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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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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!
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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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I made this EXACT mistake last year and it was so embarrassing!!! Was at Denny's with my kids, tried to use my P-EBT card since my regular CalFresh was low, and it got declined. The waitress told me "you can't use WELFARE here" really loud and everyone stared at us. I wanted to tell her actually my REGULAR EBT would work just fine there but I was too mortified. Now I keep the cards in separate wallet sections so I don't mix them up. But yeah, P-EBT = groceries only, regular CalFresh = both groceries AND restaurants (if you qualify for RMP).
Ugh, I'm so sorry that happened to you! That's exactly what I was worried about - the embarrassment factor. Thanks for the tip about keeping the cards separate. I'm going to do that too.
stupid question maybe but why cant they just make the rules the same for both cards?? its confusing when they work different
It's actually because they're funded by different federal programs with different purposes. Regular CalFresh (SNAP) has the Restaurant Meals Program exception that was created specifically for vulnerable populations who might struggle to prepare meals. P-EBT was created under pandemic legislation specifically to replace school meals children would have received, so it follows the standard SNAP rules without exceptions. I agree it would be less confusing if they worked the same way!
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also make sure ur actually at a store that accepts ebt!! not all grocery stores do and some only accept it for certain items. my first time i tried using it at this small market and they didnt take ebt at all and i was so confused
It was at Safeway, and they definitely take EBT. The cashier actually ran it as EBT and the machine said insufficient funds, so I know the store accepts it.
UPDATE: I just wanted to follow up because I noticed there was a system-wide delay reported for CalFresh benefits deposited on September 5th due to a processing error. Several counties were affected. Benefits should be loaded by midnight tonight according to the CalFresh status page. Here's the direct number for the California EBT Customer Service if you need to check your balance again: 1-877-328-9677. You can also check status updates at www.ebt.ca.gov.
Thank you so much for this update! I just checked again and my benefits still aren't there, but at least I know there's a system-wide issue and not something wrong with my specific case. I'll check again in the morning. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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My daughters teacher said we getting december money for sure!! But you know what my friend in LA county didnt get her august money yet so its all messed up anyways
ya my sister in san diego still waiting 4 august payment too... the whole system is broken
Just a practical tip for everyone: If you're relying on the December reload for holiday food expenses, please have a backup plan just in case. While the official policy does include the December issuance, P-EBT has had delays in the past. I'd suggest setting aside a little money each month between now and December as a safety net, if possible. That way, if there are delays or issues with the December reload, you won't be caught without resources for holiday meals.
That's excellent advice, thank you. I was planning on using some of the December reload for our holiday meal shopping, but I'll definitely start setting aside a little each month just in case there are delays.
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i just go to the office in person now cause the app AND the website are both trash lol easier to just hand them papers directly
Yeah but some of us dont have cars or time off work to sit there all day!! The whole point of the app is supposed to be that we dont have to do that!!! 🤬
Update on your specific issues: For the BenefitsCal app in Shasta County, there's a known issue affecting users trying to upload verification documents. The county is aware of it and working on a fix. In the meantime, you can email documents to shastaESS@co.shasta.ca.us with your case number in the subject line, or use the website version which is more stable. For P-EBT status, Shasta County's distribution is scheduled for late March 2025, so you likely won't receive notification until early March. The P-EBT cards are mailed to the address the school district has on file, so make sure your address is current with your children's school.
Thank you so much for the email address! I'll send my documents there right away. Really appreciate the specific info about P-EBT timeline for Shasta too - that helps me stop worrying about whether I missed something. You've been super helpful!
Sophia Nguyen
As someone who's helped several clients with this issue, I want to clarify some information: 1. Yes, California now has a limited EBT theft reimbursement program as of October 2024 2. You must report the theft within 10 days of discovery 3. You need to submit form CF 303 along with a police report 4. The county can replace benefits stolen via skimming/electronic theft (not PIN-based transactions) 5. There's a maximum of two months of replacements per federal fiscal year 6. Processing time is typically 15-30 days The most critical factor is documenting everything and following up persistently. Many county workers aren't fully trained on the new replacement program yet, so you might need to specifically mention "Administrative Notice 24-12 regarding EBT benefit theft replacement" to get to the right person. Also, request a PIN change and new card immediately to prevent further theft.
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Carmen Diaz
•Thank you for this detailed information! I've been trying to reach my county office all day without success. I'll definitely mention that Administrative Notice when I finally get through. Do you happen to know if there's an online way to submit the CF 303 form? Or does it have to be done over the phone or in person?
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Sophia Nguyen
•Unfortunately, the CF 303 still requires a signature, so it can't be submitted entirely online. However, you can download the form from the CDSS website, fill it out, and then either: 1. Upload the signed form through your BenefitsCal account under "Submit Verification" 2. Email it to your county office (if they accept emails) 3. Fax it 4. Bring it in person I recommend option #1 or #4 for fastest processing. And make sure to follow up by phone after submitting to confirm they received it!
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Andre Laurent
Update on this issue: The state recently announced additional EBT security measures rolling out in 2025. They're finally adding chip technology to new cards and implementing transaction alerts via text message. But that doesn't help right now, unfortunately. One thing I didn't see mentioned - if you're approved for replacement benefits, make sure you request a new card with a different card number before those replacement benefits are loaded. Otherwise, if your card information was compromised through skimming, thieves could potentially access the replacement benefits too.
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Carmen Diaz
•I had no idea they were finally adding chip technology - that's long overdue! And thank you for the tip about getting a new card before replacement benefits are loaded. I wouldn't have thought of that. I was able to reach my county worker today (after many tries) and they're sending me the CF 303 form. Fingers crossed this works out!
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