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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
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!
Join the conversation
Amina Sy
my mom had her calfresh stole last year but she didn't report it till almost 60 days later cause she thought it was my brother using her card (he wasn't) and they still replaced it for her so don't worry they will give it back just takes time
UPDATE: Finally got through to someone today! Used that Claimyr service and actually spoke to a real person after trying for days. Turns out I was missing some documentation - they needed the actual police report not just the number. Also I had to verify again that I wasn't the one who did the transaction. They said once I email the missing documents I should get the replacement benefits in 7-10 days. They also referred me to two local food banks that can help in the meantime. Thanks everyone for your help!!
That's great news! Make sure to follow up if you don't see the benefits by the date they promised. And for future reference, always get the name and ID number of any CalFresh worker you speak with - it helps if you need to reference the conversation later.
Join the conversation
To update your information, you have three options: 1. Online through BenefitsCal.com (easiest method) 2. Call your county office (can be time-consuming) 3. Visit your local county office in person Reporting utilities is important because CalFresh uses the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) of $524 in California for 2025 if you pay heating or cooling costs. This deduction can significantly increase your benefits because it reduces your countable income. You don't need to wait for your next SAR7 or recertification to report this - it's considered a change that could increase benefits, so you can report it anytime.
The whole CalFresh system is SO CONFUSING with all these rules and forms!!! I've been on it for 2 years and STILL don't understand half of what they send me. I just know my benefits come on the 6th and I pray they don't randomly cut me off for some paperwork I didn't know I was supposed to fill out. The county workers act like we're supposed to be experts on all this stuff!
You're right that the system can be confusing. The most important forms to keep track of are: 1. SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) - Due every 6 months 2. Recertification - Due once per year Missing either of these will result in discontinued benefits. Setting calendar reminders for these two forms can help prevent unexpected benefit loss.
Join the conversation
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jabari-Jo
fyi my neighbor works for the school district and she said if u got p-ebt before u should get the new one at the same card they dont send new ones unless u never had one before
0 coins
Kristin Frank
That's partially correct. If you received P-EBT 2.0 benefits, the P-EBT 3.0 benefits will be loaded onto the same card. However, families who only received P-EBT 1.0 (from the 2019-2020 school year) will receive a new card for P-EBT 3.0. It's always good to keep your previous P-EBT cards just in case.
0 coins