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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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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 :)
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Beth Ford
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Tried to get cash from my EBT card at 6:30 AM this morning and got the "technical problems" message at three different Bank of America ATMs. I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my account until I found this thread. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread system issue and not just me. The tips about waiting until after 9 AM and using cash back at stores instead of ATMs are game-changers - I had no idea about the system maintenance windows. I'm definitely going to try CVS or Walmart for cash back next time instead of wasting gas driving around to broken ATMs. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and workarounds. It's frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating around a broken system just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community helping each other out. Going to save this thread for future reference!
Omar Fawzi
•I'm so sorry you're going through the same frustrating experience! It's honestly such a relief when you realize it's not just you or your account - these Bank of America EBT system issues are way too common. I had the exact same panic the first time it happened to me. The community tips here have been absolutely invaluable - especially the cash back workarounds at CVS and Walmart. I've started keeping a note in my phone with all the nearby stores that do cash back and their fees, so I don't have to waste time and gas driving around to broken ATMs anymore. It's ridiculous that we need to be system experts just to get our own money, but at least we can help each other navigate this mess! Hope you're able to get your cash sorted out soon using some of these suggestions.
Nora Brooks
I'm so sorry you had to deal with this stress this morning! I've been dealing with these exact same Bank of America EBT ATM issues for months now and it's incredibly frustrating. The "technical problems" message seems to pop up most often during their system maintenance hours, which unfortunately can extend well past 6 AM sometimes. A few things that have saved me from this headache: - Try using the ATM locator in the EBT Edge mobile app - it sometimes shows which ATMs are having issues (though not always in real time) - 7-Eleven stores usually do cash back for around $1.50 fee, which is way cheaper than most ATM fees - If you're desperate, some 24-hour gas stations like Shell have ATMs that work when the BoA ones don't (expect $2-3 fee though) I've also started keeping a small emergency cash fund at home specifically because of these system failures - it's not ideal having to tie up money that way, but it's saved me multiple times when I needed cash urgently and the ATMs were down. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to work around their broken system just to access our own benefits. Hoping California really does switch EBT providers in 2026 like some people mentioned - this current system is way too unreliable!
GalaxyGlider
•Thank you so much for these practical tips! I had no idea about the EBT Edge app having an ATM locator feature - that could have saved me from driving to three different broken ATMs this morning. The 7-Eleven cash back option sounds perfect since there's one right by my work, and $1.50 is definitely better than the $3+ fees most ATMs charge. Your point about keeping an emergency cash fund is really smart too - I never thought about it that way, but you're right that it would eliminate the panic when the system goes down. It's just so frustrating that we have to plan our finances around their technical failures! Really hoping they do switch providers in 2026 because this current system is way too unreliable for people who depend on these benefits.
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Paolo Romano
it just started working for me!!! i just tried the atm at the gas station near my house and was able to get cash out. maybe try again?
OMG THANK YOU! Just ran to the ATM and it worked! 😅 What a relief. I was so stressed all day about this.
For anyone who sees this thread later: This was a statewide EBT cash benefit outage that lasted from approximately 6am to 4pm on May 3, 2025. It only affected cash withdrawals from EBT cards, not food benefit purchases. If you experience this issue in the future, here are some steps to take: 1. Check if it's a widespread issue by calling EBT customer service at 877-328-9677 2. If you need immediate assistance, contact your county office directly 3. Remember you can often get cash back with purchases at grocery stores that accept EBT cash benefits 4. If you face hardship due to system outages, document everything for possible emergency assistance The system should be fully operational now, but these outages do happen occasionally.
Emma Wilson
•That's such a good idea about text alerts! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea these system outages were a regular thing. Is there any way we can request that as a group? Maybe contact our state representatives or something? It seems like such a basic thing they should provide, especially since people depend on these benefits for essentials like rent and groceries.
@Emma Wilson That s'a great idea! I actually work with a local advocacy group and we ve'been discussing this exact issue. The lack of communication during system outages really impacts people s'daily lives. We could definitely organize a letter-writing campaign to state representatives about requiring advance notice and real-time alerts for EBT system maintenance. If anyone is interested in joining this effort, I can share some resources on how to effectively contact your representatives. These outages seem preventable with better planning and communication.
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This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm about 3 weeks into my CalFresh application and have been checking my mailbox obsessively waiting for some kind of update. The lack of communication from the county office has been so frustrating - they basically just said "wait 30 days" with no explanation of what that process would look like. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @Chloe Green's full journey from confusion to resolution, has been incredibly reassuring. I had no idea that getting an EBT card before approval was even possible, let alone normal! It's honestly ridiculous that county workers aren't trained to explain this basic part of the process. But I'm so grateful for this community where people actually share what really happens. Now I know not to panic if I get a card with no money on it - and to just keep checking the app patiently. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their timelines and experiences. I'll definitely come back with an update once I get through the process!
This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm in a very similar situation - applied about 2.5 weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting for any kind of update. Like you, all I got from the county office was "wait 30 days" with zero explanation of what to expect during that time. Reading through @Chloe Green s'experience and everyone else s'timelines has completely changed my perspective on the process. I was starting to think something was wrong since I haven t'heard anything, but now I understand that no news might actually be good news at this stage. The fact that getting an EBT card early is normal and (even a positive sign is) something I never would have known without this community. It s'really disappointing that such a basic part of the process isn t'explained by county workers, but I m'grateful we have each other to share these real experiences. Definitely keeping my fingers crossed that we both get our cards soon! Thanks for adding your voice to this thread - it helps knowing others are going through the exact same waiting game.
This entire thread has been so eye-opening! I'm just starting my CalFresh application process (literally filling out the paperwork tonight) and stumbled across this while doing research. Had no clue about the early EBT card delivery system - that would have completely freaked me out if it happened without warning! It's really unfortunate that something this standard isn't properly explained by county workers. You'd think they'd have some kind of script or handout to give people about what to expect. Reading through everyone's timelines and @Chloe Green's happy ending gives me so much confidence going into this process. This community is incredible - getting real experiences and practical advice that you just can't find on official websites. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who came back with updates. I'll definitely bookmark this thread and plan to share my own experience once I get through it all!
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To clarify for anyone reading this thread later - the official CalFresh policy is that benefits are available at midnight on your assigned day (based on the last digit of your case number), but due to system processing, there can sometimes be delays. If you're in an emergency situation, you can request expedited services (3-day processing) when you apply, or if you're already a recipient, contact your county office about emergency food resources.
Update: My benefits came through at 5:47am this morning! I just got back from grocery shopping. Thanks everyone for helping clear up my confusion about both the date AND the time. I'll be marking the 5th of each month on my calendar from now on.
Glad you got your benefits figured out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're ever unsure about your specific benefit date, you can also check the EBT Edge mobile app or call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card. They'll tell you exactly when your benefits are scheduled to be loaded. Also, some grocery stores will let you check your EBT balance at the customer service counter without having to make a purchase, which can save you the embarrassment of a declined transaction at checkout.
Liam Murphy
•This is really helpful info! I didn't know about checking the balance at customer service - that's a great tip to avoid the awkward checkout situation. I just downloaded the EBT Edge app too and can see all my transaction history and benefit dates right there. Wish I had known about these resources earlier! Thanks for sharing.
Natasha Romanova
I'm brand new to this community and just joined after dealing with a similar scare with my benefits last week. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly educational and reassuring! I had no idea about the quarterly system maintenance causing these false discontinuation flags, or that services like Claimyr exist to help get through those impossible phone lines. My situation turned out to be a simple address verification issue, but I was panicking for days thinking I'd lose everything. It's amazing how much practical knowledge has been shared here - from the technical explanations about data matching to real success stories from people who got their issues resolved quickly. @StarSurfer I really hope you were able to get through and sort everything out! This community seems like such an incredible resource for navigating these complex systems that can feel so overwhelming when you're new to benefits. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions - it's made such a difference for someone like me who's still learning how all this works!
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Malia Ponder
•@Natasha Romanova Welcome to the community! I m'also super new here and just joined after stumbling across this thread while researching CalFresh issues. It s'incredible how much valuable information has been shared - I feel like I ve'learned more about how these benefit systems actually work from reading this one discussion than from any official sources! The stories of successful resolutions using that Claimyr service are really encouraging, and it s'so helpful to see people like you sharing that even scary situations like false discontinuation flags often have simple solutions once you get through to the right person. Your address verification issue sounds much less stressful than what @StarSurfer was dealing with, but I can imagine how panic-inducing any benefits scare must be. This whole thread has really shown me the importance of not assuming these are just temporary glitches and actually following up right away. So glad you got your situation resolved quickly!
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Emma Anderson
I'm completely new to this community and just joined after discovering this thread while searching for help with CalFresh issues. As someone who recently started receiving benefits, this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening and educational! I had no idea about things like quarterly system maintenance causing false discontinuation flags, or that services like Claimyr exist to help navigate those impossible phone wait times. The technical explanations about data matching processes and income reporting thresholds are so valuable - this kind of behind-the-scenes information really isn't explained well during the application process. It's both reassuring and concerning to see how common these system glitches are, but the success stories from @Chloe Robinson, @Sean O'Brien, and others who got quick resolutions using that call service give me a lot of hope. @StarSurfer I really hope you were able to get through and resolve your situation with your kids depending on these benefits! This community seems like such an amazing resource for navigating these complex systems that can feel so overwhelming when you're new to them. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and practical solutions - I'm definitely bookmarking this thread as my reference guide!
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Natasha Volkova
•@Emma Anderson Welcome to the community! I just joined recently too after finding this thread, and you re'absolutely right about how educational this whole discussion has been. As someone completely new to CalFresh, I had no idea about any of these behind-the-scenes processes that can affect our benefits. The fact that quarterly maintenance can cause these scary discontinued "flags" is something I wish they told us about during the application process! It s'really reassuring to see so many success stories using that Claimyr service - I m'definitely keeping that bookmarked for future reference. This community seems so supportive and knowledgeable, which is exactly what newcomers like us need when navigating these complex systems. I hope @StarSurfer was able to get everything resolved for their family. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it s'nice to connect with other new members who are learning alongside me!
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