Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
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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
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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!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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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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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.
I'm going to try this tomorrow morning. I've spent enough time listening to that hold music! Thanks again for the recommendation.
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.
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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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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UPDATE: Still nothing in today's mail. Getting worried because we've had mail theft in our neighborhood before. Does anyone know if there's a way to check online if cards were mailed? Or request replacements if they were stolen?
There's no online tracking system for P-EBT cards unfortunately. If you believe your cards were stolen, you'll need to wait until November 1st (when all Phase 3 counties should have completed distribution) and then call the P-EBT hotline to report non-receipt and request replacements. Make sure you have your children's student ID numbers and school information handy when you call.
When you finally get your cards, remember to create a PIN immediately! The cards are useless until you activate them with a PIN. Call the number on the back of the card to set it up. I learned this the hard way standing embarrassed at checkout when my daughter's card kept getting declined. 🤦♀️
Good tip! I'll make sure to do that right away. Do the benefits expire if you don't use them quickly?
P-EBT 3.0 benefits will remain available for 274 days (about 9 months) from the date they're issued. So you don't need to rush to spend them, but do activate the cards right away so they're ready when you need them.
Jackson Carter
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.
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Arjun Patel
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.
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Alice Coleman
•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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