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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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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!
So glad you got through to someone and figured out the childcare deduction! That $850/month deduction should definitely help offset the higher income from using 4.33. Just a heads up - when you get that new SAR7 form, double-check that they also applied the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if you pay any utilities at all. Even if you only pay electric or gas, you can claim the full SUA which is $532 in California for 2025. Between the childcare and utility deductions, you should still qualify for good benefits even with the corrected income calculation. Keep all your documentation just in case!
This is such helpful information! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea about all these deductions. Can someone explain what counts as "utilities" for the Standard Utility Allowance? I pay electric and internet but my landlord covers water and gas - would I still qualify for the full $532 SUA? Also, does anyone know if there's a list somewhere of all possible deductions so I don't miss anything when I apply?
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This is really helpful information! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly didn't know that system errors could cause benefit reductions like this. It's reassuring to hear that when there's a legitimate mistake, they do fix it and reimburse the difference. I've been worried about similar issues since I keep hearing conflicting information from different people. Thanks for sharing your experience and for following up with the resolution - it really helps those of us who are still learning how all this works!
Welcome to the community! Don't worry, we were all new to this at some point. The system can definitely be confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it. One thing I've learned is to always keep track of your benefit amounts and check your account regularly - that way you'll notice right away if something seems off like Paolo did. And don't hesitate to ask questions here - everyone's really helpful and shares their experiences. The CalFresh system has its quirks, but when there are genuine errors, they do make it right once you get through to them.
This whole thread is so helpful! I'm glad you got your issue resolved, Paolo. I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and this is exactly the kind of information I needed to see. I had no idea that system errors could cause benefit reductions, but it makes sense that they would fix it once you contact them. I've been paranoid about checking my balance constantly because I keep hearing horror stories from people, but most of the time it sounds like there's a reasonable explanation. It's good to know that if something seems wrong, the best thing to do is just call and ask rather than assume the worst. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is really valuable for people like me who are still figuring everything out!
I'm glad this thread helped you too! As someone who's been on CalFresh for a while now, I can totally relate to that constant worry about benefit amounts. It's really easy to get anxious when you hear all these different stories floating around. What I've learned is that most of the time when something seems off, there's usually a simple explanation - whether it's a system glitch like Paolo experienced, an unreported income change, or just forgetting about a purchase you made. The key is definitely to contact your worker sooner rather than later if you notice anything unusual. And you're absolutely right about this community being valuable - I've learned so much from everyone's shared experiences here!
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wait I'm confused are we talking about calfresh or calworks? cuz I think those are different systems right???
The original question is specifically about CalFresh (food benefits), but both CalFresh and CalWORKs (cash aid) use the same EBT card system. The card locking feature works the same way for both programs - benefits will still deposit on schedule even if the card is locked. The difference is just what the benefits can be used for.
Another thing to keep in mind - if you do suspect someone tried to steal your card from the mailbox, you might want to report it to your local post office too. Mail theft is a federal crime and they take it pretty seriously. I had issues with mail theft in my neighborhood last year and after I filed a report, they actually increased patrols in our area. It won't help with your immediate EBT situation but could prevent future issues for you and your neighbors.
That's really smart advice! I hadn't thought about reporting it to the post office. I've been so focused on just protecting my EBT card that I didn't think about the bigger picture. If someone is stealing mail in my area, they're probably targeting other people too. I'll definitely file a report - thanks for mentioning this!
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As a new member here, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! @Jasmine Quinn, I'm so glad you were able to get your card reactivated - what a relief that must have been! The data matching issue with your old employer really shows how these automated systems can create problems out of nowhere. I'm bookmarking Claimyr for sure after seeing how well it worked for you. It's honestly shocking that these random card deactivations are so common, but it's reassuring to see there are real solutions when you know where to look. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems so much easier!
Hi @Nia Williams! I'm also brand new to this community and have been reading through this entire thread with fascination. Like everyone else, I had no idea these kinds of random EBT card deactivations were so common! @Jasmine Quinn s'experience with the old employer data match is really eye-opening - it makes me worried about what random flags might be lurking in my own file. I m'definitely going to save the Claimyr link that @Anthony Young shared. It s amazing'how this one thread has turned into such a comprehensive resource for dealing with CalFresh system issues. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and solutions - as someone just getting started with these benefits, this kind of community knowledge is invaluable!
Wow, what a journey this thread has been to read through! As someone completely new to both CalFresh and this community, I'm honestly blown away by how supportive everyone has been. @Jasmine Quinn, I'm so relieved you got your card working again - the stress of having your benefits suddenly cut off with kids to feed must have been overwhelming. The fact that it was caused by a data match with an employer from over a year ago really highlights how these automated systems can create chaos from the smallest discrepancies. I had absolutely no idea that services like Claimyr existed until @Anthony Young mentioned it - that's going straight into my emergency toolkit! Reading through everyone's experiences has been both alarming (these random deactivations seem way too common) and reassuring (there are real solutions when you know where to look). Thank you to this entire community for sharing your knowledge and supporting each other through these frustrating system glitches. This thread is going to be a lifesaver for anyone who faces similar issues in the future!
Hi @Miguel Herrera! I just joined this community too and have been reading through this whole thread - it's been such an education! Like you, I'm completely new to CalFresh and had no clue these random card deactivations were even a thing. @Jasmine Quinn s'story really shows how quickly things can go wrong through no fault of your own - that old employer data match is terrifying to think about. I m'definitely saving all the resources people have shared here, especially Claimyr since @Anthony Young s recommendation'seems to have been the game-changer. It s both'scary and comforting to know that while these system glitches happen frequently, there are people in this community who ve figured'out how to navigate them. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing their experiences - as newcomers, we re really'lucky to have found such a supportive group!
StarSeeker
I went through something similar a few months ago! After recertification, my benefits were delayed by about 3 days from my usual date. What helped me was calling the EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) - they can tell you the exact status of your benefits and when they're scheduled to load, even if your caseworker isn't available. Also, if you're really in a bind for groceries, some food banks don't require you to wait for your CalFresh benefits and can help bridge the gap. I had to use one when my benefits were delayed and I had nothing left in my pantry. The 211 helpline (just dial 2-1-1) can connect you with local food resources if needed. Hope your benefits show up soon! The uncertainty is always stressful when you're counting on them for groceries.
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CosmicCrusader
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't know the EBT customer service line could tell you the status - that's way better than waiting on hold for hours with the county office. And thanks for mentioning 211 for food banks. I'm hoping my benefits show up tomorrow but it's good to know there are backup options if they don't. The uncertainty really is the worst part when you're planning your grocery budget around a specific date.
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Monique Byrd
I work at a county eligibility office and can shed some light on this! After recertification, your benefit date can definitely change if you get assigned a new case number. This happens more often than people realize - usually when there are system updates or when we need to correct errors in the original case setup. The good news is that once your new schedule is established, it should stay consistent going forward. Your benefits will load based on the last digit of your NEW case number, not your old one. So if your old case number ended in 6 (benefits on the 6th) but your new one ends in 9, you'll now get benefits on the 9th. As for timing, benefits typically start processing around 11:30 PM the night before your scheduled date and are usually available by 6 AM on your actual date. System maintenance can sometimes delay this until mid-morning, but it's rare. Pro tip: Your approval notice should show your case number - check the last digit to confirm your new benefit date! If you're still unsure, calling the EBT customer service line is faster than trying to reach your caseworker.
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