CalFresh EBT card ATM withdrawals - does Bank of America charge fees when using GA benefits?

Important clarification - CalFresh benefits CAN'T be withdrawn as cash, only used for food purchases. The cash benefits on your cousin's EBT card are from General Assistance, which is separate from CalFresh. For your actual question: Yes, Bank of America (who manages California EBT cards) does charge fees for some ATM withdrawals. Here's how it works: - Using BofA ATMs: Usually no fee for the first 2-4 withdrawals per month - Non-BofA ATMs: Usually $1.00-1.50 per withdrawal plus whatever fee the ATM owner charges - Cash back with purchase: No fee (like at grocery stores when you buy something) Your cousin should definitely use the cash back option when possible to avoid fees. Also tell him to check his GA benefit letter - it should explain the fee structure for his specific county.

each county has diffrent rules for GA so the fees might be diffrent. my brother gets GA in alameda county and he can get 4 free withdrawls at B of A atms per month, but after that its $1 each time. the non-BofA atms charge him like $3-4 sometimes!!! tell your friend to always do cash back at stores insted of atms. also some stores let u check ur balance for free to

I HAD THE SAME ISSUE!!!! They don't tell you ANYTHING useful when you apply! The BofA ATMs will charge you after your first few withdrawals each month and it's RIDICULOUS considering how little GA pays!! I lost almost $20 in fees my first month because I didn't know any better and made small withdrawals every few days. 😡

Something your cousin should know: he can check his EBT card balance for free online or by phone. He should set up an account at www.ebt.ca.gov or call the number on the back of his EBT card. This way he can monitor his balance without fees. Also, most counties allow 3-4 free ATM withdrawals per month at Bank of America ATMs specifically. After that, there's usually a $0.85-$1.00 fee per withdrawal. If he uses non-BofA ATMs, he'll likely pay both the BofA fee PLUS whatever fee the ATM owner charges (often $2-4). Getting cash back during purchases is usually the best option to avoid fees entirely. Grocery stores, drug stores, and many retail stores offer this service with no minimum purchase at most places (though some may require a small purchase).

Have you considered using Claimyr to get through to a real person at the county office? I was having similar confusion about my EBT benefits and couldn't get past the automated system when calling. I used claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual benefits worker in about 20 minutes who explained everything about the fees. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The worker I spoke with gave me a printed fee schedule and explained all the different ways to avoid fees with my benefits. Might be worth it for your cousin to get the official info directly from his county.

hey ive been on CalFresh & GA for 2 years now and heres what i learned: 1. definitely use the cashback at stores!!! no fees!! 2. i always just buy like a banana or something cheap at walmart then get $100 cashback 3. BofA atms will charge after ur first few withdrawls 4. AVOID non-BofA atms they charge crazy fees 5. sometimes the EBT system is down for maintenance on weekends so plan ahead also make sure ur cousin knows that if he gets a job he has to report the income for BOTH CalFresh and GA and they have different reporting requirements

i think everyone is right about cash back being the best option! i just wanted to add that some banks will waive atm fees if you have an account with them. maybe your friend could open a regular bank account? even a basic checking account might help in the long run. my credit union gives me 10 free atm withdrawals anywhere per month.

Just to add to what everyone else said - if your cousin is getting both GA and CalFresh, he should know they have different balance inquiry numbers too. Sometimes when you call the main EBT customer service, it only tells you about food benefits not cash benefits unless you specifically select that option. The EBT app is better because it shows both balances clearly separated.

This thread has been so informative! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation myself - just got approved for GA in Fresno County and was completely lost about the fee structure. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like the key strategies are: 1. Use cash back at stores whenever possible (no fees) 2. Limit ATM use to BofA locations and stay within the free withdrawal limit 3. Download the ConnectEBT app to track balances 4. Keep receipts for everything One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with using EBT cash benefits at gas stations? I know you can't use CalFresh/food benefits there, but wondering if the GA cash benefits work and if there are any special fees. Also want to echo what others said about the poor explanation from county workers. It's frustrating that people have to figure this out on their own when losing even a few dollars to fees can be a big deal when you're only getting a few hundred dollars a month.

Just wanted to add another tip that's helped me save money on fees - if your cousin lives near any colleges or universities, many campus bookstores and food courts accept EBT and offer cash back with no fees. I discovered this by accident when I was visiting a friend at UC San Diego. The campus convenience store let me get $40 cash back when I bought a drink, and there was no fee at all. Not every campus location does this, but it's worth checking if he's in the area. Also, for what it's worth, San Diego County's GA program should allow 4 free BofA ATM withdrawals per month before fees kick in. The county office on Broadway downtown sometimes has printed fee schedules available if he wants to stop by in person - sometimes easier than trying to get through on the phone. The staff there seemed more helpful than the eligibility workers at the initial appointment.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea the fee structure was so complicated or that there were so many ways to avoid them. I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months but never had cash benefits before, so this is all new information for me too. One thing I wanted to add that might help your cousin - I recently learned that some Dollar General and Family Dollar stores also offer cash back with EBT purchases, and their limits are usually pretty reasonable (around $40-50). Since there are so many of these stores around, it might give him more options for getting cash without fees, especially if he's in an area without a lot of grocery stores. Also, just want to say how frustrating it is that we all have to crowdsource this basic information that should be clearly explained during the application process. The fact that people are losing money to fees because they weren't properly informed is really messed up. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical knowledge that makes a real difference in people's lives!