Can't reach CalWorks? 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
i switched counties last year (from riverside to alameda) and was so confused when my payment dates all changed! no one explained the calwin vs calsaws thing to me and i thought they had reduced my benefits or something cuz the payment was "late" compared to what i was used to. ended up having to take out a payday loan because i didnt know when the money was coming 😓
That's unfortunately a common issue when switching between counties with different systems. For anyone moving between counties, always ask your new worker specifically about payment dates and any differences you should expect. The same benefits may be processed on different schedules depending on the county's system. Also, most counties offer emergency assistance if you're in danger of eviction or utility shut-off while waiting for your regular benefits. Always ask about emergency options before turning to payday loans, which can create a difficult cycle of debt.
my worker told me its supposed to be the 15th every month but if that falls on weekend it goes to monday. but then sometimes its saturday?? makes no sense tbh
The official policy is that supplements should be available on the 15th, but in practice, it depends on: 1. Which system your county uses (CalWIN vs CalSAWS) 2. Weekends/holidays (payments don't process on non-business days) 3. Your bank's processing time (some banks hold deposits longer) 4. The volume of payments being processed that day That's why there's so much confusion - the target date is the 15th, but these factors create variations. The most consistent thing is which week of the month you'll receive it, rather than the exact day.
Join the conversation
Amina Sow
Just so u no they will only replace stolen benefits ONCE per year now. They changed the rules in January. So if this happens again in the next 12 months ur out of luck...
Paolo Conti
•That's not entirely accurate. The once-per-year limit applies to SNAP/CalFresh benefits, not CalWORKs Cash Aid. CalWORKs follows different rules because it's state-administered. They can replace stolen cash aid multiple times, but they will investigate more thoroughly after the first claim. That said, it's extremely important to protect your new card - never use it at gas pumps (go inside to pay), cover the keypad when entering PIN, and check for card skimmers at any ATM you use.
UPDATE: I got a call back from my county office! They're expediting my claim because I have an immediate need (rent due) and they're issuing emergency benefits that should be available by tomorrow. I have to go to the office first thing in the morning to sign the GEN 1000 form and bring any evidence I have. They also suggested filing a police report which I'm going to do online tonight. Thank you everyone for your help! I'll update again once everything is resolved for anyone who might have this problem in the future.
Yara Haddad
•That's great news! Make sure to change your PIN immediately when you get your new card, and be careful about where you use it. Avoid sketchy ATMs, gas pumps, and always check for card skimmers (little devices attached to the card reader). I'd also recommend withdrawing your cash all at once from inside a bank rather than making multiple ATM transactions. Please let us know how it goes!
Join the conversation
What probably happened was that your friend's child turned 3, so they lost the diaper money for that child. My sister just went through this - she has 3 kids and when her middle one turned 3 in April, the benefit dropped by $115 starting in May. But she still gets it for her youngest who's 1. Sometimes the notices about these changes are really confusing too - they just say something like "your cash aid amount has changed" without clearly explaining it's because of the diaper benefit age limit.
That makes so much sense actually. Her oldest just turned 3 and she has a 6 month old. So she probably just lost it for ONE kid but still gets it for the baby. I feel so much better, thanks for explaining it that way!
Dylan Cooper
my cousin whos a eligibility worker says theres BIG changes coming to calworks but not till next year. something about making the welfare to work hours different and maybe changing the 48 month time limit. but nothing about ending the extra benefits right now
While there are always policy discussions happening, no major CalWORKs program changes have been officially announced for next year. The current program structure, including the 48-month time limit and WTW participation requirements, remains in effect. It's best to rely on official notices from your county office rather than secondhand information, even from relatives who work in the system. Policy discussions often happen internally long before any changes are implemented, and many proposed changes never actually go into effect.
Join the conversation
Just checking back - were you able to file the police report and submit the CA 801 form? One more tip: when you talk to your caseworker, specifically mention "immediate need due to benefit theft" and ask about the "CalWORKs Immediate Need payment" option. It's meant for emergency situations like yours where waiting for the regular investigation would cause severe hardship. Also, document EVERYTHING - names of who you speak with, times, case numbers, etc. This helps if you need to escalate to a supervisor or even contact your county Board of Supervisors (which sometimes gets faster action).
Lily Young
•I got the police report filed yesterday (case #4582) and I'm going to the county office first thing Monday morning with all my paperwork. I've been calling all weekend but no luck getting through. Thanks for mentioning the Immediate Need payment - I didn't know about that and will definitely ask for it. My landlord is being a jerk about the late rent so I'm desperate at this point.
Grace Thomas
I used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier today and it actually worked! Got through to my county office in about 4 minutes after trying for days on my own. The worker I spoke with said they've been seeing a big increase in EBT theft cases lately. She put a rush on my case after I explained my situation with the rent being due. Still have to wait for the investigation but at least I feel like someone is actually working on it now.
Lily Young
•That's awesome! I might try that tomorrow if I can't get through on my own. Did they say anything about how long the investigation might take? And did they mention anything about emergency funds while you're waiting?
Mary Bates
The county offices are TERRIBLE about following their own rules. They just want to kick as many people off as possible to save money! Your sister should absolutely file for a fair hearing IMMEDIATELY. Don't wait! And document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots, save emails, write down names and times when she talks to workers. The system is designed to frustrate you until you give up. I was wrongfully denied CalFresh TWICE before I finally got a fair hearing and won. The judge was shocked at how badly they messed up my case.
0 coins
Honorah King
•So true! When I requested my case notes through a records request, I found out my worker had been documenting things completely wrong for months. They had me listed as refusing to provide verification I never even knew they needed!
0 coins
Jake Sinclair
One more important thing: if your sister gets her CalFresh reinstated (which she should!), she might qualify for a higher amount than before. When someone receives both CalWORKs and CalFresh, their CalFresh amount is typically lower because Cash Aid counts as income. Now that she's not getting Cash Aid, her CalFresh should actually INCREASE to help compensate for that lost income, assuming her other income and expenses remain the same.
0 coins
Vera Visnjic
•That's really helpful to know! I'll make sure to tell her to ask about this specifically when she gets through to someone. Thank you!
0 coins