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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idk if anyone said this yet but you should also file a police report!! my cousin had this happen and they wouldn't refund her until she brought in a police report number
This varies by county. Some counties require a police report for EBT theft claims over a certain amount (usually $400+), while others don't. It never hurts to file one though, as it creates an official record of the theft. You can usually file non-emergency police reports online now in most California cities.
UPDATE: I called the county office using that Claimyr service someone mentioned, and actually got through to a real person! They confirmed my claim is in process and should be resolved within 10 business days. The worker also referred me to two local food banks that can help with emergency food assistance while I'm waiting. One of them has a special program for families with CalFresh theft issues. Going there tomorrow morning. Still super stressed but at least we won't go hungry while waiting for the refund. Thanks everyone for your help!
thats good!! make sure u keep checking ur balance everyday tho... sometimes they don't tell u when they refund it
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The whole system is DESIGNED to confuse you so you don't get what you're entitled to!!! They train those workers to deny whatever they can and hope you don't know your rights. I went through FOUR different workers before finding one who actually knew how to apply all the deductions correctly. The first ones kept 'forgetting' to include my housing costs!!! DEMAND to speak to a supervisor if they don't help you correctly. Don't let them bully you!!!
idk i think most of the workers actually try to help but their just overwhelmed with so many cases. my worker actually called me last month to make sure i knew about the child care deduction cuz she noticed i had young kids and was working. not all of them r bad.
Since several people have mentioned the childcare deduction - here's how it specifically works for CalFresh: - 100% of childcare costs are deductible (no cap) - This includes afterschool care, summer programs, babysitters, daycare - You need proof of payment (receipts, canceled checks, provider statement) - The deduction is applied BEFORE calculating your net income With $1,250/month in childcare, that could realistically bring your CalFresh up from $100 to possibly $300-400 for a family of 3, depending on your total household income. Call your county office, specifically ask for an 'income recalculation with childcare expenses.' Be persistent. If you get a worker who doesn't seem knowledgeable, politely ask to speak with a senior eligibility worker who can review these calculations.
Thank you so much for this specific information. I definitely have all the receipts since we pay through an app that tracks everything. I'm going to call first thing tomorrow morning and ask specifically for an income recalculation with childcare expenses as you suggested. I'm feeling much more hopeful now that we might be able to get a more reasonable benefit amount.
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To summarize the actual EBT card security best practices for everyone:\n\n1. Change your PIN occasionally (every 3-6 months)\n2. Check your balance after benefits post to confirm the correct amount\n3. Report any unauthorized transactions immediately (within 10 days gives you the best protection)\n4. Use your EBT card at major retailers when possible\n5. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN\n6. Never share your PIN with anyone\n7. Keep your EBT card in a safe place\n\nAnd most importantly, if you notice any unauthorized transactions, call the EBT Customer Service number on the back of your card right away to report it.
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UPDATE: My benefits came through this morning! Exactly on the 10th like usual. I was just confused about the schedule changes. Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance!
👍 glad u got it!
Still nothing on my card. Going to try that Claimyr thing someone mentioned. I can't believe we have to PAY to talk to workers OUR TAX DOLLARS already pay for. This system is so broken.
If your benefits are delayed, make sure to ask about emergency replacement benefits when you get through. If it's been more than 3 days past your regular issuance date and you have no violations or unreported changes, you might qualify. They can sometimes expedite a replacement within 24-48 hours if you explain that your household has no food. Be sure to mention if you have children or elderly/disabled household members as that can help prioritize your case.
Paolo Conti
Catholic Charities has emergency food assistance and they're usually open until 6pm. They don't ask about your religion or anything. Also check with Shepherd's Pantry in Glendora, they're open Thursday evenings until 7:30pm. Just wondering tho... if ur getting CalFresh on Saturday why don't u have food now? Did they reduce ur benefits or something? My caseworker told me benefits are supposed to last the whole month. Not judging! Just wondering if you should ask for an increase if it's not enough for your family size.
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Ava Martinez
•Thanks for the Catholic Charities suggestion! Will definitely try there. To answer your question - we normally make it through the month, but my oldest two kids had friends stay over last weekend (unexpected) and they went through our remaining food way faster than planned. Plus prices keep going up but my benefit amount stays the same. We get $1,020/month for 5 people which sounds like a lot but with four growing kids it goes really fast. I've tried asking about an increase but was told that's the maximum for our household size.
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Paolo Conti
•Oh yea teenagers eat SO MUCH! My nephew stays with us sometimes and omg he eats more than my whole family combined lol. That makes sense. Good luck!
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Miguel Ortiz
Just following up - were you able to find food assistance? If you're still struggling, you could try Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena. They provide meals and I believe dinner is served around 6pm. You don't have to be homeless to access their services.
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Ava Martinez
•Thank you for checking back! I was able to go to Friends In Deed yesterday and got enough to get us through until Saturday. They were really nice and didn't make me feel bad about needing help. I'm going to start putting aside a small emergency food stash for the future so this doesn't happen again. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!
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