CalWORKs cash deposit suddenly not working at ATM - transaction failed when trying to withdraw

This happened to me in January!! So frustrating. Did you try to withdraw at the bank that's listed on the back of your EBT card? Some ATMs charge fees and if your withdrawal plus the fee is more than your balance, it'll decline. Or you might have a daily withdrawal limit - mine is $500. Have you tried taking out a smaller amount?

maybe ur card is damaged? mine stopped working after it got bent. had to request a new 1

This is likely a temporary system issue or a hold on your account. Here are some things to check: 1. Make sure you're within your daily ATM withdrawal limit (usually $1000) 2. Verify your PIN is correct 3. Call the EBT Customer Service number on the back of your card to check if there's a hold or any issues with your account 4. Sometimes the system puts a 24-hour hold on new deposits for security reasons If Customer Service confirms the money is available but you still can't withdraw it, ask them to note it in your account and escalate the issue.

Have you tried reaching out directly to your CalWORKs worker? Sometimes there can be administrative holds or payment status issues that only they can see or resolve. I know it can be nearly impossible to reach someone at the county office though - I spent 3 days trying to get through about a similar issue last month. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to my worker. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Your worker should be able to see exactly what's happening with your cash aid and why the withdrawal is being blocked.

WOW everybody here giving complicated answers but did you try just going INSIDE the bank?? The tellers can process a withdrawal from your EBT card manually!! I never use ATMs anymore because they always have problems. Just go to any bank that accepts EBT cards (BofA, Chase, Wells Fargo all do) and show ID + your card.

THIS IS WHY THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!! When I was on CalWORKs last year, this happened ALL THE TIME! They deposit the money but then you can't actually USE it when you need it most. Then landlords get mad, charge late fees, and threaten eviction. Meanwhile the county acts like they did their job because "technically" they sent the payment. The whole EBT card system is designed to fail people when they need help the most.

UPDATE: Going inside the bank worked!!! The teller was able to process a cash withdrawal from my EBT card with no problem. She said sometimes the ATM network has issues with EBT cards but counter transactions use a different system. Thank you all for the suggestions! Crisis averted and rent will be paid today!

This is such a helpful thread! I've been on CalWORKs for 6 months and had no idea that bank tellers could process EBT cash withdrawals manually. I've been struggling with ATM issues too - sometimes they work fine, other times they don't, and I never knew there was an alternative. Definitely bookmarking this info for future reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!