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CosmicCrusader

EBT card skimmed - how to withdraw replacement funds all at once without transaction limits?

So my EBT card got skimmed at the beginning of April (probably at that sketchy ATM by the gas station). Filed the claim with BenefitsCal and finally got my $783 in benefits back yesterday. Problem is when this happened last time (November), I couldn't withdraw all my replacement funds at once. The system only let me do like 3 transactions per day with a $300 max each time, so it took me almost a week to get all my money back. Does anyone know if there's a way to get ALL replacement funds in one transaction? I'm scared of using multiple ATMs again since that's probably how I got skimmed in the first place. Also, do I need to tell my county worker about getting a replacement? Really don't want them thinking I'm committing fraud or something when I'm the victim here.

Ethan Brown

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The daily ATM withdrawal limit for EBT is usually $500, but some banks set lower limits. Try going inside an actual bank branch that takes EBT and ask for a cash withdrawal at the counter instead of using the ATM. I did this at Wells Fargo last month and was able to get my full $940 replacement benefits in one transaction. Just make sure to bring your ID and EBT card.

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Omg thank you!! Didn't even think about going inside a bank. Will try Wells Fargo tomorrow. Do u know if they charge any fees for this?

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Yuki Yamamoto

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Sorry this happened to you! EBT skimming is unfortunately becoming more common. To answer your question: The transaction limits are set by the EBT system for security reasons, but there are a few workarounds: 1. You can do a cash withdrawal at a bank teller window instead of an ATM (some banks allow larger one-time withdrawals) 2. You can use your EBT card at a grocery store and request cash back with a purchase (though most stores have a $200 limit) 3. If you have direct deposit set up with BenefitsCal, you can request your replacement benefits be sent directly to your bank account instead of loaded onto your EBT card And no, you don't need to tell your county worker about getting a replacement for skimmed benefits. The fraud department handles that separately from your eligibility worker. Just keep the claim confirmation number they gave you.

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Thank you for the detailed reply! I don't have direct deposit set up (should probably do that). I'll try the bank teller option first. Do you know if Bank of America works for this? There's one right by my apartment.

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Yuki Yamamoto

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Yes, Bank of America should work since they're the official bank that handles California EBT cards. Just make sure to bring your ID along with your EBT card when you go to the teller.

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Carmen Ortiz

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this hapened to me 2 times alredy!! the atm limits are BS when ITS OUR MONEY!!!! my worker said theirs nothing they can do about the limits its "bank policy" or watever. i ended up just going to 3 diffrent stores and getting cash back with small purchases like a candy bar or soda each time. not ideal but faster than waiting 3 days

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That's so frustrating! I'm gonna try the bank teller route first but if that doesn't work I'll do the cash back thing. Thanks for the tip about making small purchases.

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Have you tried calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card? When my benefits got stolen last year, I had to get a whole new card number. They should be able to tell you the exact withdrawal limits and maybe even temporarily increase them since this is replacement for stolen benefits. Also, don't use ATMs at gas stations anymore - that's where most skimming happens.

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Zoe Papadakis

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This is solid advice. Unfortunately, the EBT customer service line is notoriously difficult to get through to, especially when you need to speak with an actual representative rather than the automated system. I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect to a real person faster. They'll call and navigate the phone tree for you, then call you back when there's a live representative on the line. Saved me hours of frustration when my EBT card was compromised. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

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I tried calling that number yesterday and was on hold for like 45 minutes before giving up. I'll look into that Claimyr thing. Has anyone else used it? And yeah, definitely learned my lesson about gas station ATMs!

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Jamal Carter

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Wait why would you use ATMs for EBT benefits? I'm confused because CalFresh benefits can't be withdrawn as cash - they're only for food purchases. Are you talking about CalWorks cash aid? Those are different programs even though they both use the same EBT card.

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Yeah, I'm talking about the cash aid portion on my EBT card, not the food benefits. I get both CalFresh and CalWorks, but it was only the cash part that got skimmed.

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Jamal Carter

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Ah ok that makes sense! Sorry for the confusion. Yeah for CalWorks you definitely can withdraw from ATMs. I just wanted to make sure because I've seen people get confused about the different benefits on the same card.

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Ethan Brown

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After dealing with the same issue last year, I discovered you can call your county office and request a "temporary withdrawal limit increase" for replacement benefits. They sometimes make exceptions for fraud victims. You need to specifically ask for the EBT card services department though, not your regular caseworker.

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That's really helpful! I'll try calling my county office tomorrow. Did you have to provide any documentation or just explain the situation?

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BE CAREFUL using ATMs!! Skimming is everywhere now. I recommend checking your EBT balance EVERY DAY through the app or website. That way you catch fraud immediately. As for your question, did you get a new card number after the skimming? If not, YOU NEED TO! Otherwise they can just steal your replacement benefits too.

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Yes! I got a whole new card with a different number. And I've been obsessively checking my balance on the app since this happened. It's just so stressful because I depend on that money.

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Carmen Ortiz

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can i ask how long it took u to get ur money back after filing the claim??? im on day 9 of waiting and customer service keeps saying "10-15 business days" but i cant pay my rent without that money!!

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It took exactly 12 business days for me. I filed on April 2nd and got the money back on the 18th. They told me the same 10-15 day timeline. Hope you get yours back soon!

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