhere on the BenefitsCal site? I've already logged into my account but couldn't find anything about the supplement amounts. Thanks in advance for any help!
Join the conversation
Has anyone actually received one of these supplements before? I always hear about these extra benefits but then nothing ever shows up on my card lol
i got one back during covid times they just appear on ur card on the regular deposit day that month
Thank you everyone for all the information! I finally got through to someone at the county this morning. For San Bernardino County, they said our household will receive approximately $190 as a one-time supplement in August. It will be deposited on the same day as our regular benefits. For anyone else looking for this info, I had to specifically ask for the "August supplemental payment chart" and the worker was able to look it up. They don't have this information posted publicly apparently, but they do have internal charts that show the amounts based on household size and current benefit level.
Thanks for coming back and sharing this information! It will help others in your county who may be wondering about the same thing. Glad you were able to get the specific amount for your planning purposes.
CalFresh EBT theft report taking forever - was told I'd get emergency replacement after 10 days?!
I'm about to lose my mind dealing with this EBT theft situation! Someone stole ALL my CalFresh benefits ($875) on the 1st of this month. I reported it immediately on the 3rd and followed every single step they told me - filed police report, signed the affidavit, provided transaction details, everything. I've been waiting 12 DAYS with no food money! I kept calling and getting nowhere, so today I went to the county office in person because multiple people in my apartment complex said if theft claims go beyond 10 days, they're required to give you emergency replacement benefits right then and there. The worker looked at me like I was crazy and said she doesn't know where I got that "misinformation" and my case has only been "processing for 5 days" - HOW?? I reported it 12 days ago!! The worker claimed the 10-day countdown doesn't start until after they receive all documentation, which I provided a week ago. My kids are hungry, I've borrowed money from everyone I know, and I'm so frustrated I could scream. Does anyone know the ACTUAL rules about EBT theft replacement? Are they just giving me the runaround?
Join the conversation
Update us on what happens! I've been through this before and eventually got my benefits replaced, but it took persistence. Remember to stay calm when talking to workers (even though it's SUPER frustrating) because they're more likely to help if you're not yelling. Bring all your documentation with you again just in case they claim to be missing something.
I'll definitely update! Going back tomorrow morning when they open. Will try to stay calm but honestly I'm at my breaking point. Will bring every piece of paper I have related to this.
have you checked the BenefitsCal portal? sometimes they update the status there before they call you. might say if they're still waiting on something
Just checked and there's nothing there about my theft claim! Just shows my regular monthly benefit was issued on the 1st (which was then stolen). So frustrating.
Carmen Ortiz
i had the same thing last month but on the 5th (my day is the 4th). i just waited and it showed up the next day. no explanation or anything but at least it came. i think their system is just slow sometimes.
0 coins
CyberNinja
mine came this morning!!!! finally. hope yours does 2
0 coins
Luca Conti
UPDATE: My benefits just loaded this morning! Looks like it was just delayed due to the system update AND the pending verification documents. I uploaded my pay stubs on BenefitsCal and also used that Claimyr service to actually talk to someone at the county office. They confirmed everything was fine with my case and the delay was just processing related. Thanks everyone for your help!!!
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
Great news! For future reference, always submit verification documents as soon as you receive the request, even if the deadline is later. The sooner you submit, the sooner your benefits process. Glad everything worked out!
0 coins