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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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
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.
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.
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.
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did u check if maybe the card came but looked like junk mail?? my nephews p-ebt came in a really plain white envelope that looked like spam... almost threw it away!! no markings saying it was important or anything
I actually saved all our mail for a couple months because I was worried about exactly that! Went through everything multiple times and definitely no card for him. His siblings' cards came in white envelopes but they at least had the state return address. I've been super careful about our mail since then.
Quick update on P-EBT 3 timeline: If you're still missing a card at this point in 2025, it's definitely not coming without intervention. The final batch of initial P-EBT 3 cards was mailed in November 2024. At this stage, you'll need to specifically request a replacement through the hotline or email. When contacting them, ask them to verify if a card was ever issued for your child - sometimes there are system errors where eligible children are missed in the initial distribution. Based on your situation with siblings receiving benefits, your 9-year-old was likely eligible but either the card was sent to an old address or there was a system error in the issuance.
Thank you for confirming this! I sent that email yesterday with all his info and mentioned our change of address situation. If I don't hear back by next Friday, I'll try the Claimyr service to get through on the phone. It's good to know all initial cards should have been sent by now, so I can stop checking the mail every day hoping it might still come!
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I work with a benefits advocacy group, and unfortunately, EBT theft is increasing throughout California. Here are the current official recommendations: 1. Change your PIN immediately after benefits deposit (usually 1st-10th of month depending on your case number) 2. Check your EBT account activity at least weekly 3. Report unauthorized transactions within 10 days 4. Request an "expedited determination" if you have children or seniors in the household 5. File a police report and get a case number 6. Avoid using EBT cards at ATMs or card readers that appear damaged or have loose parts The state is currently working on implementing better security features, but until then, regular PIN changes are your best protection.
This is really helpful info, thank you! I didn't know about requesting an "expedited determination" - no one at the county mentioned that option. Do you know if benefit replacements are guaranteed if theft is proven?
Yes, if theft is proven, replacement benefits should be issued. However, there's a limit of two theft replacements per year under current regulations. Make sure to emphasize if you have children in the household, as this often prioritizes your case. The county must make a determination within 10 days of receiving all required documentation for expedited cases.
Just wanted to say im sorry ur dealing with this its super stressful. our family had to go to food banks twice while waiting for our case to be resolved last year. if ur in a bad spot call 211 they can tell u where emergency food assistance is near u
Thank you - I appreciate the suggestion. We're definitely struggling right now. I'll call 211 today. It's just so frustrating that we're entitled to these benefits but have to jump through so many hoops after someone steals them.
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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
Omar Farouk
I don't mean to confuse things, but are you sure it's a PEBT card and not regular CalFresh EBT? I only ask because sometimes people mix them up and the replacement processes are slightly different. PEBT is specifically for school-age children's food benefits, while regular CalFresh EBT is for general household food assistance. Just want to make sure you're calling the right department!
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Freya Andersen
•Yes, it's definitely PEBT (Pandemic EBT) for my school-age kids. We have that in addition to our regular CalFresh benefits. The PEBT is the blue card with my kids' names on it for their school meals program.
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Omar Farouk
•Got it! Just checking because the wait times and processes are different. Definitely follow the advice from the benefits worker above - asking for a supervisor and getting a confirmation number is key!
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Freya Andersen
UPDATE: I called using that Claimyr service someone recommended, and it worked! Got through to a supervisor who confirmed my replacement was stuck in "pending" status because of a glitch in their system. They fixed it and expedited a new card that should arrive within 3-5 business days. They also gave me a confirmation number this time. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Leila Haddad
•so glad u got it fixed!!! save that confirmation # like its gold lol. they always try to act like they never talked to u before if u dont have it
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Ravi Patel
•The system glitches are so common now with the new platform they switched to. Good thinking on getting the supervisor directly - regular representatives often can't see the backend status codes. Hope your card arrives quickly!
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