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
@Zainab Ahmed I went through this exact nightmare 6 months ago when my benefits suddenly stopped. Here's what finally worked: 1) Call the state CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 instead of your county office - sometimes they can see issues the county can't. 2) If you can't get through by phone, use the "Contact Us" form on the MyBenefitsCalWin website and mark it as URGENT - they responded to mine within 24 hours. 3) Most importantly, if your benefits were cut without proper notice, you can get emergency replacement benefits while appealing. Ask specifically for "replacement benefits pending appeal" when you do get through to someone. Don't give up - you and your kids deserve to eat while this gets sorted out!
@Liam Cortez This is such valuable information! I didn t'know there was a separate state hotline - definitely trying that number first thing tomorrow. The MyBenefitsCalWin urgent contact form is brilliant too, especially if they actually respond within 24 hours like you said. I m'writing down replacement "benefits pending appeal because" that sounds exactly like what I need while fighting this. It s'so frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating this system just to get basic food assistance, but I really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for your situation. Gives me hope that this can get resolved quickly!
I feel for you so much - this happened to my family last year and it's absolutely heartbreaking when you can't feed your kids because of bureaucratic failures. Here's what saved us: go to your county CalFresh office first thing in the morning (like 7:30am before they officially open) and wait in line. When they open, tell the front desk worker you need EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE and that your children haven't had adequate meals. Use those exact words. They have discretionary emergency funds for situations like yours and can often issue temporary benefits same-day while your case gets reviewed. Also, download the GetCalFresh app - sometimes their chat feature connects you faster than calling. And please don't feel ashamed about reaching out to local food pantries in the meantime. Your kids need to eat NOW while you're fighting this system. You're doing everything right, mama. This isn't your fault.
@Ali Anderson Thank you so much for this compassionate advice! I m'definitely going to try showing up at 7:30am tomorrow - that s'such a smart strategy. The phrase EMERGENCY "FOOD ASSISTANCE is" perfect, and knowing they have discretionary emergency funds gives me hope. I had no idea about the GetCalFresh app chat feature either - downloading it right now! You re'right that I shouldn t'feel ashamed about food pantries - my pride was getting in the way of feeding my kids, which is ridiculous. It really helps to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing and came out the other side. Sometimes you just need that reminder that you re'not alone in this broken system. Thank you for the encouragement - I needed to hear that this isn t'my fault.
Join the conversation
Just to address the benefit amount discrepancy more specifically: For 2025, approximate CalFresh monthly maximums are: - Household of 1: $550 - Household of 4: $750 So it looks like they initially calculated you as a household of 4 (you + 3 kids) during the interview, which would be around $700-750 depending on deductions. But then they've temporarily approved you as a household of 1 while verifying the children, which matches the $550 amount they're now showing. This is actually standard procedure when they need additional verification for some household members. Once they confirm your custody arrangement, they should update your benefits to the full household amount AND provide any retroactive benefits you were entitled to. One tip: when you call, specifically ask for your case to be "expedited for household composition verification" which can sometimes speed things up.
That's exactly what's happening then! $550 for just me and around $750 once they add the kids. Thank you for explaining it so clearly. I'll use that exact phrasing when I call tomorrow: "expedited for household composition verification." Really appreciate everyone's help here!
Hey Luca! Welcome to the CalFresh community - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused by the process. I went through something very similar when I first applied with my kids. One thing that might help while you're waiting is to keep checking your EBT balance online or through the ebtEDGE mobile app. Sometimes benefits load overnight and you won't get a notification. Also, make sure to keep your approval letter handy when you call - having your case number ready makes things go faster. Since you mentioned you're on SSDI, just wanted to mention that your disability income might affect your benefit calculation too, but it sounds like they already factored that in during your interview. The good news is that once they sort out the custody verification, you should see a nice jump in your monthly benefits! Hang in there - the initial process is always the most confusing part. Once everything gets sorted out, the monthly routine becomes much more predictable.
Thanks Oscar! This community has been so helpful already. I didn't realize about checking the EBT balance overnight - I was only checking during the day. I'll definitely keep monitoring it and have my case number ready for the next call. It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing with kids. The whole process feels less overwhelming knowing there are people here who understand what it's like navigating this system for the first time.
Join the conversation
My aunt had the same thing happen but she got an advocate from the senior center to help her. They found out she was eligible for something called the
Yes, definitely gather your pharmacy receipts and any other medical expense documentation before calling! For medical expenses, they'll want to see things like prescription receipts, Medicare premium statements, and any bills for medical services. For the rent increase, bring your lease agreement or a letter from your landlord showing the new amount. The Standard Medical Deduction that @f90c33271baf mentioned can really make a difference - if you're spending $200/month on medical costs, that $165 deduction could potentially increase your CalFresh by $50+ per month. It's worth the effort to get this sorted out! Also, when you call, specifically ask them to review ALL your deductions to make sure nothing else is being missed. Sometimes there are utility allowances or other deductions that workers forget to apply.
This is really eye-opening! I had no idea about all these deductions that seniors can claim. I'm new to CalFresh (just applied last month) and my caseworker barely explained anything beyond the basic eligibility. Reading through this thread, it sounds like there are so many things that could help increase benefits that they just don't tell you about upfront. Is there like a checklist somewhere of all the deductions seniors should ask about? It seems like you really have to advocate for yourself to get what you're entitled to, which is hard when you don't even know what questions to ask!
Join the conversation
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustration - getting $13 after all that paperwork definitely feels like a slap in the face! But honestly, after reading through everyone's responses here, I'm convinced you should keep it active. I'm in a similar situation (part-time work, student, crazy high rent) and just found out about so many resources I had no idea existed. The automatic enrollment in other assistance programs just for having an active EBT card is huge - utility assistance, phone discounts, internet savings. When every dollar counts, those add up fast. One thing that's been helping me is using my small benefit amount ($18/month) specifically for non-perishable staples like rice, beans, and oats. Then I hit up food banks and my school's pantry for fresh stuff. It's not ideal but it definitely helps stretch things. And everyone's right about reporting your hour cuts immediately! Don't wait for your next review. From what people are sharing, even small income changes can bump you up significantly - like going from minimum benefits to $80-150+. That's absolutely worth dealing with the county office hassle. Hang in there - this system is frustrating but there are definitely ways to make it work better for you!
This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear! I was honestly feeling pretty defeated about the whole thing, but you're right - keeping it active makes total sense when you put it that way. The idea of using the small amount just for staples like rice and beans is really practical, and I definitely need to get better about utilizing food banks and my school's resources. I keep thinking I should be able to handle everything on my own, but clearly that's not realistic right now. Really appreciate you sharing your experience with the income reporting too - hearing that people actually see their benefits go up that much gives me hope that it'll be worth the hassle of calling the county office when my hours get cut. Thanks for the encouragement!
I totally understand the frustration - $13 feels almost insulting after all that paperwork and waiting! But honestly, keep it active. I've been on CalFresh for about a year now and learned so much from trial and error. A few things that have helped me maximize my tiny benefit: 1. Dollar Tree takes EBT and you can get surprising amounts of food for $13 - canned goods, pasta, even some frozen items 2. Use it strategically at the end of the month when you're running low on essentials rather than trying to make it last all month 3. Stack it with other resources - food banks, your school's pantry if they have one, and those farmers market matching programs people mentioned The hidden benefits are real too! I got enrolled in a reduced-rate internet program just for having an active EBT card, which saves me $30/month. Way more valuable than the actual food benefit amount. And definitely report when your hours get cut! I went from the minimum to $94 when I reported a pay reduction. The income calculation is weird but it does work in your favor when earnings drop. Don't wait for your next review - call as soon as the change happens. It's a broken system but there are ways to make it work better for you. This thread has been amazing for sharing real strategies that actually help!
Carmen Lopez
This has been such an enlightening thread! As a newcomer to California's P-EBT system, I had no idea about any of these rules or resources. Grace, your forgotten card discovery is probably more common than anyone realizes - I'm definitely inspired to dig through my own paperwork now! The 274-day rule explanation has been invaluable, and I'm so grateful everyone shared practical tips like the ebtEDGE app, starting with small test purchases, and keeping cards in visible places. Coming from another state where the pandemic EBT worked differently, I feel like I just got a crash course in how California's system actually works. It's unfortunate that families have to rely on community knowledge to navigate these benefits, but I'm amazed by how helpful and detailed everyone's responses have been. This thread should honestly be pinned as a P-EBT guide! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and making this system less confusing for newcomers like me.
0 coins
Harper Collins
•Welcome to California! Your experience moving from another state really highlights how confusing it can be when each state handles pandemic EBT differently. I'm also relatively new to navigating California's system and this thread has been like finding gold - so much practical information that you just can't get from calling those customer service lines! Grace's story really shows how easy it is to lose track of benefits when the rules aren't clearly explained upfront. I love your idea about pinning this as a P-EBT guide - between the 274-day rule, the ebtEDGE app, and all the shopping tips people shared, this covers everything families actually need to know. It's such a relief to find a community where people share real-world experiences instead of just pointing you to confusing government websites. Definitely check your old paperwork - you might be sitting on benefits you didn't even know existed!
0 coins
Chloe Martin
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a single mom who just moved to California from Texas, and I had no idea P-EBT even existed here until I saw Grace's post. Reading through everyone's experiences, I realize I might have missed out on benefits during my kids' virtual learning periods last year. The 274-day rule explanation is so clear - way better than anything I could find on official websites. I just downloaded the ebtEDGE app and I'm definitely going to contact my kids' school district to see if we qualify for any current programs. Grace, I'm so happy you found that $375! Your "junk drawer discovery" story is probably happening to families everywhere. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice about managing these benefits - from the test purchase tip to keeping cards visible. This community knowledge is invaluable for families trying to navigate these systems!
0 coins