Can I withdraw CalWORKs Cash Aid from ATM? How much cash can I take out at once?

Yes, you can absolutely use your EBT card to withdraw cash from ATMs! Your CalWORKs Cash Aid gets loaded onto the same EBT card that CalFresh (food stamps) goes on, but they're separate benefits. For the Cash Aid portion, you can withdraw it from most ATMs or get cash back at stores when making purchases. Just be careful about ATM fees. Try to use Bank of America ATMs since they don't charge extra fees for EBT withdrawals in California. Other ATMs might charge $2-3 per transaction on top of what the state already takes out (I think it's $1 after the first withdrawal each month). As for withdrawal limits, I believe the standard daily limit is $1000, but it depends on how much is in your account. $100 should be no problem at all!

BE CAREFUL using ATMs in bad areas!!! I had my card stolen last year when someone watched me enter my PIN at the gas station ATM. They followed me to my car and grabbed my purse when I wasn't looking. Took WEEKS to get my benefits back and the county accused ME of fraud at first!!! Always cover your hand when entering PIN and try to use ATMs inside stores not the outside ones. Also NEVER EVER give your PIN to ANYONE even if they say they're from the county office!!

just fyi u can also use the card like a debit card at most stores if u need to buy something. i never take cash out anymore cause i got robbed once after leaving the atm. just swipe at walmart target etc and select debit, put in ur pin. or u can do cash back at the register too thats usually safer than atm

If you need to reach someone at the county office about this, I would recommend using Claimyr. I was having issues with my card not working right after activation and couldn't get through to anyone on the regular CalWORKs line. I tried for DAYS. Then someone told me about this service called Claimyr that gets you through to a real person. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - it saved me hours of waiting and actually got me to a worker who fixed my issue. The website is claimyr.com if you're interested. Totally worth it when you need to talk to someone fast.

The county disbursement schedule for CalWORKs is based on the case number's last digit, so depending on your number your funds might be available anywhere from the 1st to the 10th of the month. If you just got approved mid-month though, you might get a prorated amount right away as an initial payment. Check the date on your approval notice - benefits are usually available within 3 business days of approval.

To answer your question about withdrawal limits - there's both a daily and monthly limit on ATM withdrawals. The standard daily limit is $1,000 and monthly is usually your full benefit amount. However, some ATMs have their own lower limits (like $300-400 per transaction). Also, be aware that if you're getting both CalWORKs and CalFresh on the same card, you need to be careful at the ATM to select the CASH account, not the FOOD account. The FOOD account can only be used for food purchases, not cash withdrawals. They're completely separate accounts on the same physical card. If you ever lose your card or it gets stolen, call the EBT Customer Service line immediately at 1-877-328-9677 to report it. They can freeze your account and issue a new card.

My caseworker told me we get 4 free ATM withdrawals a month and then they charge $1 for each one after that. And yea def use Bank of America atms cuz they dont add extra charges. i learned that the hard way when i got charged $3.50 at a gas station atm on top of the regular fee 😡

Just wanted to add - when you first get approved, if you need emergency access to your benefits before the card arrives, you can actually go to the county office in person and request an immediate temporary cash disbursement. They can print you an emergency check right there if you explain it's for rent or other critical needs. Most caseworkers don't tell you about this option unless you specifically ask. Might be helpful for someone else reading this thread who's still waiting for their card!

Hey Gemma! Congrats on getting approved! Just to add to what everyone else has said - when you do go to withdraw that $100 for rent, make sure you have your PIN memorized and don't write it down anywhere. Also, if you're planning to withdraw cash regularly, consider spacing it out rather than taking large amounts at once for safety reasons. One thing I learned the hard way is to always check your balance before and after transactions. You can do this at the ATM or by calling the EBT customer service line. Sometimes there are delays in benefit deposits or unexpected fees, so it's good to stay on top of your account balance. Also, keep all your ATM receipts! If there's ever a dispute about fees or if money goes missing, those receipts are your proof. I keep mine in an envelope at home just in case. Good luck with everything!

One more important tip - if you're planning to use your CalWORKs benefits to pay rent, check with your landlord first to make sure they accept cash payments! Some landlords only accept checks or money orders for rent. If your landlord doesn't take cash, you can usually get a money order at the post office, grocery store, or check cashing place using your EBT cash benefits. Just factor in the small fee for the money order (usually around $1-2). Also, always get a receipt when paying rent in cash - either have your landlord write one out or take a photo of yourself handing over the money. Cash payments can be tricky to prove later if there's ever a dispute. Stay safe out there and congrats again on getting approved!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now. All the advice here is spot on! I'd especially emphasize using Bank of America ATMs - it really does save you money in the long run. One thing I wish someone had told me early on is to set up the EBT Edge mobile app if you have a smartphone. You can check your balance, see transaction history, and even find nearby ATMs that don't charge fees. It's been super helpful for budgeting and keeping track of my spending. Also, if you ever have issues with your card being declined or not working, don't panic! Sometimes the magnetic strip gets worn out from use and you just need a replacement card. The customer service line can help with that and usually ships a new one within 3-5 business days. Welcome to the program and don't hesitate to ask questions - this community has been a lifesaver for me when I couldn't reach my caseworker!

Welcome to the CalWORKs program! Everyone here has given you fantastic advice. I just wanted to add a few things from my experience that might help: If you're ever in a situation where you need cash urgently and can't get to a Bank of America ATM, many Walmart stores have ATMs inside that only charge $1 for EBT cash withdrawals (much better than the $3+ at gas stations). Also, I've found that weekday mornings are the safest times to use ATMs - fewer crowds and better lighting if you have to use an outdoor one. And if you're ever uncomfortable about your surroundings when using an ATM, just leave and find another one. Your safety is worth more than convenience. One last tip: keep a small notebook or use your phone to track your cash withdrawals and purchases. CalWORKs doesn't last forever, so building good money management habits now will help you when you transition off the program. You've got this!

Hi Gemma! Welcome to CalWORKs - you'll find this community super helpful as you navigate the program. Just wanted to add one more tip that I learned from experience: if you're planning to use your benefits at stores for cash back, make sure to ask the cashier beforehand if they accept EBT for cash back. Not all stores do, even if they accept EBT for purchases. Places like Target, Safeway, and most grocery stores usually allow it, but smaller convenience stores might not. Also, when you do get cash back, there's typically a limit (usually $40-100 depending on the store) so plan accordingly. One more thing - if you ever move or change your address, make sure to update it with your caseworker right away. Your EBT card and important notices get mailed to your address on file, and you don't want to miss anything important. The address change can usually be done over the phone or online through your county's website. Hope your ATM visit goes smoothly today! This thread has so much great advice - save it for future reference!

Hey Gemma! I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and wanted to share a few things I wish I'd known when I first started. First - yes, you can definitely withdraw cash from ATMs! The Bank of America tip everyone mentioned is gold - seriously stick to those ATMs to avoid extra fees. I made the mistake of using random ATMs my first month and got hit with so many charges. One thing I don't think anyone mentioned yet is that you can also check your balance by texting your EBT card number to 303-304 (it's free). Super convenient when you're out and want to make sure you have enough for something. Also, if you're ever in a pinch and need cash but don't want to pay ATM fees, you can buy something small at a grocery store and get cash back - even just buying a pack of gum for $1 and getting $20 cash back saves you money compared to ATM fees at non-BoA locations. Your benefits should be available within 1-3 business days of your approval letter date. If it's been longer than that and there's no money on your card, definitely call the customer service line or use that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Good luck with everything! This community is great for questions so don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues.

Hey Gemma! Congrats on getting approved for CalWORKs! I've been on the program for about 6 months now and remember feeling just as confused when I first got my EBT card. Everyone here has given you amazing advice - definitely stick to Bank of America ATMs to avoid those extra fees! One thing I wanted to add that might help is about timing your withdrawals. I've noticed that if you withdraw cash right after midnight on the 1st when benefits are deposited, sometimes there can be delays or the ATM might say "insufficient funds" even though your benefits should be there. I learned to wait until later in the morning (like after 6 AM) to avoid any glitches in the system. Also, since you mentioned your caseworker takes forever to call back - that's unfortunately pretty common. I keep a list of questions on my phone so when they finally do call me back, I can ask everything at once instead of having to wait for another callback. Might save you some frustration! The $100 for rent should be no problem at all to withdraw. Just remember to shield your PIN when you enter it and trust your gut if something feels off about the location or people around the ATM. This community has been such a lifesaver for me when I've had questions, so don't hesitate to ask if anything else comes up!

Gemma, glad to hear you successfully got your $100 out! Just wanted to add something that might help you and others - if you ever need to make a larger withdrawal (like for moving expenses or security deposits), some ATMs have daily limits that are lower than the $1000 CalWORKs limit. I found this out the hard way when I needed $400 for my security deposit and the ATM would only let me take out $300. You can usually do multiple transactions at the same ATM to get around this (like two $200 withdrawals), but just be aware that after your first free withdrawal of the month, you'll pay that $1 fee for each additional transaction. Sometimes it's worth it though if you need the cash all at once. Also, since you mentioned you're new to the program - make sure you understand the difference between your CalWORKs cash benefits and CalFresh food benefits if you're getting both. They're completely separate accounts on the same card, and you can't use CalFresh money to get cash (learned that one the embarrassing way at an ATM once!). This thread has been so helpful - definitely bookmarking it for future reference. Welcome to the community!

Hey Gemma! Welcome to CalWORKs and congrats on getting approved! I've been on the program for about 2 years now and remember how overwhelming it felt at first with all the different rules and procedures. Just wanted to add one more tip that's been super helpful for me - if you're ever traveling or need to use an ATM in a different city, you can use the EBT Edge website or app to find nearby fee-free ATMs. It has a location finder that shows you all the Bank of America and other participating ATMs in your area. Really handy when you're somewhere unfamiliar and don't want to get stuck paying extra fees. Also, I noticed you mentioned needing the money for rent - just a heads up that some apartment complexes and landlords are now starting to accept EBT cards directly for rent payments through online portals. It's still pretty rare, but worth asking about since it could save you the step of having to withdraw cash and get money orders. My complex started doing this last year and it's been so convenient. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about safety and fees. This community really is amazing for getting real-world tips that you won't find in the official paperwork. Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been where you are now! Hope everything goes smoothly with your rent payment today.