Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
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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!
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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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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
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.
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.
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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?
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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This totally sucks and i know exactly how u feel!!! When I needed housing help I applied for everything but got nowhere until I connected with a family advocate at my local WIC office. They had connections with housing resources I didn't even know existed! Do you go to WIC for your little one? If so ask them about housing resources next time you're there. Also try local Head Start programs - sometimes they have housing connections for families with young kids.
this is good advice, WIC helped my cousin find housing last year! they know all kinds of resources
Based on your situation, here's a step-by-step approach: 1. Call your county's social services agency immediately (same place that handles your CalFresh) and ask about emergency housing assistance programs 2. Apply for CalWORKs if you're eligible - this opens the door to their Housing Support Program 3. Visit your local Housing Authority in person if possible - sometimes there are emergency vouchers that aren't advertised online 4. Contact local family resource centers and ask about their housing navigation services 5. Check if your county has a Homeless Prevention Program that helps families before they lose housing Don't wait - start all these processes simultaneously since housing programs often have waits. And make sure to emphasize that you have a 1-year-old and a specific move-out deadline when speaking with agencies.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll start with these steps tomorrow morning. I didn't realize there were so many different programs to try. Fingers crossed one of them can help us before we have to move out.
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on a similar note has anyone else noticed their income reporting thresholds changed on their last SAR7? mine went from needing to report a $200 change to now having to report any change over $100. seems like they making it easier to cut people off by having us report smaller changes 🧐
Yes, this is a new policy implemented in January 2025. The Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) was adjusted statewide from $200 to $100 for changes that must be reported mid-period. This wasn't done to cut people off, but to align with federal guidelines. However, not all changes result in benefit reductions - many small income increases won't affect your benefit amount at all due to the earned income deduction formula.
UPDATE: Good news everyone! I just checked my account and my missing benefits from last month were FINALLY added back! They also added an extra $30 (not sure why but I'm not complaining lol). So if you're still missing benefits from last month, maybe check your account today! Seems like they're fixing the issues gradually. Still nervous about tomorrow's "maintenance" but feeling better knowing they actually did fix mine eventually.
just checked mine and nothing yet 😭 but glad u got yours back! gives me hope they'll fix mine too
The extra $30 is likely a processing fee they're required to add when benefits are incorrectly removed and later restored. It's part of the CalFresh regulations regarding improper benefit handling. Glad to hear your issue was resolved!
Romeo Barrett
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
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Jackie Martinez
•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...
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Marina Hendrix
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.
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Jackie Martinez
•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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