CalWORKs EBT Cash withdrawal not working out of state - blocked?
Help!! I'm in Nevada visiting my mom for her surgery recovery and when I tried to take out my CalWORKs cash from the ATM it kept declining my card. I have enough money on there (I checked the balance on the app) but it just won't let me withdraw anything. Nobody at my mom's house has food and I was counting on this money to help out while I'm here. Do they block EBT cash in different states? My mom lives just over the border from California so it's not even that far. I've never had this happen before. Anybody know what's going on or how to fix it?
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Lily Young
ya they dont let u use cash benefits out of state anymore. ppl were abusing it i guess
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Marcus Williams
AuthorAre you serious?? How am I supposed to get money now? I'm only here for 2 weeks to help my mom!
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Kennedy Morrison
There's been restrictions on using CalWORKs cash benefits outside of California for a few years now. They block it completely in some states. It's part of their fraud prevention system. You can still use your CalFresh food benefits though.
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Marcus Williams
AuthorBut I need the CASH not the food part! I have like $675 sitting there that I can't use???
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Wesley Hallow
This is a common issue with CalWORKs - it's part of the EBT Restriction law that started around 2014. Cash benefits are blocked from ATM use when you're outside California, but there are some exceptions. Call your county worker to ask about a temporary waiver if you're there for a legitimate reason like helping with your mom's medical situation. Make sure you explain it's a temporary family emergency.
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Justin Chang
Actually there's no waiver process for this. The out-of-state EBT cash restrictions are federal law and can't be overridden by county workers. I work in social services and we get this question all the time. The only solution is to either withdraw cash before leaving California or use the EBT card at approved retailers that accept EBT cash as payment (not all do, but some grocery stores and Walmart might).
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Grace Thomas
this happened 2 me too when i went to arizona. you can still use the card to buy stuff at walmart tho. they let u get cash back sometimes if u buy something small
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Hunter Brighton
I've had to deal with this exact problem! Try using your card at a grocery store register for a small purchase and ask for cash back - sometimes that works even when ATMs don't. Or see if someone can Zelle/Venmo you money while you're there and you can pay them back when you return to California.
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Marcus Williams
AuthorI tried the cash back thing at Walmart and they said EBT cards don't qualify for cash back in Nevada! This is ridiculous. I should've taken cash out before I left but I didn't know about this rule. I've been on CalWORKs for 3 years and nobody ever told me this!
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Dylan Baskin
I been on for like 5 years and they never mention this stuff I swear they want us to fail lol
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Lauren Wood
Have you tried calling the EBT customer service number on the back of your card? Sometimes they can tell you which specific stores in your area will let you use the cash portion. Also worth calling your CalWORKs worker to see if there's anything they can do in emergency situations.
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Marcus Williams
AuthorI called the EBT number and was on hold for 45 minutes before it disconnected me. Been trying to reach my worker for 2 days with no luck.
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Kennedy Morrison
Try using Claimyr to reach your CalWORKs worker faster. It's a service that calls the county office for you and then connects you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of hold time when I had an emergency with my benefits. Their website is claimyr.com and you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. Worth it for situations like this when you need to reach someone quickly.
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Grace Thomas
they make all these stupid rules but dont bother 2 tell neone about them. typical government BS
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Wesley Hallow
For future reference, here's what you need to know about EBT Cash restrictions: 1. Cash benefits from CalWORKs cannot be accessed via ATM in any state outside California 2. In some border areas there used to be exceptions but those have mostly been eliminated 3. Some retailers can still process EBT Cash purchases but not cash back 4. Always withdraw cash BEFORE leaving California 5. The EBT food benefits (CalFresh) still work nationwide at approved retailers Unfortunately there's no emergency override for this restriction. Your best option right now would be to see if someone in California can withdraw the cash for you (if you trust them with your card/PIN) and send it via Western Union or similar service.
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Marcus Williams
AuthorThank you for the clear explanation. I wish they'd explain this during the CalWORKs orientation or put it in big letters on the paperwork! I'm going to ask my sister if she can withdraw it for me. What a hassle. I'll definitely remember this for next time.
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Justin Chang
One other suggestion - make sure you're reporting this trip to your county worker if you'll be gone more than 30 days. CalWORKs has residency requirements, and extended absences from California can affect your eligibility. Since you mentioned it's just for two weeks, you should be fine, but always good to know the rules.
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Emma Davis
This is so frustrating and I feel for you! I went through the exact same thing when I had to travel to Oregon for a family emergency last year. The EBT cash restrictions are real and there's unfortunately no way around them once you're already out of state. For immediate help, try calling 211 from your mom's area - they might know of local emergency assistance programs that can help with groceries or basic needs while you're there. Also, some churches and community organizations have emergency food pantries that don't require residency. It's not ideal but might help bridge the gap until you can get back to California or work out the money transfer with your sister.
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