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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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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.
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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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DONT FORGET TO ASK FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING!!! They won't offer it unless you specifically say your family has NO FOOD and NO MONEY to buy any! I had to literally tell them my kids were going hungry before they marked my claim as "priority" - the system is designed to make you give up!!!
This is true. When requesting expedited processing, use the specific phrase "immediate need due to household emergency" - that's the terminology that triggers their expedited protocols.
One additional suggestion - if you have the transaction details showing the suspicious location, print that out to include with your police report. Also, when you file the report, make sure it lists "EBT fraud/theft" specifically, as some officers may not be familiar with the proper categorization. This helps ensure your claim meets all requirements for replacement. Most counties are processing these claims faster now (often within 5-7 business days) due to the new legislation, but having complete documentation speeds things up.
I printed all the transaction details from my EBT account showing the Lakewood charges. Planning to get the police report first thing tomorrow and will make sure they categorize it correctly. Thank you!
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my sister just got calfresh last month and she had benefits in like 5 days but she has 3 kids so maybe thats why it was fast? idk how it works exactly but i think families with kids get prioritized
Households with children don't automatically get prioritized for faster processing unless they also meet the criteria for expedited services (very low income/resources). However, families with children often qualify for higher benefit amounts based on household size. Each county processes applications in the order received, but expedited applications get moved to the front of the line regardless of household composition.
UPDATE: I called this morning and had to wait on hold for 45 minutes, but I finally spoke to someone! They confirmed I qualify for expedited services and are processing my application today. They said I should have benefits loaded onto an EBT card within 3 days and they'll mail the card to me ASAP. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and advice.
thats awesome! glad it worked out for u!
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Update: After getting nowhere all day yesterday, I tried Claimyr this morning to get through to an actual person at the county (thanks for that tip!). Finally spoke with someone who knew what they were talking about. Apparently there's been a HUGE increase in EBT theft and they've updated their procedures. Here's what I had to do: 1. Filed police report online (got case #) 2. Filled out EBT-2259 form 3. Had to provide transaction details showing where benefits were used fraudulently 4. Submitted everything via the BenefitsCal portal AND in person 5. Requested emergency replacement benefits due to household hardship They're supposed to process it within 7-10 days. Meanwhile, they referred me to 3 food banks and gave me emergency vouchers good for $280 worth of groceries to use immediately. Still stressful but at least we have some food now. Will update when/if we get our benefits back!
Make sure you CALL EVERY DAY to check on status!!! They will "lose" your paperwork or claim they never received it. I had to resubmit mine TWICE before they actually processed it. The system is completely broken!!!
Great job navigating this difficult situation! Those emergency vouchers should help in the meantime. Two more tips that might help others dealing with EBT theft: 1. Request a new EBT card immediately with a different number to prevent future theft 2. Once you get your replacement benefits, consider using the EBT card lock feature in the EBT mobile app - you can lock your card between uses to prevent unauthorized transactions Also, for anyone reading this thread in the future, California implemented new theft protection measures in late 2024, so you now have 90 days to report EBT theft (previously it was only 30 days). The county must process valid claims within 10 calendar days.
Thank you so much! I just got a new card yesterday with a new number. I didn't know about the lock feature in the app - downloading it now. I'll definitely update once this is resolved to help others who might go through this.
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UPDATE: My benefits just loaded today (Feb 14th)! Looks like it really was just the system delay that @helpfulperson mentioned. So relieved! For anyone else in Sacramento County still waiting, check your balance again - yours might be coming through too.
just checked and mine loaded 2!! thx for the update!!
Glad it worked out! Since we're on the topic, here's a reminder for everyone: always mark your calendar for these important CalFresh dates to avoid future issues: 1) Your specific benefit issuance date (when funds load each month) 2) Your SAR7 due date (6 months after certification/recertification) 3) Your annual recertification month Also, sign up for text/email alerts through BenefitsCal if you haven't already - they'll send reminders about upcoming deadlines so you don't miss anything important.
Great advice! I'm definitely going to set up those alerts and put these dates in my phone calendar. Don't want to go through this stress again.
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There's a Jamba Juice on Shaw that takes EBT for RMP participants. Found out totally by accident when the person in front of me used their card. Don't think many people know about that one!
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wait is P-EBT the same as calfresh? i thought they were different things? my neighbor said p-ebt is only for kids but im confused now
They're different programs that both provide food assistance. P-EBT is specifically for school-aged children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, and the benefits come periodically. CalFresh (California's SNAP program) is for low-income households of any composition, and benefits are issued monthly. You can receive both if you qualify for both. They might be loaded onto the same EBT card in some cases, which causes confusion.
just as an update i called yesterday and they finally answered! the lady said benefits for next phase are coming between feb 12-27 depending on the first letter of your last name. A-G is feb 12-15, H-M is feb 16-20, N-S is feb 21-24, and T-Z is feb 25-27. hope this helps someone!
That's exactly what I needed to know! Since our last name starts with W, we'll be in the last group. Thanks so much for sharing this!
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Anyone know if the P-EBT amount is the same for all kids or does it vary by age? My 16yr old eats like three teenagers combined lol!
The P-EBT benefit amount is the same regardless of the child's age - currently $257 per eligible child for this issuance period. The amount is calculated based on a federal formula for average meal costs multiplied by the number of school days covered, not by individual food consumption. So unfortunately, your hungry teenager gets the same amount as a kindergartener!
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my aunt went to a tasting thing at costco and when she wasn't looking someone took a pic of her card that was in her purse!! now she keeps it in one of those metal wallets lol
That's scary! Did she notice it happen or just found out when money was missing? I'm gonna be so paranoid now!
To answer your original question about transferring money out - unfortunately, that's not an option with CalFresh. These aren't like regular bank accounts where you can move funds between accounts. The benefits exist only on your EBT card. Your best protection is to: 1. Shop at major grocery stores when possible (they have better security) 2. Change your PIN through the EBT phone line right before AND after your benefits deposit day 3. Check your balance frequently through the official EBT app 4. Never click links from texts claiming to be about your benefits And if you ever suspect fraud, call the EBT customer service number AND your county office immediately.
Thanks for explaining this so clearly. I guess I'll just use most of my benefits early in the month and keep changing my PIN regularly. Still hate that we can't get help if something goes wrong though!
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wat did the freeze button even look like? i been using ebt for 2 yrs and never seen this lol
It was on the main screen after you logged in - a little toggle switch with a snowflake icon that said "Freeze Card" next to it. When you turned it on, it would prevent any purchases until you manually unfroze it. Really useful feature, especially if you only shop once or twice a month and want to keep your card secure between trips.
Just a quick update - I checked with our technical team today and they confirmed the freeze feature should be returning in the next app update around March 10-15. They're also adding additional security features to help prevent skimming. In the meantime, please be extra vigilant with your EBT cards.
Thank you so much for the update! It's reassuring to have a specific timeframe. I'll mark my calendar and keep checking my balance daily until then.
Drew Hathaway
quick tip - when ur new card comes dont activate it at a store!! call the number on the back. my friend tried to activate at a store and it didnt work right and she couldnt get her money for another day
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Abby Marshall
•Thanks for the tip! I definitely wouldn't have known that and probably would have tried activating it at a store. I'll be sure to call the number instead.
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Sadie Benitez
Just checking back - have you been able to see the reissued benefits in your account yet? Also, remember that after you get your new card and activate it, you should create a PIN that's different from your old one. And never share your PIN with anyone or enter it if someone is watching. Unfortunately, EBT skimming has increased by about 35% in 2025 compared to previous years.
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Abby Marshall
•Yes! The benefits actually showed up this morning in my BenefitsCal account - listed as "Administrative Benefit Adjustment" with the amount that was stolen. Such a relief! Still waiting on the card, but at least I know the benefits have been reissued. Thanks for the PIN advice, I'll definitely use a completely new one.
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