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
Update: I took everyone's advice and decided not to risk the fax route. I went to my sister's house to use her internet and submitted through BenefitsCal. It was actually easier than I expected! The website even gave me a confirmation number and email. Thanks everyone for your help - definitely saved me from potential benefit delays!
That's great news! Online submission is definitely the most reliable method these days. Make sure to check your BenefitsCal account in about a week to see if they need any additional verification documents from you. Glad it worked out!
So glad you got it submitted! I was stressing reading your original post because I know how nerve-wracking those deadlines can be. Online really is the way to go when possible - faster processing and you get that instant confirmation. Hope your recertification goes smoothly and your benefits continue without any hiccups!
Awesome that you got it submitted online! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if you're ever in a similar situation where your home internet is unreliable, most public libraries offer free computer and internet access. They usually have printers too if you need to print confirmation pages. Many libraries also have staff who can help you navigate government websites if you're not super tech-savvy. It's another good backup option besides going to family/friends' houses!
Join the conversation
This exact same thing is happening to me right now! I'm on day 3 of my card being restricted and I have $520 in benefits I can't touch. The county workers keep telling me "the system shows your card should work" but it clearly doesn't! I've gotten two replacement cards and both died within an hour. Reading through these comments is actually giving me hope that there might be a real solution. I'm definitely going to try calling that EBT customer service line (1-877-328-9677) that Ali mentioned, and I'm going to ask specifically about fraud alerts and account resets like Victoria suggested. It's so maddening that we have to become detectives to figure out their broken system, but at least now I have some specific things to ask for instead of just getting the runaround. Thank you for posting this - knowing I'm not the only one dealing with this mess helps!
I'm so glad this thread is helping you too! It's awful that we're all going through this but at least we can share solutions. Definitely try that EBT customer service number - several people have mentioned it works better than going through the county. And yes, it's ridiculous that we have to become system experts just to access our own benefits! I'm planning to go back to the county office tomorrow morning with a whole list of specific questions based on what everyone shared here. Please update us if you get yours resolved - I have a feeling we're all dealing with the same underlying system issue. Good luck!
This is happening to so many people lately! I went through this nightmare in March and it took almost 3 weeks to resolve. What finally worked for me was documenting EVERYTHING - every visit, every phone call, every worker's name - and then filing a formal complaint with the state. The key breakthrough came when I demanded to speak with an "EBT Systems Administrator" (not just a supervisor). These are specialized staff who can access the backend database and see technical flags that regular workers can't. Once I got to the right person, they found that my account had gotten stuck in some kind of automated fraud review loop. Also, while you're fighting this, make sure to request "immediate need" assistance - the county is required to provide emergency food vouchers when there's a system failure preventing access to your benefits. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" while your kids go hungry! Keep pushing - you deserve access to the benefits you're entitled to, and their system problems are NOT your fault!
Three weeks is insane but I'm glad you finally got it resolved! "EBT Systems Administrator" - that's a really specific title I never would have thought to ask for. The regular workers probably don't even know those people exist. And you're absolutely right about the "immediate need" assistance - I had no idea the county was required to provide emergency vouchers when their system fails. That's huge information! I'm definitely going to use that phrase tomorrow. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the reminder that this isn't our fault - it's so easy to feel like we're doing something wrong when really it's just their broken system.
Join the conversation
Update: I FINALLY got through to someone at FTB this morning! They verified my information and are sending me a new card that should arrive in 7-10 business days. The representative said they've had a lot of mail delivery issues with these cards and were very understanding. Thanks to everyone for your advice - especially the specific phone menu options and what to ask for. That made a huge difference!
That's great news! So glad you got it resolved. Did you end up calling the regular FTB number or using one of the other suggestions?
I called the FTB number (1-800-542-9332) and followed the menu options that @helpfulbenefitsguide suggested. I also mentioned I was a CalFresh recipient with kids and they actually expedited the new card! Should come in 5 business days instead of 7-10.
So happy to see this worked out for you! This is exactly why community support matters - when we share our experiences and knowledge, we can help each other navigate these confusing government systems. Your situation will definitely help other families who might face the same issue with delayed MCTR cards. For anyone else reading this thread, the key takeaways seem to be: call 1-800-542-9332, use the specific menu options, mention if you're on CalFresh/have kids for potential expedited processing, and don't give up! The money is rightfully yours and the FTB does have processes in place to handle these delivery issues. Hope your new card arrives quickly and helps with those grocery costs. Food prices are rough right now, especially for families on CalFresh benefits.
Absolutely agree! This thread is such a perfect example of how sharing our experiences can really make a difference for families struggling with these issues. I'm new to this community but already impressed by how helpful and supportive everyone is. As someone who's dealt with various benefit programs over the years, I know how overwhelming and frustrating it can be when things go wrong - especially when you're already stretched thin financially. It's so reassuring to see people taking time to share detailed advice and follow up to make sure things worked out. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here!
Join the conversation
Just wanted to share my experience - I got my new chip card about 3 weeks ago and the whole process was super easy! The activation took maybe 2 minutes on the phone, and like others mentioned, you just need your zip code and to set up your PIN (I kept the same one). The chip does feel different at first - you have to insert and wait instead of swiping, but honestly it's become second nature now. I've used it at Safeway, Target, and a few smaller stores with no issues. My benefits transferred over perfectly and my monthly deposit happened right on schedule. One thing that surprised me was how much faster the transaction actually processes with the chip compared to the old magnetic strip. Overall really happy with the upgrade and feel more secure knowing my card info is better protected!
That's really reassuring to hear! I'm still waiting for mine but your experience makes me feel much better about the transition. The faster processing time is definitely a bonus - I hate when the card reader takes forever at checkout and there's a line behind me. Did you notice any difference in how long it takes to check your balance at ATMs or on the phone system?
I received my new chip card two weeks ago and activated it without any issues! The process was straightforward - just called the number on the card, entered my zip code, and set up my PIN. My balance transferred automatically and I've been using it at grocery stores ever since. One helpful tip: when you first use the chip, make sure to leave the card in the reader until it tells you to remove it. I pulled it out too early at first and had to retry the transaction. Also, some older card readers at smaller stores might still require you to swipe, so don't panic if the chip doesn't work everywhere immediately. @Olivia Evans hope your activation goes smoothly! The security upgrade is definitely worth it - I feel much more confident using my card knowing it's harder for scammers to steal my info.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I'm still pretty new to all this EBT stuff (just started getting CalFresh a few months ago) so hearing from people who've already made the switch is really helpful. The tip about leaving the card in until it says to remove it is good to know - I probably would have made that mistake too! Did you have to update anything with your county office when you got the new card, or is it really just activate and go?
Sophia Miller
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been having the exact same issue for the past few months and was starting to think there was something wrong with my case. It's such a relief to know that there's actually a predictable schedule based on your case number - I had no idea! I'm going to dig out my paperwork tonight and figure out what day mine should come. It's honestly kind of frustrating that they don't make this information more prominent when you first get approved. Like others mentioned, you get so much paperwork but somehow miss the most important detail about when you'll actually receive your benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
0 coins
Jamal Anderson
•I totally feel you on this! When I first got CalFresh, I was so overwhelmed by all the paperwork that I completely missed the deposit schedule info too. It really should be highlighted better - maybe on the front page or in bold letters! Once you find your case number and figure out your day, I'd recommend doing what others suggested and setting up those text alerts. It made such a huge difference for me. You're definitely not alone in being confused about this - seems like it's a common experience for new recipients. Hope you get it all sorted out!
0 coins
Mateo Perez
I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just got approved last week and was wondering about this exact thing. My case worker mentioned something about a deposit schedule but I honestly zoned out during that part of the conversation because there was so much information to process. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better - it sounds like being confused about the timing is totally normal when you're starting out. I'm going to look up my case number tonight and figure out my deposit day. Thanks to everyone who shared the schedule breakdown and app recommendations!
0 coins
Sophia Clark
•Welcome to CalFresh and to the community! Don't worry about zoning out during that conversation - there really is SO much information thrown at you during the approval process that it's impossible to remember everything. I think most of us here had that same experience of feeling overwhelmed by all the details. The good news is that once you find your case number and figure out your deposit day, it becomes second nature. And like others mentioned, those text alerts and apps really do make a huge difference in keeping track of everything. Feel free to ask questions here anytime - everyone is super supportive and we've all been in your shoes!
0 coins