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
Congrats! But be careful cuz they might come back asking for more proof later. happened to my sister. She did the self declaration thing for her babysitting money and they approved it but then 3 months later they said she needed to provide statements from the parents she babysat for. Just saying keep any documentation you can just in case.
This is somewhat accurate but needs clarification. While they can request additional verification if they have reason to question the self-declaration, they can't just arbitrarily request it without cause. If this happens, you have the right to ask what specific inconsistency or information triggered the additional verification request. You also have the right to request a hearing if you believe they're not following proper procedures.
I'm glad this worked out for your in-laws! Just wanted to add one important tip: make sure they report any significant changes in your father-in-law's income if it goes above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Your approval notice should list what their specific IRT amount is. If his cash income ever exceeds that amount in any month, they need to report it within 10 days - even outside the regular SAR7 reporting period. Failing to report income over the IRT can result in an overpayment that they'd have to pay back.
Thank you for this warning! I just checked their approval notice and their IRT is $2,800. His income varies month to month but it's typically around $1,500-1,800. Good to know we need to report if it ever goes above that amount. The cash aid is really helping them get back on their feet while he looks for more stable work.
Join the conversation
make sure ur checking ur mail everyday too they send important notices about this stuff
My apartment complex has been having mail issues lately so it's possible I missed something. Ugh, this is so stressful!
Based on everything you've shared, I think it's definitely the new job and possible IRT issue that's causing this. When you do reach your worker, make sure you ask them to set up a new IRT threshold based on your current income so this doesn't happen again. Also, request that they send you a new approval notice after this is resolved showing your updated benefit amount and IRT. This will protect you from future payment disruptions.
Thank you so much for the advice. I'll definitely ask for the updated approval notice. I just need to find a way to reach someone today!
Join the conversation
Just to add some clarification on the reporting rules: 1. You must report new employment within 10 days of getting your first paycheck. 2. If your income exceeds your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold), you must report within 10 days. 3. Otherwise, you must report all income on your Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7). And about paybacks - yes, if you delay reporting and receive benefits you weren't eligible for, you'll have to repay the overpayment. However, as someone mentioned, CalWORKs has an earned income disregard, so you might still be eligible for partial benefits even with your new job.
so i can keep getting some cash aid even with a job?? i thought once u start working they cut u off completely no matter what. this is good to know!
Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to report within 10 days of getting my first paycheck. I found my IRT letter and it says $1,790 for my household, which is more than I'll make at this part-time job. I'll make copies of my paystubs and upload them to BenefitsCal right away. Really appreciate all the help - definitely don't want to deal with overpayments or fraud accusations!
That's a good plan. Make sure to also ask your worker about the Welfare to Work (WTW) requirements now that you're employed. Depending on your hours, your job might fulfill your WTW participation requirements, or you might need additional activities to meet your hours. Also, don't forget you can get help with transportation costs for work and childcare assistance if you need it!
Join the conversation
Just checking back - is today the 7th? Did your CalFresh benefits load? If not, you should definitely call the county office first thing tomorrow morning. Sometimes there are processing delays, but they can usually expedite it if you're at risk of food insecurity.
Yes, it's the 7th today and still nothing loaded! I'm definitely calling tomorrow. Thanks for checking back - this group has been so helpful!
Sorry to hear you're still having issues! When you call tomorrow, make sure to ask specifically if there are any pending verification items for your CalFresh case. Also ask them to check if your case is in "pending" status rather than "active" status. Sometimes the online portal will show everything as active even when there's an issue on the backend. If they say something is missing, ask them to send you an official notice listing exactly what they need. And definitely request expedited processing if you're out of food!
This is great advice, thank you! I'll make sure to ask about my case status and any pending verifications. And yes, I'll definitely request expedited processing - we're already having to stretch what food we have left.
Lincoln Ramiro
I think what happened is that it was probably an overpayment they're trying to recoup and not actually taking back your reimbursement? My cousin had this happen where they gave her back stolen benefits but then took some for an overpayment from 2 months before that she didn't know about. Check if you got any notices about overpayments recently.
0 coins
Margot Quinn
•I don't think that's it. I've never received any overpayment notices, and the worker specifically told me this was my benefit theft reimbursement for the exact amount that was stolen ($742). It's too much of a coincidence that the exact same amount disappeared.
0 coins
Diego Fisher
Just an update for anyone following this thread - I wanted to clarify that when benefit theft reimbursements are processed incorrectly and then automatically recouped, the county office MUST follow the emergency issuance timeframes. This means: 1. They have 3 business days to verify the error 2. They have to reissue the funds within 1 business day after verification So total maximum time should be 4 business days, not weeks. If they tell you otherwise, ask to speak with a program specialist who handles benefit theft cases specifically. This is covered under ACL 22-84 which updated the benefit theft replacement policies in 2022.
0 coins
Margot Quinn
•This is incredibly helpful! I'll go in first thing tomorrow and ask for a program specialist if the regular worker can't help. Does it make a difference if I bring a copy of my police report from the original theft?
0 coins
Diego Fisher
•Yes, bringing the police report is a good idea! It reinforces that this was a legitimate theft case that's already been verified once. Also, make sure to ask for something in writing about when you'll receive the reimbursement. Some counties have emergency fund request forms that can expedite the process further.
0 coins