EBT system down? Can't withdraw cash from ATM with my CalFresh card

same here!!! been trying since yesterday afternoon. thought it was just me

CalFresh EBT cards don't actually have cash benefits - those are CalWORKs benefits. They use the same card, but they're different programs. If you're getting transaction denied, check if you're entering the right PIN, if your card is damaged, or if you've reached your withdrawal limit for the day ($1000 I think). Also make sure you're using an approved ATM that doesn't charge fees - some banks will deny EBT transactions.

This happened last year around the same time - there was a system-wide issue with cash withdrawals that lasted about 24 hours. The food benefits side worked fine, but cash access was down. You should call your county worker directly to report it and see if they're aware of any system issues. If you can't get through on the regular line (which is common), try using Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to an actual person when I had a similar issue. They have a service that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a worker is available. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works.

County worker here (not officially representing the county). There IS a known issue with the EBT cash benefit system right now affecting multiple counties in California. It started yesterday morning and IT is working on it. Food benefits are unaffected. The issue is expected to be resolved within 24-48 hours. If you need emergency access to your funds, you should go IN PERSON to your local county office and explain the situation - they can sometimes issue emergency funds while the system is being fixed.

my sister works at the county and she just texted me that its a statewide problem with the ebt cash system. should be fixed by tomrrow they said. u can try going to a actual bank teller instead of atm sometimes that works when system is being weird

Update for anyone with the same problem: System is back up! Just successfully withdrew cash from my EBT card at the ATM near Walmart. So relieved!

For anyone who might encounter this in the future, this is why it's always good to have a backup plan for accessing your benefits. If possible, try to keep a small emergency fund or have a trusted friend/family member who can help in these situations. Also, you can request your cash benefits be directly deposited to a regular bank account instead of keeping them on the EBT card - this can help avoid system issues like this. You can set this up through BenefitsCal or at your county office.

This is really helpful info for future reference! I had no idea about the direct deposit option for cash benefits either. It's frustrating when you're relying on these funds and the system goes down at the worst possible time. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the county worker who confirmed it was a statewide issue. Really appreciate this community looking out for each other - it made a stressful situation much more manageable knowing others were going through the same thing.

Just wanted to add another tip for anyone dealing with EBT system issues in the future - you can also check the status of EBT systems on the California EBT website (ebt.ca.gov) before heading out to ATMs. They usually post notices about known outages or maintenance. Also, if you're ever in a real emergency and can't access your benefits, many food banks and local assistance programs can provide help while you wait for the system to come back online. It's not ideal, but it's better than going without food or missing rent payments. Glad this got resolved quickly for everyone!

Really glad this got resolved quickly! As someone new to the EBT system, this thread was incredibly informative. I had no idea that cash benefits and food benefits were separate accounts on the same card, or that you could switch to direct deposit for cash benefits. The tip about checking ebt.ca.gov for system status is something I'll definitely remember. It's reassuring to know there's such a helpful community here that shares real solutions when these issues come up. Thanks to everyone who contributed, especially the county worker who confirmed it was a statewide problem - that must have been such a relief to hear it wasn't just individual card issues!

This whole situation really highlights how vulnerable people can be when they depend on these systems! I'm new to receiving benefits and had no idea that system-wide outages like this could happen. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the direct deposit option and the ebt.ca.gov status page. It's scary to think about what happens to families who don't have backup plans when the system goes down, especially when rent and bills are due. Really appreciate this community for sharing practical advice and looking out for each other during these stressful situations. Definitely going to set up direct deposit for my cash benefits after reading all these comments!

Anyone having problems with ebt cash withdrawal today

Hello

Hi Annie! Based on the discussion above, there was a statewide EBT cash system outage that got resolved, but it sounds like you might be experiencing issues again today. A few things to try: 1) Check ebt.ca.gov for any system status updates, 2) Make sure you're using the correct PIN and an approved ATM, 3) Try a bank teller instead of an ATM sometimes that works when the system is having issues. If it's a widespread problem again, you can go to your county office in person with your ID, EBT card, and any urgent bills to request emergency access to your funds. Hope this helps!

@Annie B I just tried my cash withdrawal about an hour ago and it worked fine, so hopefully it's not another system-wide issue! If you're still having trouble, I'd definitely recommend trying what others suggested - different ATM locations, checking your daily withdrawal limit, or even going to a bank teller. Sometimes individual ATMs can be having connectivity issues even when the main system is working. If none of that works, the county office suggestion is solid - they were really helpful during the last outage. Let us know if you get it figured out!

@Annie B I'm in LA County and just tried my EBT cash withdrawal this morning - worked fine for me. If you're still having issues, here are a few things that have helped me in the past: 1) Try a different bank's ATM (sometimes certain banks have connectivity issues), 2) Make sure you haven't hit your daily withdrawal limit ($1000), 3) Check if your card has any damage or the magnetic strip is worn. If it's still not working, definitely call the number on your card or visit your county office with your ID and EBT card. They can check if there's a hold on your account or if your card needs to be replaced. This community has been super helpful with EBT troubleshooting - don't hesitate to share more details about what error messages you're getting!

Im in san fernando valley and im having problems take out my ebt cash at wells fargo i went to 3 different bank atms and nothing my money says its there but i cant seem to take it out ! I went to the office and they gave me a new card but still can't cash out my money! Is anyone else having this problem ?