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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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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.
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The one thing I haven't seen anyone mention - make sure to apply at the office in the county where you're CURRENTLY staying, not based on any previous address. CalFresh is county-administered, and each county has slightly different processes. If you apply to the wrong county, it can cause delays. Also, when they ask for an address, you can: 1. Use "homeless/car" as your living situation 2. Provide a mailing address (maybe a friend's place or general delivery at post office) 3. Ask if you can pick up your EBT card at the office rather than have it mailed For your child with autism - there's a program called IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) where YOU can actually become a paid caregiver for your child with special needs. Worth asking about at the same time you apply for CalFresh.
This is great advice about applying in the current county. Also worth noting - while CalFresh benefits can be used immediately once approved, the physical EBT card delivery can sometimes take 7-10 days if mailed. That's why picking it up at the office is usually faster for emergency cases.
UPDATE: I went to the county office this morning and applied for emergency CalFresh! The worker was actually really helpful once I explained our situation. I brought our expired out-of-state IDs, birth certificates, and some medical records for the kids, and that was enough. They did an expedited interview right there. We were approved for emergency benefits ($1,750/month for our family size!) and I got a temporary EBT card SAME DAY! The worker also helped me apply for CalWORKs homeless assistance and gave me referrals to several local food pantries. I'm so relieved we'll be able to get food today. Thank you everyone for your advice - it made a huge difference knowing what to ask for!
That's FANTASTIC news! So glad you got same-day benefits. Make sure to follow through with the CalWORKs application too - that can provide cash aid and potentially temporary housing assistance while you get back on your feet. And definitely look into those Regional Center services for your son with autism as someone suggested above.
awesome news!! glad u got help so fast
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i gave up on p-ebt completely. too much hassle for benefits that dont even cover a weeks worth of food tbh
I understand the frustration, but for us every bit helps. With grocery prices so high this year, that extra $200/month makes a big difference for my daughter's meals, especially on weekends and school breaks.
UPDATE: I finally got this resolved! Called using the advice about asking for the Database Reconciliation Team, and they found my daughter's application was stuck between systems due to a TYPO in her birthdate (they had entered 2018 instead of 2017). They fixed it immediately and said her card should arrive within 7-10 business days. They also said this is happening to lots of families right now because they switched computer systems in January and lots of records got jumbled. If anyone else is dealing with this, definitely ask to speak with that specific team!
Great update! This is exactly why it's so important to speak with the right department. For anyone else reading this thread, another tip is to ask the representative to read back ALL the information they have on file - full name spelling, DOB, address, etc. Many of these issues stem from simple data entry errors that are easily fixed once identified. The P-EBT program is administered differently than regular CalFresh, but the benefits are just as important for eligible children.
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Even WITH all the proper documentation they STILL mess it up half the time!!! I provided all the required paperwork for my seasonal retail job last holiday season and they STILL calculated my benefits wrong. Took THREE MONTHS to fix and by then the season was over!! The system is broken and the workers don't care because it's not THEIR food security at stake.
One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed income journal with exactly how much I earned each week and having my boss sign off on it. The county worker said this was really helpful for them to see the pattern of my seasonal work. Also, if you have any work expenses like transportation to the farmers market or supplies you have to buy, make sure to document those as they can sometimes be deducted from your income calculation.
That's a smart idea about the income journal. I do spend about $20/week on gas driving to the market location. I had no idea that could be deducted! Thank you for the helpful advice.
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This happened to me in October. The recertification process is a NIGHTMARE - they made me submit the same verification docs THREE SEPARATE TIMES claiming they never received them! When I finally got to speak with a supervisor, turns out everything had been in my file the whole time but wasn't properly "tagged" in their system. Here's what worked for me: I asked for an "expedited restoration" based on immediate need (I have kids too) and they were able to reactivate my case and issue benefits within 48 hours. Don't leave the office until you have something in writing about when your benefits will be restored. RE: the emergency allotment - in my case, they added it retroactively about a week after my regular benefits were restored. So while you might not get it Sunday, you should still receive it eventually if you get your case sorted soon.
This gives me hope! I'm going to specifically ask for an "expedited restoration" tomorrow. I can't believe how often they lose documents that were definitely submitted. My kids are going to be so disappointed if we don't have enough food for the holidays.
UPDATE: Just got back from the county office and wanted to share what happened in case anyone faces something similar. It took 3 hours of waiting but I finally got to speak with a worker. Turns out they had ALL my documents the whole time but hadn't "processed" them in the system! The worker was actually really helpful and apologized for the confusion. They reactivated my case on the spot and said my regular benefits should load onto my EBT card within 24-48 hours. For the emergency allotment, she said it might not come on Sunday with everyone else's, but that it would be added within 7 days after my case was reactivated. She also provided me with information about a local food bank I can use in the meantime. The lesson I learned: ALWAYS keep proof of submission for everything, and don't assume they've actually reviewed what you've sent. And sometimes you just have to show up in person to get anything resolved.
I'm so glad you got this resolved! This is unfortunately a common issue with county processing - documents get received but not properly indexed in their system. For future reference, whenever you submit documents, call a few days later to confirm they were not only received but properly processed and associated with your case. Thanks for updating us on the outcome!
So typical of them! Glad you got it fixed though. This exact same thing happens to SO many people during recertification. The system is broken. But at least you'll get your benefits soon!
Sophie Duck
After I got my issue solved, the worker told me a lot of families are experiencing this same problem. She mentioned that they're receiving thousands of calls about missing P-EBT benefits, so the system is completely overwhelmed. When I used Claimyr to get through, I spoke to an actual eligibility worker who looked up my son's information directly instead of just reading from a script. Definitely worth trying if you're still stuck.
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Mason Stone
•I'm going to try this tomorrow morning. I've spent enough time listening to that hold music! Thanks again for the recommendation.
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Lucas Lindsey
Quick update on P-EBT distribution for San Bernardino County: According to the latest CDSS update from April 30, 2025, Chaffey Joint district is scheduled for the June 10-24 distribution window. There were data transfer issues with several schools but those have reportedly been resolved. Benefits should be automatically issued during that window as long as your child is properly coded in the system. If you don't receive benefits by June 25, that would be the appropriate time to escalate. In the meantime, document that your child receives free school meals as this may be needed if you need to file for missing benefits later.
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Mason Stone
•Thank you SO MUCH for this specific information! That gives me a concrete timeframe to watch for. I'll wait until that window passes before panicking more. I appreciate everyone's help!
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