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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.
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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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When I lost my job last year, I also applied for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which helped with my utility bills. It's separate from CalFresh but uses similar income guidelines. Saved me about $180 on my power bill for a few months which was huge. Check with your county human services for the application.
Andre Dupont
Update: I finally got through to my county worker today! They're processing an emergency benefit increase that should take effect in 3 business days. They confirmed my severance counts as income but only for the period it's meant to cover. I'm also applying for unemployment today. Thank you all for the helpful advice - this community has been incredibly supportive during a really stressful time.
Mei Lin
•so glad u got help!! the system actually worked for once lol
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One other suggestion: If your current doctor won't complete the exemption paperwork, you can also ask if there's another provider in the same practice who might be willing to help. Sometimes physician assistants or nurse practitioners are more understanding about these documentation needs than doctors. Also, keep a detailed pain/activity journal for a few weeks documenting exactly how your condition limits you daily. Bring this to your next appointment as evidence. Having specific examples like "On Monday, I tried to walk to the mailbox (0.1 miles) and had to stop 3 times due to pain" is more compelling than general statements about pain.
this journal idea is so smart!! i wish i had done that. doctors take u more seriously when u have everything written down i noticed.
StarSurfer
•The journal is a great idea. I've been trying to explain my limitations verbally, but having it all documented would probably make a much stronger case. And I hadn't thought about seeing the PA or NP instead of my doctor - worth trying!
NeonNebula
wait wait I just thought of something else! If u have ANY kind of home health aide or even if family helps you with daily activities, that can sometimes count as proof too. My mom was helping me with grocery shopping and driving to appointments and we included that in my paperwork. CalFresh accepted that as evidence I couldn't work cuz I needed help with basic stuff. worth mentioning if thats ur situation too
StarSurfer
•That's a really good point. My sister does help me with groceries and house cleaning because I can't manage on my own. I never thought to include that as evidence of my limitations, but it makes perfect sense. I'll definitely add that to my documentation. Thank you!
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UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the EBT Customer Service! You guys were right - they just verified my identity (asked for my name, DOB, address, and last 4 of SSN) and unlocked my card right away. They had me set a new PIN and said I can use it immediately. Such a relief! Thank you all for your help. For anyone else reading this with the same problem, definitely call the EBT customer service number directly, not the county office.
That's great news! Glad you got it resolved quickly. Just a tip for the future - it's good practice to keep your PIN written down somewhere safe at home (not with your card). And if you ever have trouble remembering it, you can always call that same EBT customer service number to reset it before it gets locked.
CosmicCowboy
This whole thread got me paranoid so I just checked my EBT card to make sure my benefits are still there! Glad you got it fixed. The system can be such a nightmare sometimes. I've learned to always double check my benefits the day they're supposed to be deposited because you never know when some random glitch will cause problems.
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Benjamin Kim
Just to clarify something - P-EBT distributions for 2024-2025 have had some delays in certain counties. The November issuance should have been deposited by January 15th at the latest. If you haven't received it yet, that's definitely an error. One thing to try: if your children also get regular school meals, check with the school to make sure they properly reported your children's eligibility status to the state. Sometimes the issue is that the school's reporting system didn't correctly mark eligible students. If all else fails, your county supervisor's office can sometimes help navigate these bureaucratic issues - they have connections that regular citizens don't.
Zoe Wang
•That's really helpful context, thank you. I'll double check with the school that they properly reported eligibility. I hadn't thought of contacting my county supervisor - that's a great idea if nothing else works.
Just checking back - did you have any luck getting through to someone about your P-EBT issue?
Zoe Wang
•Yes! Finally got through using the double zero trick you suggested, but had to try 3 mornings in a row. Turns out there was a name mismatch between the school records and what they had in their system. They're sending a replacement card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. Thank you for your help!
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NebulaNomad
everyone saying to just call like its so easy 🙄 the phone system hangs up on me EVERY TIME after saying "high call volume" so how exactly am i supposed to fix anything?????
You have other options if you can't reach someone by phone: 1. Visit your county office in person (bring ID and your case number) 2. Send a secure message through BenefitsCal (less immediate but creates a record) 3. Contact your county Board of Supervisors office - they can often expedite assistance 4. Reach out to a local legal aid organization that specializes in benefits issues The key is to be persistent and document every attempt you make to resolve the issue.
UPDATE: After trying for two days, I finally got through to a real person at the county office. Turns out there was a "system flag" on my account due to a supposed income discrepancy (my employer reported slightly different income than my pay stubs showed). The worker removed the flag, accepted my verification documents, and is reinstating my benefits! They're also sending me a new EBT card that should arrive in 5-7 days. They admitted they had sent a verification request letter that was returned as undeliverable (even though my address hasn't changed). The worker said I should be all set now, but I've requested my case be marked for "special handling" as someone here suggested. Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm setting up every possible notification option and reminder for my next quarterly report. This has been such a stressful experience.
Emma Taylor
•So glad you got it resolved! One more tip - take a photo of the papers/forms they give you every time you visit the office. I've had workers claim they never received documents I handed directly to them. Having photos with timestamps has saved me multiple times!
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Emma Davis
so happy 4 u!! my friend had same thing happen but she waited like a month to report it n they denied her claim. its so messed up how many ppl r stealing from folks who just need food..
That's horrible! Yeah, the worker was SUPER clear that reporting within 10 days is critical. I wish they made that more obvious when you get your benefits approved. Maybe they should send text alerts or something to check your balance regularly?
Y'all be careful tho the bank tellers sometimes dont know wat theyre doing! My sister tried to do this and they made her wait 2 hours and then told her to go to a different branch and THAT one said they couldnt help either!! Some real bs
This is a good point. If a bank branch gives you trouble, ask them to call the EBT Customer Service number while you're there. The EBT representative can explain the process to the bank employee. Also, bringing the official claim approval letter helps significantly. Banks are still getting used to this process since it's relatively new.
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Esteban Tate
Not sure if this helps, but I once had a similar issue and discovered that some ATMs are less crowded than others. The ones near public assistance offices tend to be packed on benefit days, while ATMs in quieter residential areas or certain credit unions might have shorter lines. Just a thought!
That's actually smart! I've been going to the one right by the welfare office because it doesn't charge fees for EBT withdrawals, but maybe the fee would be worth it to avoid the lines. I'll check out some other locations next month.
To answer your original question about the scammers - the EBT benefit theft has been a major problem statewide. That's why they implemented the new chip cards this year. If you haven't received yours yet, you should contact your county office to request one, as they provide much better protection against skimming devices that thieves use. Also, I recommend checking your balance through the official EBT app or phone line before heading to the ATM - sometimes benefits are delayed by a few hours, so calling ahead can save you a wasted trip. The deposit times are supposed to be midnight, but the system doesn't always process everything right at 12:00 AM.
I did get the chip card a few months ago, but honestly it doesn't seem to have changed much. Maybe I need to be more careful about where I use it? And good tip about checking the balance first - I hadn't thought of that!
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I had this happen and finally got it fixed yesterday! In my case, they said there was a "card status mismatch" in their system. Apparently sometimes when they update their systems, active cards get flagged as inactive. I had to go in person to the county office with my ID and proof of address. The worker reactivated my existing card rather than issuing a new one, and it worked immediately. I was able to use it at the store about an hour later.
Oh that's interesting! I didn't know they could reactivate an existing card. Maybe that would be faster than waiting for a replacement. I'll definitely ask about this when I go to the office. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Just to follow up on what others have said - when you go to the county office, bring these documents to speed things up: 1. Photo ID 2. Your deactivated EBT card (they sometimes can reactivate it) 3. Proof of address (utility bill or lease) 4. Something showing your case number if you have it Also, make sure to tell them it's an urgent food security issue for your family. Some counties have a triage system that prioritizes emergency food access cases. If they say they can't help you same-day, specifically ask to speak with an "Emergency Response Worker" or supervisor about expedited service.
Thank you for this list! I have all of these documents ready to go. I'll definitely mention it's an urgent food security issue and ask for the Emergency Response Worker if needed. Really appreciate everyone's help here - feeling much more prepared to get this resolved tomorrow.
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Nia Harris
hey did anyone else have their benefit amount increase this month? mine went up $42 and i didn't report any changes or anything... not complaining just confused lol
Zara Mirza
•The CalFresh program had a cost-of-living adjustment in October 2025 that increased benefit amounts for most households. They should have sent a notice about it, but those sometimes get lost or overlooked. That's likely why you saw an increase.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I was able to find my case number by logging into my BenefitsCal account (completely forgot I had created one when I applied) and confirmed my benefits day is the 7th of each month. I've downloaded the EBT Connect app too which is really helpful for tracking my balance. This group is awesome!
Andre Dupont
This is becoming EXTREMELY common with EBT cards because they DON'T HAVE CHIP TECHNOLOGY like regular debit/credit cards!! The state saves money by using outdated magnetic stripe technology that's super easy to hack. I've had my benefits stolen TWICE in 2025 already!! They really need to upgrade the security on these cards but they don't care because it's poor people using them. The county offices act like it's OUR fault when their system is completely insecure!!
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Nia Jackson
•This is an important point. While California has announced plans to upgrade EBT cards with chip technology by late 2025/early 2026, currently our cards are more vulnerable than standard bank cards. Until then, safety tips include: 1. Change your PIN regularly 2. Check your balance frequently 3. Never share your PIN or card information 4. Be cautious at card readers - check for skimming devices 5. Keep your card in an RFID blocking sleeve when not in use While it's frustrating, documenting these incidents helps demonstrate the need for faster security upgrades.
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Luca Romano
UPDATE: Finally got through to EBT customer service after using that Claimyr service someone recommended. They froze my current card, are sending me a new one, and gave me a claim number for the stolen benefits. They said I need to go to my county office with ID and the police report number (was able to file online thankfully). Still worried about feeding my kids in the meantime, but at least the process is started. Thanks everyone for the help and advice!
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Carmen Lopez
•Great first step! When you go to the county office, specifically ask for an "emergency replacement due to household hardship with minor children." This can sometimes speed up the process. Also ask if there are any local food banks or emergency food assistance programs they can refer you to while waiting for the replacement benefits. Most counties have emergency food resources they can connect you with immediately. Glad you were able to start the process!
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