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
I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because I've been following this thread and I'm so inspired by how supportive everyone has been. Sara, your situation really resonates with me as someone who went through a similar crisis when my partner was injured. What strikes me most about reading through all these responses is how common your situation actually is - you're definitely not alone in navigating temporary housing while applying for benefits. The advice about using "homeless/temporary housing" as your application category is exactly right, and the PO Box solution is perfect for addressing your friend's concerns. I wanted to add one small thing that helped me: when I did my phone interview, I mentioned right at the beginning that I was calling about an emergency application due to workplace injury and zero income with a baby. The caseworker immediately flagged my case for the fastest processing track. Don't be shy about emphasizing the urgent nature of your situation. Also, if $60 for a PO Box is tight right now, many local United Way offices can provide small emergency grants for exactly these kinds of immediate needs. It's worth a quick call to ask. You're being such a strong advocate for your family during an incredibly difficult time. With all the excellent guidance from this community, you have everything you need to successfully navigate this process. Your baby is lucky to have parents who are fighting so hard to ensure your family's needs are met during this crisis. Apply tonight - you've absolutely got this!
Thank you so much for this encouraging message and for following our situation! It's been incredibly overwhelming, but reading through all the support from this community has given me so much hope and confidence to move forward. Your tip about mentioning right at the beginning of the phone interview that it's an emergency application due to workplace injury and zero income with a baby is really valuable - I want to make sure they understand the urgent nature of our situation from the start so it gets flagged for the fastest processing possible. The suggestion about United Way offices potentially helping with the PO Box fee is something I hadn't considered either. If $60 is going to stretch our remaining savings too thin, knowing there might be emergency grants available for exactly these immediate needs could really help. After reading all the amazing advice from everyone here, I finally feel prepared and confident to apply tonight. It's been such a relief to realize how common our situation is and that there are clear pathways to get help while respecting our friend's concerns about government connections. I'm definitely applying with the "homeless/temporary housing" designation tonight and will emphasize the emergency nature of our situation. Thank you to you and everyone in this community for being such a lifeline during the scariest time in our family's life - I'll make sure to update everyone once we get through the process!
I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation really hits home for me. My family went through something very similar when I was injured in an accident and we had to temporarily stay with relatives while navigating the benefits system. Reading through all the amazing advice here, it's clear you have everything you need to move forward successfully. The guidance about applying as "homeless/temporary housing" is exactly right, and getting a PO Box completely solves the mail issue without involving your friend at all. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned - when you get your CalFresh benefits, consider asking your caseworker about the Restaurant Meals Program if it's available in your county. For families with young children in emergency situations, this sometimes allows you to use benefits at certain restaurants, which could be helpful if your temporary living situation makes cooking challenging. Also, don't forget to keep copies of everything you submit. With a temporary address situation, having your own records becomes even more important in case anything gets lost in the mail. Your determination to get help while being respectful of your friend's situation shows what caring people you are. Workplace injuries can devastate any family's finances overnight - this is exactly why these safety net programs exist. With zero income and a baby, you absolutely deserve expedited processing and maximum benefits. You're going to get through this crisis. Apply tonight with confidence - your family's food security is worth fighting for!
Thank you for sharing your experience with a similar situation - it really helps to know that other families have successfully navigated this type of crisis! The Restaurant Meals Program is something I had never heard of before, but that could be incredibly helpful since our temporary living situation does make meal preparation more complicated than usual. I'll definitely ask about that when I speak with a caseworker. Your point about keeping copies of everything is really smart too. With the mail situation being uncertain, having our own complete records will definitely give me peace of mind and ensure we don't lose track of important documents. After reading all the incredible support and practical advice from this community, I'm feeling so much more confident about moving forward. Everyone has helped me realize that workplace injuries really can happen to any family and that accessing these programs during a legitimate crisis is exactly what they're designed for. I'm definitely applying tonight as "homeless/temporary housing" and will get that PO Box sorted out first thing tomorrow. Thank you for the encouragement about fighting for our family's food security - that really resonates with me. This community has been such a blessing during the most challenging time in our lives!
Join the conversation
I've been on CalFresh for about 2 years and can definitely confirm this! Food benefits are available at midnight on your issuance day - the 6am restriction is only for cash benefits. I've done midnight grocery runs tons of times when I'm running low. My advice is to stick with major 24-hour chains like Walmart or Safeway since they process EBT all night. Smaller stores sometimes shut down their payment systems overnight for maintenance. Also, I always check my balance on the ebtEDGE app or call the customer service line (1-877-328-9677) around 11:45pm before heading out, just to make sure everything loaded properly. There's occasionally a 5-10 minute delay, but that's pretty rare. You should be good to go for your midnight shopping trip! Hope you can get some good food for your family.
This is so helpful to hear from someone with 2 years of experience! I'm planning my first midnight grocery run when my benefits load next week and was really nervous about it. The tip about checking the ebtEDGE app at 11:45pm is genius - gives me time to confirm everything loaded before making the trip. I had no idea that smaller stores might shut down their payment systems overnight, so I'll definitely stick to Walmart like you suggested. It's such a relief to know that delays are rare and usually just 5-10 minutes when they do happen. Thanks for sharing all these practical tips - really helps ease the anxiety of trying this for the first time!
I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months now and just wanted to add my confirmation - yes, food benefits are definitely available at midnight on your issuance day! I was in your exact situation a few months ago, completely out of food and worried about whether I could shop right when benefits loaded. I ended up going to a 24-hour Kroger at 12:05am and it worked perfectly. The key thing to remember is that CalFresh and cash benefits are totally separate systems even though they share the same card. One tip that's saved me from wasted trips - I always call the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) around 11:50pm to check if my balance has updated before leaving the house. Also downloaded the ebtEDGE app which is super convenient for quick balance checks. Hope your midnight grocery run goes smoothly and you can get some real food for your kids!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm in the same situation - completely out of food and was so anxious about whether midnight shopping would actually work. Your experience at Kroger is really reassuring, especially knowing it worked at 12:05am. I love the tip about calling that customer service number at 11:50pm - that's such a smart way to double-check before making the trip. I'm definitely going to download the ebtEDGE app tonight too. It's so comforting to hear from someone who was literally in my exact situation just a few months ago. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience - it really helps calm my nerves about trying this for the first time!
Join the conversation
This has been such an amazing thread to read through! I'm only about 6 weeks into my CalFresh certification and was completely lost about what to expect going forward. Everyone's explanations have made the whole timeline so much clearer - 12 months total with a SAR7 at 6 months for just that one specific month of income, then full recertification at the end. I work at a fast food place where my schedule changes weekly based on business needs, plus I do some babysitting for neighbors when I can. The variable income thing was really stressing me out because I wasn't sure how they'd handle the fluctuations. But now I understand that for the SAR7, I just need to focus on whatever income I actually received during their specific report month - not trying to explain my whole work history or average things out. The tips about keeping copies, following up to confirm receipt, and including brief explanatory notes when needed are so practical. I never would have thought to proactively check that they received my paperwork - I definitely would have just hoped for the best! Thanks to everyone who took the time to share your real experiences. It's such a relief to hear from people who've actually navigated this system successfully. The official paperwork makes everything sound so complicated, but this thread has shown me it's really more straightforward than it seems once you understand the basics.
Welcome to CalFresh! You've got the timeline exactly right - it really is more straightforward once you understand the basics. The fast food + babysitting combo is totally manageable for reporting purposes. One thing that might help with your variable schedule - when your SAR7 time comes (around month 6), just gather ALL income you received during their report month, regardless of when the work was actually done. So if you got paid twice from your fast food job that month plus received babysitting money, include documentation for all of it. Don't worry about explaining why one week had more hours than another - that's just normal for food service. The babysitting income is something to keep track of too. Even if it's just cash from neighbors, you'll want to report whatever you received during the report month. You can write a simple note like "Babysitting income: $X received on [dates]" if you don't have formal pay stubs. You're already thinking about this the right way by planning ahead! The first SAR7 always feels intimidating, but once you do it you'll realize it's really just a straightforward monthly snapshot. Keep asking questions and you'll be totally fine navigating this system.
This is such helpful advice about documenting babysitting income! I hadn't even thought about how to handle cash payments from neighbors since there's no official pay stub. Writing a simple note with dates and amounts makes total sense. I'm glad to know that the variable fast food scheduling is normal and not something to stress about explaining in detail. It's reassuring to hear that the first SAR7 is more straightforward than it seems - I was imagining having to write some complicated explanation of my whole employment situation when really it's just a snapshot of one month. Thanks for the encouragement! It really helps to hear from people who understand how these jobs actually work in real life, not just the theoretical paperwork side of things. I feel much more prepared now for when that SAR7 comes in a few months.
Join the conversation
This thread has been so incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm amazed at how much practical information everyone shared. As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now, I had no idea about so many of these tips - like the SNAP Retailer Locator app, the fact that warehouse stores accept EBT for bulk purchases, or that some delivery services are starting to take EBT too. It's really reassuring to see how well the system works across state lines and to get advice from actual caseworkers and store employees. @Sofía Rodríguez I hope your trip to Nevada goes perfectly and that you have the most amazing time meeting your nephew! It sounds like you're going to be incredibly well-prepared thanks to all this great advice. This is exactly why I love this community - everyone jumps in to help with real, practical experience that you just can't get from official websites. Definitely saving this thread for future reference! 🙏
What a fantastic thread! I'm so impressed by how comprehensive and supportive everyone's responses have been. As a newer CalFresh recipient, I learned so much from reading through all these experiences - from the technical details about cross-state EBT usage to practical tips like bringing a cooler bag and shopping during off-peak hours. It's really wonderful to see caseworkers and store employees sharing their professional insights alongside personal experiences from travelers. @Sofía Rodríguez, your nephew is so lucky to have such a thoughtful aunt who's going to arrive so well-prepared to help! This thread is a perfect example of how this community comes together to support each other with real-world knowledge. I'm definitely bookmarking this for my own future travels. Hope you have the most incredible time bonding with your new family member! 👶💙
Sean Matthews
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Based on everyone's advice, I just finished writing my no income statement. I made sure to include my case number, explicitly state I have no income from any source, explain that I'm living off savings while job searching, detail how my roommate is helping with rent but I cover my own food/personal expenses, and be very specific about covering phone, transportation, etc. One thing I'm still nervous about - should I mention the approximate dollar amount of my savings or keep it vague? I don't want them to think I have "too much" money but I also want to be transparent. Has anyone had experience with whether mentioning specific savings amounts helped or hurt their application?
0 coins
Mei Chen
•Great question about savings amounts! From what I've learned through this process, you generally don't need to specify exact dollar amounts in your no income statement unless they specifically ask for it. CalFresh has resource limits (like $2,750 for most households), but they'll verify your bank balances separately if needed during the eligibility determination. I'd recommend keeping it general in your statement - something like "I am currently living off personal savings while actively seeking employment." Being too specific about amounts might raise unnecessary questions or delays. Focus on explaining how you're covering each expense category (rent, food, utilities, etc.) rather than dollar amounts. The key is showing you're being honest about having no current income while demonstrating you have legitimate means to support yourself. Good luck with your application!
0 coins
Oliver Becker
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a college student who just graduated and I'm in a similar situation - no income while job hunting and living off savings/family help. One thing I want to add based on my experience: if you're getting help from family members who live out of state, make sure to mention that in your statement too. My parents send me money occasionally for groceries and personal expenses, and I included that as "occasional financial assistance from parents for basic needs." My worker appreciated the transparency. Also, if you're actively job searching, it doesn't hurt to mention that you're looking for work - it shows you're not just trying to stay on benefits indefinitely. I wrote something like "I am actively seeking employment and expect to report any income changes within the required timeframe." Just submitted my statement yesterday so fingers crossed it goes smoothly!
0 coins
Dmitry Smirnov
•This is such great advice about mentioning family help and job searching efforts! I'm actually in a really similar situation as a recent grad. One thing I'm wondering about - if my parents are sending me money through Venmo or Zelle, should I be worried about them being able to track those transactions? I want to be completely honest but I'm also nervous about providing too much detail that might complicate things. Also, did you mention anything about student loans in your statement? I have some federal loans that are in their grace period right now, so no payments due yet, but I wasn't sure if that was relevant to mention. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so reassuring to hear from someone in a similar boat!
0 coins