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!
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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Thanks everyone for all your helpful responses! I checked and we definitely haven't received any P-EBT card yet. I'm going to try calling again, and if I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. It's frustrating because that could be several hundred dollars in food benefits we could really use right now. I'll update this post if I manage to get any answers from the P-EBT helpline!
Please do update us! One more thing to check - make sure your mailing address was correct in the CalFresh system during that eligibility period (Aug 2022-July 2023). If you moved and didn't update your address, the P-EBT card might have been sent to your old address. Unfortunately, P-EBT cards aren't forwarded by USPS like regular mail.
I'm so annoyed with the whole P-EBT system. It's been a complete mess from the beginning. My neighbor's kids got their cards months ago, but my kids who definitely qualify haven't seen anything! And when you call, you can never get through to a real person. Then they have the nerve to put expiration dates on the benefits! How is that fair when they're so inconsistent with sending the cards out? The whole thing is ridiculous.
OMG YES this!!!! the expiration dates are so unfair!!! my friend got her kids cards like 8 months b4 me and had all that time to use the benefits but i only had 2 months before some started to expire!!!!! i tried to call about it but couldnt get thru
Join the conversation
I want to add some clarification: While CalFresh 4.0 benefits are limited to children under 6, there are other programs that might help with your teenager. Your 16-year-old may qualify for free school meals, and some districts have expanded after-school meal programs. Also, when calculating your regular CalFresh benefits, teenagers are actually factored in at a higher rate than younger children because of their increased nutritional needs. So while there's no special supplement labeled specifically for teens, their higher food requirements are considered in your total household benefit calculation.
That's good to know about the calculation! J does get free lunch at school which definitely helps. Are there any summer programs when school is out? That's when our food costs go way up.
Wait I'm confused are these 4.0 benefits automatic? I have a 4 year old and didn't notice any extra on my EBT this month...should I be calling somebody? How much extra is it supposed to be?
Yes, the CalFresh 4.0 supplement should be automatic - it's approximately $43 per eligible child under 6 per month. If you're not seeing it on your EBT, it's worth calling your county office. Sometimes there are implementation delays or system issues that need to be addressed. Make sure to check your balance detail rather than just the total, as it might not be clearly labeled as a separate line item.
Join the conversation
my friend who works for the county says theres talk about inflation increases to calfresh coming soon maybe next years benefits will go up alittle fingers crossed
I'll believe that when I see it! They always TALK about helping but then nothing happens! Meanwhile grocery prices keep going UP!
Just to clarify something important - your regular CalFresh benefits DO increase each year with the cost of living adjustment (COLA). This usually happens in October. Last October (2024), benefits increased by about 3%. While this doesn't fully cover inflation for many families, there is an automatic annual adjustment. And yes, definitely report your rent increase - shelter costs are a major factor in benefit calculation.
I had no idea benefits increase automatically each year, even a little bit helps. I'm going to report my rent increase tomorrow and see if that helps my situation. Thanks for all the information, everyone!
Join the conversation
Just to clarify something important: P-EBT money doesn't expire as quickly as regular CalFresh. Regular CalFresh benefits expire after 9 months of non-use, but P-EBT funds remain available for 274 days (about 9 months) from the date of issue. This gives families more flexibility to use the benefits when needed most.
WAIT WHAT???? I didn't know there were different expiration dates! I thought all EBT money expired after like 3 months?? Ugh this system is so confusing.
@FedUpMom22 - Regular CalFresh benefits actually stay on your card for 9 months before expiring (not 3 months). P-EBT benefits stay on the card for about 9 months from the issue date too. Neither expires after just 3 months. The confusion might be because they used to send notices about using your oldest benefits first within 3 months, but that was just a recommendation, not an expiration notice.
Charlee Coleman
P-EBT isnt the same as calfresh tho. maybe try asking in a p-ebt forum instead? not trying to be rude just saying this is mostly about calfresh ebt not the pandemic school stuff
0 coins
Lucas Schmidt
•You're technically correct that they're different programs, but both P-EBT and CalFresh are nutrition assistance programs administered by the same department (CDSS). Many families utilize both programs, and the customer service issues often overlap. The information about verification processes and delays would be helpful for anyone trying to navigate either system.
0 coins
JaylinCharles
Update! I finally got through to someone today and got some answers. They said our school district is in the second batch of P-EBT issuances scheduled for May 10-15. The representative explained that they had to implement new federal guidelines this year which caused verification delays. For anyone still waiting, they recommended checking the portal at ca.p-ebt.org for your specific date once it's confirmed. She also mentioned that all eligible households will receive a notification letter about 7-10 days before funds are loaded.
0 coins
Freya Collins
•THANK YOU for sharing this!!! I'm going to check the portal right now. At least now we have some actual dates to plan around instead of just waiting with no information.
0 coins