California CalFresh

Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.

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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!


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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.


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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!

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my mom got some kinda extra payment last month but it was from social security not calfresh i think theres some confusion abt different programs maybe??

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That's a good point! Social Security recipients did receive a 3.1% cost-of-living adjustment in January 2025, which might be creating confusion. CalFresh (SNAP) benefits had their own annual adjustment in October 2024, but there are no emergency supplements currently.

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Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I'm going to call tomorrow and report both my rent increase and childcare expenses - had no idea those could help increase my benefits! I appreciate all the advice and clarification about the emergency allotments no longer being available. At least now I can budget accurately knowing exactly what to expect.

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Good plan! Those two expenses can make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. Be sure to have documentation ready - a lease showing the rent increase and receipts or a statement from your childcare provider. Good luck!

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Mei Lin

this is why i HATE the calfresh system!!! they keep changing the rules and not telling anyone. first they give extra benefits then they take them away with NO NOTICE!!! how are we supposed to budget???

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The emergency allotments actually ended with plenty of notice - counties sent letters to all recipients several months before the program ended in 2023. But I understand your frustration. Changes to benefits can be really disruptive, especially for those on fixed incomes.

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Mei Lin

well i never got NO letter!!! and i bet the OP didnt either. typical government BS

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Just to add one more thing - if you're seniors on fixed income and your IRT is N/A, you might want to check if you qualify for simplified reporting. Some seniors only need to report changes once a year instead of submitting the SAR7 every six months. Makes the paperwork burden much lighter!

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We actually do have simplified reporting! That's been such a blessing. We only have to do the annual recertification paperwork. I just wish they'd make the whole system easier to understand.

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One other critical tip: While waiting for your replacement benefits, make sure to freeze your EBT card through the EBT app or by calling the number on the back. Then request a new physical card with a different card number. Many people get their benefits replaced only to have them stolen again immediately because the thieves still have access to their card information.

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I did freeze the card right away, but I wasn't sure about getting a replacement card with a new number. I'll definitely do that - thank you! Do you know if the replacement benefits go onto the new card automatically?

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Yes, any replacement benefits will automatically be loaded to your new card once it's activated. When you get the new card, make sure to create a unique PIN that you don't use anywhere else. Also, it's now recommended to change your EBT PIN monthly as an extra security measure. Glad you froze the card already - that was a smart first step.

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did u try amazon fresh with ur ebt? they deliver groceries and u can use the $23 u have left for some basic stuff maybe

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I didn't know Amazon Fresh delivered in my area! I just checked and they do. That could really help stretch the $23 I have left. Thank you for this suggestion!

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To follow up on the medical expense deduction we discussed - when you go to your recertification interview, make sure to specifically tell your eligibility worker that you want to claim the medical expense deduction. The standard medical deduction in California for 2025 is $120 if you can verify at least $35 in monthly medical expenses. If your actual expenses exceed $170 monthly, you should itemize everything instead of taking the standard deduction. And don't forget about the Telephone Access Program (California LifeLine) for discounted phone service and the utility allowance for CalFresh if you pay heating/cooling costs separately from rent.

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Thank you so much! We definitely spend over $170 monthly on medical expenses between us. I'm going to start gathering all our receipts and making a list of our regular expenses. This might really help increase our benefits.

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my grandma got meals on wheels when she was sick last year. they bring food right to ur door check if they do that in your area

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+1 for meals on wheels they helped my uncle too, not expensive and good for seniors who cant cook much

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just go to the food bank till u get it fixed thats what i always do when theres problems with my calfresh

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That's a good suggestion for emergency help. Do you know if they require any documentation or proof of need? I've never had to use a food bank before.

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nah most dont ask for anything maybe just tell them how many ppl in ur family. google food banks near u or call 211 they tell u where 2 go

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I'd like to clarify something important: if your benefits were valid yesterday and disappeared today without any notification, this is almost certainly a system error or administrative issue, not an eligibility problem. Under CalFresh regulations, the county MUST provide you with a Notice of Action (NOA) at least 10 days before reducing or terminating your benefits. The only exceptions are very specific circumstances like confirmed fraud or explicitly requesting case closure. When you call tomorrow, specifically mention that you did not receive the legally required 10-day notice, and that you're requesting immediate benefit restoration while they investigate the issue. Use those exact terms. This often triggers a faster response as it references their legal obligations.

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This is incredibly helpful advice! I definitely didn't receive any Notice of Action - I check my mail religiously for anything CalFresh related. I'll specifically mention the 10-day notice requirement when I call tomorrow. Thank you!

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