Can you withdraw cash from CalFresh EBT cards? Confused about SNAP vs. Cash benefits
My cousin just moved to California and got approved for food benefits. She asked me if she can withdraw cash from her EBT card to buy stuff at stores that don't accept EBT. I told her I don't think that's allowed with CalFresh, but now I'm second-guessing myself. Do CalFresh benefits work like a debit card where you can take out cash? Or is that only for CalWORKs? She's a single mom and really needs to maximize her benefits, so I want to give her the right info. Anyone know the exact rules on this?
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Tobias Lancaster
CalFresh (SNAP) benefits CANNOT be cashed out or withdrawn as actual money. The funds on your EBT card from CalFresh can ONLY be used to purchase eligible food items at authorized retailers. However, if your cousin also gets CalWORKs (cash aid), then yes, THAT portion of benefits can be withdrawn from ATMs. The same EBT card is used for both programs, but they're completely separate accounts on the card. She should check her approval notice - it will specifically say which program(s) she was approved for.
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Sophia Gabriel
•Thanks, that's what I thought! She definitely only mentioned food benefits, not cash aid. I'll let her know she needs to use the card directly at stores that accept EBT.
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Ezra Beard
Just adding that she should look into getting CalWORKs too if she's a single mom. She can apply for that separately, and then she WOULD be able to get cash from her EBT card. The CalWORKs money can be used for anything - clothes, rent, gas, whatever she needs.
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Sophia Gabriel
•That's really helpful! Do you know what the income limits are for CalWORKs? Is it harder to qualify for than CalFresh?
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Statiia Aarssizan
I made this mistake when I first got benefits!!! Tried to get cash from an ATM with my CalFresh EBT and it didn't work. The lady behind me in line explained that SNAP benefits are ONLY for food. So embarrassing. Tell your cousin to check which stores accept EBT near her on the CalFresh website. Lots of places take it including farmers markets which is awesome for fresh produce.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Same thing happened to me lol. I was standing there trying different PINs before I realized it wasn't working because CalFresh isn't cash. The cashier was giving me THAT look... 😩
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Aria Khan
If she needs to shop at stores that don't accept EBT, she should try to plan ahead and buy shelf-stable items with her CalFresh at grocery stores, then save her cash for the other stores. That's what I do - use 100% of food budget on EBT, then have more cash for other expenses.
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Sophia Gabriel
•Smart strategy! I'll suggest that to her. She's still figuring out how to budget with a baby and the benefits.
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Everett Tutum
To be super clear about this: 1. CalFresh (SNAP) = FOOD ONLY, no cash withdrawals 2. CalWORKs = CASH BENEFITS, can withdraw at ATMs 3. Same EBT card is used for both programs 4. They're separate accounts on the card If she's struggling to reach someone at the county to apply for CalWORKs too, she might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). I discovered it last month when I was trying to update my case. They help you skip the phone wait times to reach a live person at the benefits office. Saved me literally hours of waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Sophia Gabriel
•Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! And thanks for the tip about Claimyr - my cousin mentioned she gave up trying to call the county office because she was on hold forever with her toddler screaming in the background. I'll definitely pass that along to her.
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Sunny Wang
everyone here is right but also FYI if she has calworks and wants to get cash she should check which ATMs don't charge fees!!! some banks waive the ATM fees for EBT but others charge like $3 each time you withdraw which is ridiculous when ur already struggling
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Statiia Aarssizan
•YES!! Bank of America ATMs don't charge fees for EBT withdrawals in California. I learned that after wasting so much money on fees at other ATMs. 😠
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Reginald Blackwell
just be careful bcuz they can kick u off CalFresh if they suspect ur trying to convert benefits to cash!! my neighbor got in trouble for buying food for people and they paid her cash. they call it trafficking and its a serious violation!
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Tobias Lancaster
•This is an important point. CalFresh benefits cannot be sold or traded for cash under any circumstances - that's considered fraud and can result in disqualification from the program and potential legal consequences.
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Statiia Aarssizan
btw has ur cousin checked if she qualifies for WIC too??? if she has a baby she probably does and WIC gives specific foods like formula, milk, cereal, etc ON TOP OF whatever CalFresh she gets!
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Sophia Gabriel
•Oh that's a great idea! Her baby is 8 months old. I'll tell her to look into WIC too. Every bit helps right now.
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Freya Collins
Just wanted to add that your cousin should also know about the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) if she qualifies! Since she's a single mom, she might be eligible to use her EBT card at certain restaurants that participate in the program. Not all counties offer it, but it's worth checking. It can be really helpful when you're dealing with a toddler and don't have time to cook. She can search for participating restaurants on the CalFresh website or call her county office to ask about RMP availability in her area.
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