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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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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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i went thru this exact thing last winter! the worker told me over the phone that the 4.33 thing is cause theres actually more than 4 weeks in most months. January has 4.42 weeks, February has 4, March has 4.42 etc....so they average it out to 4.33 for the whole year. super confusing but i just redid my calculations and sent it back with a note explaining the changes
That's a good way to explain it! Another way to think about it is that there are 365 days in a year, divided by 7 days in a week = 52.14 weeks. Then 52.14 weeks ÷ 12 months = 4.345, which rounds to 4.33 weeks per month for benefit calculation purposes.
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county office! They explained that I need to take my average weekly income ($525) and multiply by 4.33 which gives $2,273.25 monthly instead of $2,100 that I had calculated. They're sending me a new SAR7 form to fill out with the correct calculation. The worker also told me to include my childcare expenses which I didn't know could be deducted ($850/month for my two kids). Hopefully this will keep us eligible even with the higher income calculation. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great update! Yes, childcare expenses are a major deduction that many people don't know about. For anyone else reading this in the future, other important deductions include: rent/mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, utilities (or the standard utility allowance), and medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled household members. Always report these on your CalFresh recertification to maximize your benefits!
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Has anyone checked if this has to do with the new reporting requirements? I remember getting something in the mail about semi-annual reporting (SAR7) changing somehow. I just fill out whatever forms they send me but maybe we were supposed to submit something to keep getting the extra amount? The whole system is so confusing sometimes.
The end of the supplemental benefits isn't related to SAR7 reporting. The Fruit and Vegetable Supplement was a time-limited program with a predetermined end date. Your regular CalFresh benefits would be affected by SAR7 reporting issues, but not these supplemental benefits. However, it's always important to submit your SAR7 on time (every 6 months) and your recertification (every year) to avoid interruptions to your regular benefits. If you miss a deadline, your benefits could be reduced or discontinued.
hey does anyone know if they gonna bring back the extra benefits? like is it just a temporary pause or its gone forever?
The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Supplement was a pilot program that has concluded as scheduled. There's been no announcement about it returning, but advocacy groups are pushing for it to become permanent based on its success. You can contact your state representatives if you want to voice support for making it permanent. In the meantime, look into Summer EBT for children and Market Match programs at farmers markets as alternatives.
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Always keep ALL your notices!!! I learned this the hard way. And write the date on them when you get them because sometimes they don't print the date clearly. I organize mine by month in a folder now because you never know when you'll need to reference something. Also take pictures of important notices with your phone as backup.
thats actually smart i should start doing that too lol. i just throw everything in a drawer and then panic when i need to find something
UPDATE: Found the notice! You all were right - it's about a system correction. They're giving me an extra $175 on May 12th because they miscalculated my utility allowance from February-April. Not quite the emergency allotment I thought, but still helpful! Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out.
That's great news! The Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) is often overlooked but can make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. Since February 2025, the SUA in California increased from $487 to $519, which can increase monthly benefits by $9-30 depending on household size and income. Sounds like they're giving you the retroactive adjustment for those three months. Make sure your future calculations include the correct SUA amount.
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P-EBT is being sent out in LA county based on first name. My kids are K and P and havent gotten theres yet. Your A-name kid got it first cause of the alphabet. But your baby wont get one period since its only for school kids. Just to save you the worry of waiting!
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This is super helpful information! I've saved the real number in my phone now. Do you know if they're doing anything system-wide to prevent these scams? Seems like they should be able to send out mass texts warning people or something.
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Has anyone mentioned General Assistance/General Relief to you? That's the program for single adults without children who need cash aid. Each county runs their own version of it. The amounts are much lower than CalWORKs (like $200-400/month depending on county), but it might help in your situation. Some counties also have housing programs specifically for GA/GR recipients. And definitely connect with your county's Homeless Outreach Team or Coordinated Entry System - that's the main gateway to housing services for single adults. The process can take time though, so start as soon as possible.
I didn't know about General Assistance! That would be really helpful even if it's just a few hundred dollars. I'll ask about both GA and the Coordinated Entry System. Thank you so much for this information!
my cousin was homeless last year and she got into some program where they paid her first month rent and deposit but she had to find the apartment herself which was like impossible with rental prices in cali lol. eventually she found a room for rent that would accept the program. she didn't have kids either. try asking about rapid rehousing programs maybe?
Yes, that sounds like either Rapid Rehousing or ESG (Emergency Solutions Grant) funding. Both are good programs that can help with deposits, first month's rent, and sometimes ongoing rental assistance. They're separate from CalWORKs and available to individuals without children. The tricky part, as your cousin found out, is finding a landlord willing to work with the program and rent within the county's payment standards.
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If you're worried about app security, you can always use the website instead of the apps. For BenefitsCal, just go to benefitscal.com and log in. For EBT balance, go to connectebt.com. The websites have all the same features as the apps. I personally prefer the website since I don't have to worry about app updates.
I didn't even think about using the websites! That might be better for me since I'm always on my laptop anyway. Thanks for the suggestion!
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I understand the concern, but I should mention that this approach isn't recommended for CalFresh/SNAP benefits. Unlike cash benefits, CalFresh cannot be withdrawn as cash - it can only be used to purchase eligible food items directly. Also, keeping cash at home comes with its own security risks. Using the card as intended but with proper security measures (monthly PIN changes, using at reputable retailers) offers the best balance of security and proper benefit usage.
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Something nobody mentioned yet - if your card isn't working at certain stores, first make sure those stores are authorized CalFresh retailers. Not all grocery stores accept EBT, especially smaller independent ones. But more importantly, verify what you're trying to purchase is an eligible food item. Remember CalFresh can't be used for: - Hot prepared foods - Household supplies - Medicine/vitamins - Pet food - Alcohol/tobacco Sometimes the card will decline if even one item in your purchase isn't eligible. The store should provide a receipt showing which items aren't covered by CalFresh. If you're sure these aren't the issues, then yes, definitely contact your county office using the Alameda number someone provided above. The EBT card customer service line won't be able to help with store acceptance issues.
That's a good point. I was buying only eligible food items (milk, bread, fruit, etc) at major chains like Safeway that definitely take EBT. Worked fine last week, then suddenly started getting declined this week despite having a balance. I'll check with the county office. Thanks everyone for the help!
so did u ever get this fixed? i'm having a similar problem now with my card working at some stores but not others
Yes! Finally got through to someone at the county office using that direct number. Turns out there was a hold on my account because they sent me a verification form that I never received. Once I provided the information they needed, my card started working again at all stores within 24 hours.
Kiara Greene
this is y i always keep some of my benefits as cash just in case... they can freeze ur ebt but they cant take cash u already got out... just sayin for next time
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Isaiah Cross
•Just to clarify - CalFresh (food stamp) benefits cannot legally be withdrawn as cash. You may be thinking of CalWORKs cash aid, which is a different program and can be withdrawn from ATMs. The original poster is specifically having an issue with their CalFresh food benefits.
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Elin Robinson
UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what worked! I used that Claimyr service to get through to an actual person at my county office yesterday. Got connected in about 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days with no luck. The worker was able to verify my identity over the phone and marked my case as emergency hardship. Just got back from picking up a temporary card at the office and all my benefits are there! Thank you all SO MUCH for your help - my kids will eat well tonight!
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Morita Montoya
•That's excellent news! I'm glad you were able to get it resolved quickly. For future reference, you might want to set up the BenefitsCal mobile app as a backup verification method. It can sometimes help prevent these security flags in the first place.
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Atticus Domingo
•YAYYY!!! so happy for u!! gonna save that claimyr info for next time i have problems... the regular line is useless
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