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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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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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!
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Do you know if this applies to CalWorks benefits too? My sister had money stolen from her cash aid last month and shes still fighting to get it back...
Yes, CalWorks (cash aid) has similar protections, but the process is slightly different. For CalWorks fraud, she should contact her specific county office and ask for the
@629ba60c4776 Yes, CalWorks cash benefits have similar fraud protections! Your sister should contact her county's CalWorks office directly and ask to speak with a fraud investigator. She'll need to file Form CW 8572 (Statement of Facts for Cash Aid EBT Card Transactions) and provide documentation of the unauthorized transactions. The key is getting that form submitted as soon as possible - counties are required to investigate within 30 days of receiving it. If she's having trouble with her local office, she can also contact the CalWorks State Hearing process for additional support. Hope this helps her situation!
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the whole system is designed to wear you down so you give up. they make it impossible to reach anyone and when you finally do they tell you that you filled out the wrong form or are missing some obscure document. i waited 11 WEEKS to get approved for emergency assistance and by then i'd already had to sleep in my car with my kid for a month. hate to be negative but prepare yourself for a battle
I understand your frustration with the system, but it doesn't help to discourage someone who's actively seeking help. The process CAN work, especially when you know what to ask for and which documents to bring upfront.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm really scared of ending up in our car with the kids, especially with winter coming. I'm going to try everything I can and hope I can get through to someone who will help.
UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what's happened. I tried calling the county office all morning yesterday with no luck. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned, and they got me through to an Emergency Response worker! The worker took all our info and said we qualify for temporary housing assistance while our full CalWORKs application is processed. They're sending us paperwork today and said we might be able to get help with the hotel for up to 16 days while we look for something permanent. They're also connecting us with a housing navigator who can help us find an apartment that will work with our budget. I'm still stressed but at least feel like we have some options now. Thank you all for your advice!
That's such great news! I'm so relieved you got through to someone who could actually help. The 16 days should give you enough breathing room to find something more permanent. Having a housing navigator makes a huge difference - they know which landlords work with families getting assistance and can help negotiate move-in costs. Wishing you and your family the best of luck with finding a new place!
So happy to hear you got connected with someone who could help! That's exactly what the emergency system is supposed to do - provide that bridge assistance while you get on your feet. Make sure to stay on top of any paperwork deadlines they give you, and definitely take advantage of the housing navigator. They often have relationships with landlords who are willing to work with families receiving assistance. Keep us posted on how things go with finding a permanent place!
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UPDATE: I finally logged into BenefitsCal and found a notice from January that I somehow missed. Turns out it IS that new California Supplemental Nutrition Benefit because I have a child under 6! It said this is ongoing as long as I remain eligible and my son is still under 6. Thanks everyone for your help! Sometimes the system actually works lol
Great news! Yes, the California Supplemental Nutrition Benefit provides additional assistance for households with children under 6, seniors over 60, or disabled members. It's designed to help these vulnerable populations with rising food costs. Make sure to report any changes to your household composition or income on your SAR7 to keep receiving the correct benefit amount.
So glad you figured it out! This is exactly why I always tell people to check their BenefitsCal messages regularly - they send important notices there that are easy to miss. The California Supplemental Nutrition Benefit is a great program but they really need to do better at explaining it upfront. For anyone else reading this - if you have kids under 6, are over 60, or have a disability in your household, you might be eligible for this extra benefit too. It's not temporary like the old emergency allotments were, it's an ongoing program as long as you meet the criteria.
This is such helpful info! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea about all these different programs. My grandmother lives with us and she's 62 - does that mean we might qualify for the supplemental benefit too? I should probably check our BenefitsCal account but I'm still learning how to navigate everything. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly!
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Just wanted to add another option that's been a lifesaver for me - if you have an iPhone, you can add your EBT balance as a widget to your home screen using the ConnectEBT app. Once you're logged in, go to your widgets and add the ConnectEBT widget. It shows your current balance right on your phone's home screen without even having to open the app! Super convenient when you're at the store and need a quick glance at your balance. Android might have something similar but I'm not sure since I use iPhone. Has anyone tried setting this up on Android?
That widget feature sounds amazing! I have an Android phone and I'm definitely going to look into whether the ConnectEBT app has a similar widget option. Having the balance right on your home screen would save so much time compared to opening the app every time. Thanks for mentioning this - I had no idea apps could even do that!
Another quick tip that's saved me tons of time - most major grocery chains now have their own apps that let you check your EBT balance if you link your card. I use the Safeway app and it shows my balance right in there along with digital coupons and store deals. Target's app does this too if you have a Target nearby. The nice thing about using the store apps is you can check your balance AND browse deals/plan your shopping all in one place. Plus they usually load faster than the dedicated EBT apps since the stores have better servers. Worth checking if your regular grocery store has this feature!
Javier Morales
Welcome to the community! As someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while now, I just wanted to add that Grocery Outlet is definitely one of my go-to stores for stretching benefits. Yes, they accept EBT at all California locations! One thing I've learned is to bring a calculator or use your phone calculator while shopping - since their inventory changes so much, it helps to keep track of your spending as you go. Also, don't be afraid to ask at customer service if you're unsure about whether something is EBT eligible - they're usually pretty helpful. The combination of their already low prices plus your CalFresh benefits can really make a difference in your monthly food budget. Good luck with your shopping!
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Ayla Kumar
•Thanks for the warm welcome and the calculator tip! That's really smart - I never thought about tracking spending as I go, especially since their prices can vary so much from regular stores. I'm definitely going to try that when I shop there this week. It's so helpful to have practical advice from people who've been doing this longer. This community really makes navigating CalFresh feel less overwhelming!
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Emma Garcia
Welcome to the community! I'm also pretty new to using CalFresh and this thread has been such a lifesaver. I had no idea Grocery Outlet accepted EBT - I've been sticking to the big chain stores and struggling to make my benefits last. Reading about all these shopping strategies (the Tuesday/Wednesday delivery timing, manager's specials with colored stickers, bringing a calculator) is opening my eyes to so many possibilities I never considered. It's honestly a relief to find a community where people share practical tips instead of just venting. I'm planning to check out my local Grocery Outlet this week and will definitely keep all your advice in mind. Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful - it really means a lot when you're trying to figure all this out!
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