EBT Card "technical problems" withdrawing cash - Bank of America ATM not working at 5:45 AM

This actually happens pretty regularly with EBT cash benefits, especially early in the morning on benefit deposit days. The system gets overloaded. A few things to try: 1. Wait until after 9am when their system maintenance is typically complete 2. Try a non-Bank of America ATM (you might pay a fee but it often works) 3. Make a small purchase at a grocery store and get cash back instead of using an ATM Also worth noting - if you're trying to withdraw CalFresh benefits as cash, that's not possible. CalFresh (food stamps) can only be used for food purchases. If you have both CalWorks/cash aid and CalFresh on the same card, make sure you're selecting the cash account when withdrawing.

i had this happen last month!!!! so annoying. called ebt they said nothing wrong with my account but couldnt get money for 2 days!!! try walmart they let me get cash back with only 50cent fee

There's actually a known issue with Bank of America ATMs processing EBT cash transactions during their daily system updates, which typically happen between 2am-6am. This has been ongoing for months and affects mainly cash aid recipients. I recommend: 1. Using a different bank's ATM after 7am 2. Getting cash back at a store like Walmart or grocery stores 3. Keeping track of which days your benefits deposit and planning withdrawals for later in the day If this happens repeatedly, you can file a formal complaint with the California Department of Social Services. They track these technical issues and can sometimes expedite fixes when enough people report the same problem.

You might try Claimyr if you need to reach someone at the county office about this. I had a similar issue last month and couldn't get through the regular line. Used this service at claimyr.com and they got me connected to a real person at the county office in like 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The worker I spoke with said these ATM issues are happening more frequently and they can document it in your case notes if you're having ongoing problems. Might help with getting it resolved faster.

The problem you're experiencing is partly due to the 2025 EBT system upgrade that's been rolling out. Bank of America ATMs specifically have been having compatibility issues during their maintenance windows (usually 1am-6am). You mentioned you're trying to access your money for rent - just as a reminder, if you're receiving Housing Support funds through CalWorks, those can be directly applied to your rent rather than withdrawn as cash. Might be worth checking with your caseworker if that's an option to avoid these ATM issues in the future. Also, there's a new feature in the BenefitsCal mobile app that lets you check if there are reported ATM outages in your area. Might save you some trips to non-functioning machines.

OMG this happens to me EVERY SINGLE MONTH!!! I'm so sick of Bank of America and their stupid ATMs! They NEVER work right with EBT cards! And then when you call, you get that stupid recording that doesn't help AT ALL. I've started just going to the grocery store and buying a pack of gum or something cheap and getting cash back. It's ridiculous we have to jump through these hoops just to access OUR OWN MONEY!!!! The county needs to switch to a different bank already!!!!

does anyone know if the atms at the target stores work with ebt? theres one by my house but i never tried it

UPDATE: Was able to get my money around 10am! Seems like it was just the early morning system issue like some of you mentioned. Thanks everyone for the tips about cash back at stores - will definitely use that next time instead of wasting gas driving to multiple ATMs. Really appreciate all the help!

This is such a common problem! I've been dealing with the same EBT/Bank of America ATM issues for months now. What I've learned is that their system maintenance window is unpredictable - sometimes it's 2-6am, sometimes it extends longer. A few additional tips that have saved me: - CVS and Walgreens usually allow cash back with EBT purchases (like buying a candy bar for $1 and getting $40 cash back) - Credit union ATMs often work better than big bank ATMs, even with the fee - Keep the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) saved in your phone - they can tell you if there are known system outages The worst part is when you need the money urgently like for rent. I started keeping a small emergency cash stash at home specifically because of these technical issues. It's frustrating that we have to plan around their system failures just to access our own benefits!