Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
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
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the DSS drops your call
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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not to be off topic but how do i apply for p-ebt for my 3yr old? we get calfresh but nobody ever told us about p-ebt for little kids
You don't need to apply separately if you're already on CalFresh. However, your 3-year-old needs to be attending a childcare facility that participates in the federal food program (CACFP). Ask your childcare provider if they participate in this program. If they do, and you're on CalFresh, your child should automatically receive P-EBT when cards are distributed to your area.
Update: Called my daughter's Head Start program this morning and they confirmed they're still participating in the food program this year. The director said several other parents have been asking about P-EBT too, and she thinks the cards are just delayed. She suggested waiting until the end of May before following up with the county. Thanks everyone for your help!
That's great news! The Head Start director is giving you good advice. The P-EBT distribution windows are guidelines, and they often run a bit behind schedule. If you don't receive anything by early June, then it would be appropriate to follow up with the county. Glad you got some clarity!
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has anyone noticed that the EBTedge app sometimes logs you out randomly?? happened to me twice last month and i panicked thinking my account was hacked lol. but ya the lock feature is good, i use it all the time. btw i heard they're gonna upgrade the actual EBT cards soon to have chips like regular credit cards which should help with the skimming problem
omg yes!! it logs me out like every 3 days! so annoying but i guess better for security? and i hope they hurry up with those chip cards, my cousin in nevada already got one!
Quick update on the chip card situation since it was mentioned - California is indeed planning to roll out chip-enabled EBT cards, but the timeline has been pushed to late 2025 according to the latest CDSS updates. The chip technology will significantly reduce skimming risk, but until then, the app's lock feature is your best protection. To answer the original poster's question about notifications - EBTedge doesn't have automatic deposit notifications yet, but you can set calendar reminders for your issuance date. Some users have reported success with setting up banking apps like Mint to monitor their EBT account and notify them of balance changes, though this varies by county integration. One final tip: when you unlock your card to shop, consider only unlocking it at the register right before you pay, then immediately locking it again after the transaction is approved. This minimizes the window of vulnerability.
Thanks for all this info! Late 2025 feels so far away for the chip cards, ugh. I'll definitely use your tip about only unlocking right at the register - that's smart. Wish the app had better notifications though. I'll just keep checking manually around my issuance date to make sure the benefits actually loaded correctly.
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DONT FORGET TO ASK FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING!!! They won't offer it unless you specifically say your family has NO FOOD and NO MONEY to buy any! I had to literally tell them my kids were going hungry before they marked my claim as "priority" - the system is designed to make you give up!!!
This is true. When requesting expedited processing, use the specific phrase "immediate need due to household emergency" - that's the terminology that triggers their expedited protocols.
One additional suggestion - if you have the transaction details showing the suspicious location, print that out to include with your police report. Also, when you file the report, make sure it lists "EBT fraud/theft" specifically, as some officers may not be familiar with the proper categorization. This helps ensure your claim meets all requirements for replacement. Most counties are processing these claims faster now (often within 5-7 business days) due to the new legislation, but having complete documentation speeds things up.
I printed all the transaction details from my EBT account showing the Lakewood charges. Planning to get the police report first thing tomorrow and will make sure they categorize it correctly. Thank you!
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my sister just got calfresh last month and she had benefits in like 5 days but she has 3 kids so maybe thats why it was fast? idk how it works exactly but i think families with kids get prioritized
Households with children don't automatically get prioritized for faster processing unless they also meet the criteria for expedited services (very low income/resources). However, families with children often qualify for higher benefit amounts based on household size. Each county processes applications in the order received, but expedited applications get moved to the front of the line regardless of household composition.
UPDATE: I called this morning and had to wait on hold for 45 minutes, but I finally spoke to someone! They confirmed I qualify for expedited services and are processing my application today. They said I should have benefits loaded onto an EBT card within 3 days and they'll mail the card to me ASAP. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.
thats awesome! glad it worked out for u!
Aaron Boston
Just to add some important information: If your benefits are stolen, California now has an expedited replacement process for households with seniors or children. Ask specifically for "EBT Theft Emergency Replacement" when you call. They're required to process these claims within 3 business days instead of the standard 10 days. This is part of the 2025 CalFresh Anti-Fraud Protection Act that went into effect in January. Also, always check that the card reader doesn't have a loose plastic piece over the actual slot. That's the most common type of skimmer. Give it a gentle tug before inserting your card.
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Chloe Zhang
•I did the 'emergency replacement' thing and they STILL took almost 2 weeks! Is there any way to escalate when they miss their own deadlines? My kids were hungry and I had to borrow money from my sister.
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Hunter Hampton
Update: I just came from my local DPSS office and they have a new sign saying they CANNOT process more than 2 benefit theft claims per household per year now! When did this rule change??? The worker said there's been so much fraud that they had to put limits in place. I'm terrified of using my card anywhere now.
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Brandon Parker
•That's the new state policy as of March 2025, but there's an exception process for verified theft cases. If you can provide a police report that confirms the theft (not just reporting it, but where police verify fraud took place), they have to process additional claims. It's an extra step but important to know.
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