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
You're caught in a classic benefits catch-22. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, you can cancel an unemployment claim. You'll need to contact EDD to withdraw your claim. 2. For proof: Request an official "Claim Statement" from EDD showing $0 paid to you. This is the document both CalFresh and housing will accept. 3. Going in person is smart since the phone system is overwhelmed. Bring ID and your claim information. 4. Very important: Once you have documentation that you're not receiving unemployment, immediately contact your CalFresh eligibility worker to request a recalculation of your benefits based on your actual income, not potential unemployment. This is a common issue. CalFresh regulations require them to count "available income" but you can appeal if the income isn't actually available to you.
Thank you SO much for the clear steps! I'll definitely ask for that "Claim Statement" showing $0 paid. Do you think I should also get something showing I've withdrawn my claim entirely? I'm worried housing won't accept just the $0 payment proof and will think future payments might come. This whole system is so confusing...just trying to keep a roof over my head.
Join the conversation
I used to work in cyber security and this is a HUGE problem now. These scammers target benefit programs specifically because they know the system is slow to respond and many families can't wait. One trick I learned is to transfer benefits to a separate EBT account if your county allows it - keep minimal funds on your main card and move money over as needed.
That's brilliant! I never thought about splitting up the benefits as a security measure. I'm going to ask if Santa Clara County allows this. Thank you!
btw has anyone heard about that bill they were trying to pass to make EBT skimming reimbursement faster? whatever happened with that?
SB-583 passed last year, which requires counties to provide provisional credits within 10 days for skimming victims while investigations are pending. However, the implementation has been inconsistent across counties. If your benefits were stolen, specifically mention this law when speaking with your county worker, as some may not be fully trained on the new requirements yet.
Join the conversation
I want to address something important: If your income is changing with this new job in Kern County, you need to report that as well. If the change puts you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), you must report it within 10 days of the change. This is separate from the address change/county transfer. For a household of 3 in 2025, the IRT is approximately $3,750/month gross income. Be sure to check your last recertification notice for your specific IRT amount. Failing to report income changes can result in an overpayment that you'd have to pay back.
That's a good point - my income will be going up slightly but should still be under that threshold. I'm going from part-time to full-time at a similar hourly rate. I'll definitely make sure to report that along with the address change. Thanks for bringing this up!
Join the conversation
anyone know if the pbt is a one time payment or do they reload the card again next month??
From what I understand after reading everything here, this seems to be a one-time payment for now. That's why it's so frustrating that it's such a small amount! Barely covers a week or two of food costs for growing kids.
Just to clarify about the P-EBT amount that several people have mentioned - the $230 per child is specifically for the fall semester period. It's calculated based on a daily rate multiplied by the number of eligible school days. If you're struggling with food costs beyond what P-EBT and CalFresh provide, here are some additional resources in LA County: 1. WIC (if you have children under 5) 2. Food banks - LA Regional Food Bank has distribution sites throughout the county 3. School-based pantries - many LAUSD and other district schools now have food pantries for families 4. Summer meal programs will be starting soon where kids can get free meals during summer break Also, if your income has decreased recently or your expenses have increased significantly, you can report these changes to potentially increase your regular CalFresh benefits, even if it's not your regular reporting month.
The food banks are ALWAYS out of food by the time working parents can get there!!! I've tried 3 different locations and they're all picked clean by noon. Some of us WORK during distribution hours and can't just take off whenever we want!!!
Savannah Glover
ACTUALLY I just remembered!!! There IS a way to get extra food help for Easter break specifically! Many school districts run a Spring Break meal program where kids can pick up free breakfast and lunch even when school is closed. Check your school district website or call your kids' school office and ask about spring break meals! Might not be money on your EBT card but it does help with food costs when kids are home.
0 coins
Ella Cofer
•Thanks for this suggestion! I'll definitely look into it. Every little bit helps these days.
0 coins
Felicity Bud
I think the biggest confusion is that there are several different food programs with similar names. Just to clarify: 1. P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) - This was specifically for COVID and is gone 2. Summer EBT - This is newer and some states have it 3. Regular CalFresh/SNAP - Your normal monthly food benefits 4. School Meal Programs - Free/reduced lunch at school It gets confusing because they all help with food but work differently. The holiday extras were technically called "Emergency Allotments" and those are definitely discontinued nationwide.
0 coins
Ella Cofer
•This breakdown is super helpful, thank you! I definitely got all these programs mixed up. I'll focus on making sure I'm getting the maximum regular CalFresh benefits we qualify for and check out that Summer EBT program someone mentioned.
0 coins