Can't reach California CalFresh? 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'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Called the EBT line three times today and keep getting that "information doesn't match" message when I enter my zip code. It's so frustrating because I know I'm entering it correctly - I've been using the same zip for years. Reading through these comments it sounds like there was a system update that caused problems, so hopefully it gets fixed soon. I need to check my balance before I go grocery shopping tomorrow. Has anyone tried using the mobile app instead of calling? Wondering if that works better during these technical issues.
I tried the mobile app yesterday when I was having the same zip code problem and it gave me the same error! So frustrating. But based on what Zainab said about the system update, it should hopefully be working by now. I'm going to try both the app and calling again this evening. If you're still having trouble tomorrow, definitely call your county office directly - that seems to be the backup solution everyone's recommending here.
I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to reset my EBT password since yesterday and keep getting that zip code error. It's so stressful when you need to access your benefits and the system won't cooperate. Based on what everyone's saying here about the system update, I'm hoping it gets resolved soon. In the meantime, I'm going to try some of the suggestions like entering the zip code really slowly and maybe trying the zip+4 format. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not going crazy and it's not just me!
You're definitely not going crazy! I'm a newcomer here but I'm dealing with the exact same issue. It's really reassuring to see so many people experiencing this and getting helpful advice from community members like Zainab who actually work in the system. I'm going to try the slow zip code entry method that Carter suggested, and if that doesn't work, I'll wait until this evening since it sounds like the system update should be resolved by then. Thanks everyone for making this less stressful by sharing your experiences!
Join the conversation
This is such a valuable thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's honestly shocking how many hoops you have to jump through just to access your own benefit information online when you get a replacement card. The fact that ConnectEBT doesn't automatically sync with new card numbers or provide ANY guidance about this process is really poor system design. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my card got demagnetized and won't swipe anywhere, so I need to request a replacement. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here, especially the detailed step-by-step instructions. It's frustrating that we have to figure this stuff out through trial and error and community forums instead of having proper documentation from the agencies themselves!
I totally agree with you about the poor system design! I'm new to CalFresh and just got my first card a few weeks ago. Reading through this thread has been eye-opening - I had no idea that ConnectEBT and BenefitsCal were completely separate systems run by different companies. That explains so much confusion I've had trying to navigate everything! It's really concerning that there's basically no official documentation for something as basic as updating your card number online. What happens if someone isn't tech-savvy enough to figure out the workaround, or doesn't have access to community forums like this? It seems like a major accessibility issue. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions here - I'm definitely saving this thread in case I ever need to replace my card in the future!
Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with this in the future - if you're having trouble with the ConnectEBT website even after following the User ID/password reset steps, try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting the process. I had a similar issue last year and kept getting error messages until I cleared everything and started fresh. Also, I noticed the site works better on Chrome or Firefox rather than Safari or Edge. It's ridiculous that we need these workarounds, but at least there are solutions! Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - this thread is going to help so many people avoid the frustration of being stuck without online access to their benefits.
Great tip about clearing the browser cache! I've run into similar issues with other government websites where old cached data causes problems. It's wild that we need to become tech support experts just to access our own benefits online. The browser compatibility issue you mentioned is so frustrating too - you'd think in 2025 these sites would work properly across all browsers. Thanks for sharing that Chrome/Firefox tip, I'll definitely remember that if I ever have issues. This whole thread has become like an unofficial user manual for ConnectEBT problems!
Join the conversation
Great news! When you get your new card, remember to activate it right away through the automated system. Also, for future reference, you can check your EBT balance and transaction history anytime by calling the number on your card or through the ConnectEBT mobile app. The app is really helpful for monitoring your account regularly.
So glad you were able to get it resolved quickly! That must have been such a relief to hear that no benefits were used. Just wanted to add that if you haven't already, it's also a good idea to check if your county has any local EBT replacement programs - some counties can issue emergency replacement cards same-day if you visit their office in person. Might be worth knowing for the future. Also, once you get your new card, consider writing down the customer service number somewhere safe at home so you'll have it even if your card gets lost again. Hope the rest of your month goes smoothly!
That's really helpful to know about the emergency replacement cards! I had no idea some counties could do same-day replacements. I'll definitely look into what my county offers and write down that customer service number somewhere safe at home. Thank you for the extra tips - this whole experience has taught me I need to be more prepared for situations like this!
Join the conversation
Just wanted to add another resource that might help - check with your local United Way chapter! They often have emergency assistance funds specifically for families dealing with unsafe housing conditions. When I was in a similar situation with my kids a couple years ago, our local United Way provided $800 towards moving costs when I explained the health issues. They work pretty quickly too - I got approved within a week. You can find your local chapter at 211.org or just dial 2-1-1. Also, don't forget to ask your current landlord IN WRITING to fix the mold issue and keep copies of everything - if they refuse, that documentation will help with any emergency assistance applications. You're doing everything right by advocating for your kids' health!
This is such great advice about United Way! I had no idea they helped with moving costs. I'm definitely going to call them today along with all the other programs people have mentioned. And you're absolutely right about getting everything in writing from my landlord - I've been asking verbally but haven't documented it properly. I'll send an email today requesting mold remediation and keep copies of his response (or lack of response). It's amazing how this community has given me a whole action plan when I felt completely stuck before. Thank you for adding another resource to my list!
Also wanted to mention that if you're in Los Angeles County, they have something called the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that can help with security deposits for families relocating due to health hazards. Even if you're not in LA, most counties have similar programs under different names. When you call, use the keywords "emergency relocation due to health hazard" - that seems to unlock different funding streams than just asking for general moving help. I learned this the hard way after initially being told there was no help available, then getting connected to the right program when I used those specific words. The system is confusing but there really is help out there if you know how to ask for it!
Those keywords are so important - "emergency relocation due to health hazard"! I never would have thought to phrase it that way but it makes total sense that different wording opens up different funding. I'm not in LA County but I'll definitely use those exact words when I call around. It's frustrating that we have to know the "magic words" to access help, but I'm grateful you shared this tip! I'm making a list of all the specific phrases people have mentioned here so I don't forget them when I'm on the phone. This whole thread has been like a masterclass in navigating the system. Thank you for sharing what you learned the hard way!
Pedro Sawyer
I'm in a similar situation with my kids - last name starts with L and still waiting! It's really helpful to see everyone's experiences here. I didn't realize the cards looked so different this year or that they come in plain envelopes. I'll definitely be checking our mail more carefully and won't throw away anything that looks like junk mail. Thanks for sharing the portal link too - I'm going to check that tonight to see if there's any status update for our family. It's reassuring to know they're actually following the alphabetical order mostly, even if there are some exceptions based on school districts and counties.
0 coins
Natasha Petrova
•Hey Pedro! Since your last name starts with L, you should be getting your cards really soon based on what everyone's been saying. I'm new to this whole P-EBT thing but it sounds like they're right around the L range now. Definitely check that portal link that Katherine shared earlier - it seems like it's been really helpful for people to track their status. I'm still learning about all this but everyone here has been so helpful with sharing their experiences!
0 coins
Yara Khoury
I'm also waiting for my P-EBT cards and this thread has been so helpful! My kids' last name starts with N so I'm hoping we'll get ours in the next week or two based on what everyone is saying. I had no idea about the purple design or that the envelopes look like junk mail - I'll definitely be checking everything carefully. Does anyone know if the cards come with instructions on how to activate them or do you have to call a number? Also wondering if there's a way to check the balance once you get the card activated. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
0 coins
Laila Prince
•Hi Yara! I'm also new to this community but from what I've been reading in this thread, the P-EBT cards usually come with basic activation instructions printed on a sticker on the card or included in the envelope. You typically call the number on the back of the card to activate it and set up your PIN. For checking balances, you can usually call the customer service number, check online at the EBT website, or get a receipt when you use the card at stores. Since your last name starts with N, based on what everyone's been sharing, you should definitely get yours soon since they seem to be around the L-M range now!
0 coins