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
btw has anyone noticed the benefit amounts went up a bit this year? i got like $38 more this month for my family of 4 and wasnt sure if it was a mistake or if theres a cost of living increase thing?
Yes, there was a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 that took effect in October 2024. CalFresh benefits are adjusted annually based on the Thrifty Food Plan calculations. The increase varies depending on household size, but many households saw a modest increase in their monthly allotment.
I'm new to using CalFresh at farmers markets - is there a way to find out which markets in my area are having these EBT issues before I make the trip? I live pretty far from the downtown market and would hate to drive all that way just to find out the system is down. Also, when you mentioned Market Match doubling benefits, is that available at all farmers markets or just certain ones? Thanks for all the helpful info everyone is sharing here!
Great questions! For checking EBT status before you go, I'd recommend calling the farmers market directly - most have a main number listed on their website. You can also check if they have a Facebook page since markets sometimes post updates about system issues there. As for Market Match, it's not at every farmers market unfortunately. You can find participating markets on the Market Match website (marketmatch.org) - they have a map tool where you can search by location. The program typically doubles your first $10-15 in CalFresh benefits, so if you spend $10 in EBT you get an extra $10 in Market Match tokens to spend on fresh produce. It's such a great program when it's working! Hope this helps and welcome to the community!
Join the conversation
This is such valuable information - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm new to this community and haven't had to deal with stolen benefits before, but reading through all these responses makes me feel much more prepared in case it ever happens to me. A couple questions based on what I've read: When you withdraw the cash benefits from an ATM, are there any fees like with regular bank withdrawals? And does anyone know if you can use the cash benefits portion to pay bills online or does it only work for in-person purchases and ATM withdrawals? Also wanted to say how helpful it is that people mentioned specific details like listening to the full automated message and the 90-day expiration rule - those are the kinds of important details that caseworkers sometimes forget to mention but can make a huge difference!
Great questions! For ATM withdrawals, there usually aren't fees if you use ATMs that are part of the Quest network (most major grocery stores and many banks). You can find fee-free ATMs using the Quest ATM locator on their website. If you use an out-of-network ATM, there might be fees just like with regular bank cards. As for paying bills online, I don't think you can use the EBT cash benefits for that - it's designed more for in-person transactions and ATM withdrawals. The card doesn't work like a regular debit card for online purchases from what I understand. Your best bet is probably to withdraw the cash and then use that however you need to! And I totally agree about caseworkers sometimes missing the important details - this community has been such a lifesaver for figuring out all the stuff they don't tell you upfront!
I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through the exact same thing about 6 months ago and it's such a frustrating experience. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. When you do get your cash benefits back, I'd recommend taking a screenshot or photo of your balance right away showing both the food and cash amounts. I did this and it saved me later when there was a discrepancy in my account - having that proof made it much easier to resolve with customer service. Also, just to give you some peace of mind: in my experience, the reimbursement usually shows up faster than they tell you. My caseworker said it could take up to 10 business days but mine appeared after only 5 days. Keep checking your balance every couple of days! The whole system is definitely confusing (why they make stolen benefit replacements work differently than regular CalFresh is beyond me), but at least California does reimburse stolen benefits which not all states do. Hang in there - you should have your money back soon!
That's such a smart tip about taking a screenshot of the balance! I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense to have documentation just in case. And thank you for the reassurance about the timing - it's good to know it might come through faster than expected. I'll definitely start checking my balance every few days starting this week. This whole situation has been so stressful but everyone's advice here has made me feel so much more confident about navigating the process. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
Join the conversation
Congratulations on your approval, Amina! I'm in Orange County and just went through this exact same situation last month. My benefits were loaded within 2 business days of approval (which seems to be the standard timeline everyone's mentioning), but my card took 6 days to arrive. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're low on groceries! One thing I did that really helped was calling the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 on day 3 to confirm my benefits were loaded - they can give you your balance over the phone with your case number. Also, since you're in LA County, if you really can't wait for the mail, you can go to your local office with ID and your approval paperwork to get an emergency card issued same day. You've already gotten through the hardest part of this whole process! That $487/month is going to make such a difference. Your card should arrive by early next week, and the money will likely already be on it when it does. Hang in there!
Thank you Giovanni! It's so helpful to hear from Orange County with that same timeline - the consistency across counties is really reassuring. I think I'll definitely call that EBT number tomorrow (day 3) to check if my benefits have been loaded. It's amazing how much this thread has helped calm my nerves about the whole process. Knowing that pretty much everyone has had their benefits loaded within 2 business days, and that I have the emergency card option if needed, makes the wait feel much more manageable. Really appreciate you sharing your recent experience - it helps so much to hear from people who just went through this exact same situation!
Congratulations on getting approved, Amina! That 5-week wait sounds absolutely exhausting, but you made it through! I'm in Kern County and had a very similar experience recently. My benefits were loaded within 2 business days of approval, which matches what everyone else is saying here. My EBT card took about a week to arrive in the mail, but when I finally got it, all the money was already there waiting. Since you were approved yesterday, there's a really good chance your $487 in benefits might already be loaded or will be by tomorrow. That EBT customer service number everyone's mentioned (1-877-328-9677) is super helpful - you can call with your case number to check your balance even before your physical card arrives. Also, if you're really struggling with groceries right now, don't hesitate to visit your LA County office with your ID and approval notice to request an emergency card. They can usually issue one the same day for people in urgent food situations. You've overcome the biggest hurdle in this whole process! Just a few more days and you'll be able to shop for groceries again. That benefit amount is going to make such a difference in your food security. Hang in there - you're so close to the finish line!
Thanks Gabriel! It's so encouraging to hear from Kern County with that same 2-day timeline - it really seems like that's the standard across California. I'm definitely feeling much more optimistic now after reading everyone's experiences. I think I'll call that EBT customer service number tomorrow to check if my benefits have been loaded. It's incredible how much this community has helped ease my anxiety about the waiting process. Knowing that the money is likely already there or will be very soon, and having backup options like the emergency card, makes this so much more manageable. Really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to share your experiences - it means more than you know when you're going through this for the first time!
Join the conversation
Wow, this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I just got approved for CalFresh last month and had no idea the benefit calculation was this complex. My caseworker basically just asked for my pay stubs and rent amount, then told me I'd get $189 per month without any explanation of how they got that number. After reading all these detailed explanations about the utility allowance, I'm pretty sure I'm not getting the full deductions I'm entitled to. I pay electricity and gas separately from my rent (about $95 total per month), but I bet they just used my actual costs instead of that $490 standard utility allowance everyone keeps mentioning. That could be a huge difference! The formula breakdown that several people shared makes so much more sense than the rushed explanation I got during my interview. It's honestly shocking that we have to become experts in their own calculation methods just to make sure we're getting correct benefits. I'm definitely calling tomorrow to request that benefit calculation worksheet and specifically ask about the standard utility allowance. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this kind of community support is exactly what we need when dealing with such a confusing system. This thread should honestly be pinned at the top of this forum because it's more helpful than any official documentation I've seen!
Hi Malik! Your situation sounds exactly like what so many people in this thread have experienced - getting a benefit amount with basically no explanation of how they calculated it. That $95 in actual utility costs versus the $490 standard utility allowance could definitely make a significant difference in your monthly benefits, so you're absolutely right to question it. When you call tomorrow, I'd suggest being really specific about what you're asking for. Say something like "I need to request a benefit calculation worksheet and I want to confirm that you applied the Standard Utility Allowance of $490 rather than my actual utility costs." Don't let them brush you off with vague answers - you have every right to understand exactly how your $189 benefit amount was calculated. It's really frustrating that we all have to become CalFresh calculation experts just to make sure we're getting what we're entitled to, but I'm so glad this thread exists to help people like us figure it out. The knowledge-sharing here has been invaluable! Definitely let us know what you find out when you call - your experience might help other people in similar situations. Good luck getting those deductions sorted out!
I'm brand new to CalFresh and this discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I applied two weeks ago and have my interview scheduled for next Monday. I had no idea the benefit calculation involved so many different deductions and allowances - the county office basically just told me to bring pay stubs and proof of rent. After reading through everyone's explanations, I now realize there are so many questions I need to ask during my interview. I rent an apartment where I pay my own electricity, gas, and water bills (totaling about $140/month), but based on what everyone's saying about the $490 standard utility allowance, I should definitely make sure they apply that instead of my actual costs. The formula breakdown with the 30% calculation and all the deductions finally makes sense of why this system seems so complicated. It's really unfortunate that we have to educate ourselves like this just to make sure we get the correct benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing their knowledge. I'm definitely going to ask for that benefit calculation worksheet right from the start, and I'll be specific about requesting the Standard Utility Allowance. Thank you all for creating such an informative thread - it's going to make a huge difference in how prepared I am for my interview!
Hi Michael! You're going into your interview so much better prepared than most of us were, thanks to all the knowledge shared in this thread. Since you pay electricity, gas, AND water separately from rent, you should definitely qualify for that full $490 Standard Utility Allowance - that's a huge difference from your actual $140 costs! During your interview on Monday, I'd recommend being very direct about it. When they ask about utilities, say something like "I pay electricity, gas, and water separately from my rent, and I'd like you to apply the Standard Utility Allowance rather than my actual costs." Don't assume they'll automatically choose the option that gives you the most benefits - you need to advocate for yourself. Also bring those utility bills as documentation even though they'll likely use the standard amount instead. Having proof that you pay these costs separately is what qualifies you for the full allowance. And definitely ask for that benefit calculation worksheet right away so you can review everything before you leave the interview. It's great that you're going in prepared with all these questions! The fact that you understand the formula and know what deductions to ask about puts you way ahead. Good luck with your interview - I hope you get all the benefits you're entitled to from the start instead of having to fight for corrections later like so many of us have had to do!
Jackson Carter
Quick update on good news - I just checked and Alameda County does offer same-day emergency EBT card replacement at their main office (if you go early). Bring your photo ID and verification documents just in case. Some counties limit emergency replacements to certain hours, so if possible, arrive when they first open for the best chance of quick service.
0 coins
Sofia Price
•Thank you so much! I'll be there right when they open. This community has been incredibly helpful - I was panicking before but now I have a clear plan for tomorrow.
0 coins
Isabella Santos
Hey Sofia! I went through this exact same situation last month and I know how stressful it is. Since you already deactivated the card and no benefits were stolen, you're in a much better position than many people. Just wanted to add that when you go to the Alameda County office tomorrow, try to get there about 15 minutes before they open - there's usually a line for emergency services and they handle people in order of arrival. Also, if for some reason they can't issue a same-day card, ask specifically about their emergency food voucher program. Some counties can give you a temporary paper voucher to use at certain stores while you wait for your replacement card. Good luck tomorrow and don't let them make you feel bad for needing help - this happens to people all the time and it's not your fault!
0 coins