Can't reach California CalFresh? Claimyr connects you to a live DSS agent in minutes.
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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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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.
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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 :)
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UPDATE: I followed the advice here and it's starting to work! Called EBT customer service with the right terminology and they immediately knew what to do about the theft claim. Then I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to a supervisor at my county office. The supervisor confirmed there was an error in my income reporting - apparently during my last recertification, they accidentally entered my previous employer's QUARTERLY tax reporting as my MONTHLY income! No wonder it was showing $3,700! She said she's correcting it right away and will process an underpayment claim since I've been receiving reduced benefits due to their error. Thank you everyone for the help!
Great news! Make sure to get something in writing about the correction. They should send you a Notice of Action confirming the income change. Also ask specifically when you can expect to receive any underpayment benefits, as those are typically issued separately from your regular benefits. Glad to hear it's getting resolved!
So glad to see your update! This is exactly why I always tell people to escalate to supervisors - frontline workers often don't have the full picture or authority to make corrections. The quarterly vs monthly income mix-up is unfortunately super common, especially after recertifications. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues: Dylan's experience shows why it's crucial to 1) use the specific terminology mentioned by QuantumQuasar, 2) escalate to supervisors when needed, and 3) don't give up! The system has problems but there are people who can and will help when you reach the right person. Dylan - definitely follow up on that underpayment claim timeline. In my experience, those can take 30-45 days to process, so don't panic if it doesn't show up immediately. Keep checking your EBT balance and BenefitsCal for updates!
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Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'll definitely keep my kids' old P-EBT cards just in case, but now I know to watch for new P-EBT 4.0 cards coming hopefully this spring/summer. I'm going to double-check with the school that they have our current address too. This has been really helpful!
You're welcome! That's a good plan. Also, if you don't receive the P-EBT 4.0 cards by late summer 2025 and you believe your children qualify, there will likely be a way to request replacement cards through the P-EBT website. They usually set up a portal for families who didn't receive their cards or who need replacements. But checking your address with the school now is definitely the best first step to avoid any issues.
This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got P-EBT 3.0 cards for my two kids last year but wasn't sure what to expect with 4.0. One thing I wanted to add for anyone reading this: if you moved during the school year, make sure to update your address with BOTH your old school district AND your new one. I learned this the hard way when we moved mid-year and almost missed out on benefits because there was confusion about which district was responsible for issuing our cards. Also, keep all your P-EBT cards even if they're at zero balance - I've heard of people getting surprise deposits months later for missed benefits. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here!
That's such a good point about updating addresses with both school districts when you move! I hadn't thought about that complication. It makes sense that there could be confusion about which district handles the card issuance. Thanks for sharing that tip - it could save a lot of headaches for families who relocate during the school year. I'm also glad to hear I'm not the only one keeping the old cards just in case. Better safe than sorry with these benefits!
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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As a newcomer to this community, I'm learning a lot from reading everyone's experiences. It sounds like you got great advice and I'm relieved to see your update that it's getting resolved. I'm keeping this thread saved for reference since I'm still pretty new to navigating CalFresh myself. The tip about Claimyr seems really useful - I had no idea services like that existed. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here, it's so helpful for those of us who are still learning the system!
Welcome to the community! I'm relatively new here too and this thread has been so educational. It's amazing how supportive everyone is with sharing their experiences and practical solutions. The Claimyr service recommendation was a game-changer - I never would have known about tools like that without this community. It really shows how much we can help each other navigate these complicated systems. Definitely saving this thread as well for future reference!
I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved, Clarissa! As someone who's been through similar CalFresh issues, I can totally relate to that panic when your card suddenly stops working and you have a family to feed. It's really frustrating how these system glitches happen during routine updates, but at least now you know what to do if it ever happens again. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I'm definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience and the solution, it's going to help so many other families who might face this same issue. Hope everything goes smoothly when you pick up your emergency card tomorrow!
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This whole thread really highlights how broken the CalFresh system can be. I'm a single parent and went through something similar last year - got approved, received my letter, but then had a "system hold" that took 3 weeks to resolve. During that time, my caseworker kept telling me it would be "fixed tomorrow" while my toddler and I were struggling to buy groceries. What really helped me was documenting every single phone call (date, time, who I spoke with, what they said) and also reaching out to my local food bank for emergency assistance while waiting. For anyone dealing with this, don't be afraid to contact your county supervisor's office or state assemblyperson if the regular channels aren't working - sometimes political pressure is the only thing that gets these "system errors" resolved quickly. It's ridiculous that families have to become advocates and investigators just to get benefits they're legally entitled to.
@Madison Tipne Thank you for sharing your experience - it s'both heartbreaking and infuriating that you had to go through weeks of uncertainty with a toddler depending on you. The suggestion about contacting county supervisors and assemblypersons is really valuable - I never would have thought of that approach but it makes sense that political pressure could help when the bureaucracy fails us. It s'absolutely absurd that families in genuine need have to become experts in navigating broken systems just to access basic food assistance. I m'just getting started with CalFresh and reading all these stories makes me realize I need to be prepared for potential battles ahead, even when doing everything correctly. Thank you for mentioning food banks as a backup option too - that s'practical advice that could really help people in similar situations.
As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the helpful information shared here! Reading through everyone's experiences with these "system errors" is both eye-opening and concerning. It seems like these administrative glitches are way too common for something as essential as food assistance. I'm planning to apply for CalFresh soon and I'm already bookmarking the Claimyr service and taking notes about keeping detailed documentation. It's unfortunate that we have to be so prepared for the system to fail us, but I appreciate how this community supports each other through these challenges. @Ethan Wilson I'm so glad you finally got your benefits resolved - having to worry about feeding your kids while dealing with bureaucratic errors must have been incredibly stressful. Thank you to everyone who shared practical tips and resources!
Anthony Young
wait this is completely different from the Market Match program right? because i use that at farmers markets where they match like $10 of my ebt...
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JacksonHarris
•Yes, Market Match is a completely separate program! You can actually use BOTH programs together at participating farmers markets for maximum benefits. Market Match doubles your regular CalFresh dollars (usually up to $10), while California Fresh gives you a separate $50 specifically for produce. If your farmers market accepts both, you essentially get triple benefits!
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Julia Hall
This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom in Fresno County with a 7-year-old, and I had NO idea this California Fresh program existed. We get about $280 in CalFresh monthly, so it sounds like we might qualify. The extra $50 for produce would be a huge help - fresh fruits and vegetables are so expensive! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and ask specifically for the "California Fresh Supplemental Benefit." Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
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Abby Marshall
•You should definitely qualify in Fresno County! Just wanted to add that when you call, if they seem confused about the program, you can also mention it might be listed in their system as the "CalFresh Healthy Fruits and Vegetables Supplemental Benefit" - some offices still use the old name. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn't know about it - ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who handles special programs. Good luck!
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