Can't reach CalWorks? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
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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!
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- 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 :)
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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!
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Lola Perez
One more thing - since your application was submitted in 2024, your eligibility and benefit amounts will be calculated using the new 2025 payment standards, which are slightly higher than last year. For a family of 3 (you plus twins) in most counties, the maximum monthly grant should be around $1,052. Since you applied on November 28th, if approved, you should receive prorated benefits for the days remaining in November (3 days), plus December and January in full, assuming February is when your regular monthly payments begin. Make sure all of this is accounted for in your retroactive payment.Lastly, don't forget to apply for CalFresh (food stamps) if you haven't already, plus WIC which is especially helpful for families with infants.
Nora Brooks
Thank you for all this detailed information! I really appreciate knowing the exact amount I should expect. I did apply for CalFresh and WIC at the same time. CalFresh was approved pretty quickly but still waiting on the WIC appointment. It's just the CalWORKs that seems to be taking forever.
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Tasia Synder
Just to clarify something important that people often misunderstand: The guideline calculator DOES consider the father's obligation to support children from other relationships, including both biological and adopted children. However, it does NOT consider his voluntary support of stepchildren. So in your case, only his one other biological child will be factored in as a hardship deduction, not the 5 stepchildren. This is clearly stated in California Family Code Section 4071. If you go to DCSS, they will handle all aspects of your case including income verification, establishing the appropriate support amount, enforcing payment, and collecting arrears. The timeline varies but typically takes 60-90 days to get established with the first payments.
when i was calling dcss trying to establish my case it took FOREVER to get thru the phone system most days i would get stuck on hold for over an hour and then get disconnected thas why i mentioned that Claimyr service earlier... made everything so much faster
Daniel White
I want to thank everyone for the advice. I'm going to contact DCSS tomorrow morning and get this process started. I feel much better knowing the stepchildren won't factor into the calculation like he's been claiming all these years. I also appreciate knowing that going directly to DCSS rather than CalWORKs means I'll get the full amount of child support. I'll update once I get things moving with DCSS!
Nolan Carter
•Good luck! Make sure to bring any documentation you have of the current order, payments he's made, and his employment information if you have it (the dairy company name and location will help DCSS find him in their system). The more information you provide upfront, the faster they can process your case.
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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.
Tyler Lefleur
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 😓
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Jade O'Malley
•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.
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Hunter Edmunds
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
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Camila Jordan
•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.
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