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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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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!
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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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sorry this happened to u! quick question - did u use ur card at any weird atms or small stores recently? my worker told me scammers put skimming devices on machines to steal card info. i only use mine at safeway now lol
OMG I did use it at this random convenience store last week because it was the only place open late. That must be where they got my info! I had no idea about skimmers on EBT machines 😫
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i bet its about ur upcoming recert. Mine was due in march but they started calling in JANUARY!!!! so annoying. they like to start bugging u way ahead of time so they can blame u if anything goes wrong lol
My recertification isn't until November, I just did it last November. But maybe they're REALLY planning ahead? 😂
Since you've confirmed there's nothing in your BenefitsCal account and your recertification/SAR7 aren't due, my professional guess is that it's one of two things: 1. There's been income reported to the system (through quarterly wage matching) that doesn't match what they have on file 2. They're doing a random quality control review (yes, these happen) Either way, you need to call them back. And definitely take care of that lost EBT card immediately. Those are two separate issues with two different phone numbers: - EBT Card: 1-877-328-9677 - CalFresh Case: Your county office
I did switch jobs about 2 months ago, but I reported it on the change report form they sent me. I think I need to call both numbers tomorrow. Thanks for helping me understand what might be happening!
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For anyone following this thread with similar questions: 1. Regular CalFresh benefits and P-EBT are completely separate programs with separate funding sources and eligibility requirements. 2. P-EBT cards must be activated by calling the number on the back of the card (not the regular EBT customer service line). 3. If you've been discontinued from CalFresh but still have a balance, those funds remain available to you until spent or until they expire (typically 365 days from issuance). 4. If your P-EBT card says it's "blocked," this almost always means it needs activation, not that you can't access the benefits. 5. For current P-EBT programs in 2025, eligibility is now determined through school meal eligibility data, not CalFresh participation. Hope this helps clear up confusion for others!
Quick question - my niece got a P-EBT card but doesn't get free lunches at school (we make too much). Is this a mistake or is there some other reason she'd qualify?
UPDATE: Both cards worked at the store! I'm so relieved. I was able to buy groceries with both my remaining CalFresh balance and the new P-EBT card after activating it. Thank you everyone for your help. This forum has been way more helpful than any of the official government websites or phone lines!
awesome!! glad it worked out for u! ya this place is super helpful ive learned so much more here than from my caseworker lol
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im still confused about the different between calfresh and calworks. do we need to protect both the same way?? my worker keeps saying i need to do recertification for my calfresh but i thought i was on calworks??? are they the same thing???
They're different programs but both use the same EBT card. CalFresh is for food only (formerly called food stamps) while CalWORKs provides cash aid. You can be on both programs simultaneously. The same theft protection methods apply to both since they use the same EBT system. You would need to recertify for each program you're enrolled in, but the timing might be different. Check your BenefitsCal account - it should show which programs you're currently on and when recertification is due for each one.
Thanks everyone for all these helpful tips! I've made a protection plan based on your advice: 1. I'll change my PIN the night before deposit day each month 2. I called the county today (finally got through!) and requested an authorized user card for my mom 3. I'll transfer most benefits to her card when they deposit 4. I enrolled in text alerts for all transactions 5. I requested a completely new card with new number to start fresh 6. I saved the theft claim form information just in case I feel so much better knowing I have options if something happens. This community is amazing! ❤️
Great plan! One more tip: when you transfer benefits to your mom's card, do it in smaller chunks over a few days rather than all at once. I've heard of sophisticated thieves monitoring accounts and waiting until right after large deposits or transfers to strike. Spreading it out makes it harder for them to get everything at once.
Abigail Patel
I called my kids school today and they said not all P-EBT cards are being sent at the same time. Apparently they're rolling them out over a 4-6 week period and prioritizing by school district. so if u haven't gotten yours yet, that might be why
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Caleb Bell
•This is correct. The California Department of Social Services has stated they're distributing the 2025 P-EBT cards in phases. If you had P-EBT previously, the new benefits should be loaded onto your existing card. If this is your first time, new cards are being mailed on a rolling basis. You can check your status at the BenefitsCal portal or by calling the P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677, though wait times are extremely long right now.
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Sydney Torres
Just a quick tip for everyone new to P-EBT: these benefits work a lot like CalFresh but have a few key differences: 1) P-EBT benefits last for 9 months from the issue date before they expire (CalFresh is 12 months) 2) You can use P-EBT at the same stores that accept CalFresh/EBT 3) P-EBT is specifically for households with children who would normally receive free/reduced school meals 4) Unlike regular CalFresh, you don't need to submit any SAR7 reports or recertification for P-EBT 5) P-EBT doesn't count against public charge rules for immigration Hope this helps!
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Alfredo Lugo
•This is so helpful! I had no idea the benefits expired after 9 months - definitely good to know. And I was worried we might need to do some kind of reporting like with other benefits. Huge relief that we don't have to deal with that paperwork!
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