Can't withdraw CalWORKs Cash Aid from out-of-state ATMs - help needed in Florida

Yes, there actually are restrictions on using your CalWORKs card out of state! This is something a lot of people don't realize until they travel. California has specific rules about using EBT cards across state lines, especially for cash withdrawals. You should be able to use your card at stores that accept EBT, but cash withdrawals can be tricky.Your best bet is to try a 7-Eleven or other convenience store that has ATMs specifically marked as accepting EBT. Some Publix grocery stores in Florida also have ATMs that work with out-of-state EBT cards. Just look for the Quest logo on the ATM.Also, make sure you're not hitting any monthly withdrawal limits - sometimes the error happens if you've already taken out your maximum for the month.

Thanks for the info! I had no idea there were restrictions. I'll try looking for ATMs with the Quest logo. Do you know if I should call someone to let them know I'm traveling? I'm worried they might think my card is stolen since it's being used in Florida.

same thing happened to me when i went to vegas last summer. couldn't get cash from the atm but the card worked fine at stores. i ended up just using the card for purchases instead of trying to get cash. kinda annoying but it worked ok

You need to try a store that accepts EBT and do cash back with purchase. Most big stores in Florida like Walmart and Publix will let you get cash back when you buy something. Just get a small item like a pack of gum, run it as EBT CASH (not SNAP/food benefits), and request cash back. That's how I got around this when I visited my sister in Georgia.The banking system treats out-of-state EBT cards differently than in-state ones. It's super frustrating but it's because each state has their own EBT processor and the systems don't always talk to each other properly for ATM withdrawals.

THIS! Cash back with purchase is the easiest way to get your money. I've had issues with ATMs in other states but never with cash back at register. Just watch out for the daily limits which are usually like $200 per transaction.

I travel between California and Arizona pretty often to help with my mom's health issues, and I've learned a few things about using CalWORKs benefits across state lines:1. ATMs often don't work for out-of-state EBT cash withdrawals, even at major banks2. Cash back at point-of-sale is much more reliable (Walmart, grocery stores)3. You don't need to notify the county you're traveling, but if you're gone more than 30 days it could affect your eligibility4. There's no restriction on using your benefits out of state for shorter tripsOne important thing: if you're having trouble accessing your benefits and need to contact your county worker about this or any other CalWORKs issue, I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that gets you through to a live CalWORKs worker without the endless hold times. I used it when my card was completely blocked once while traveling and they connected me to a real person in minutes instead of hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE showing how it works. Saved me so much stress when I was panicking about accessing my money.

Thanks for all this info! I'll definitely try the cash back option at Walmart tomorrow. Has anyone ever used that Claimyr service before? I'm not sure if I need to call my county worker yet but good to know that option exists if I keep having problems.

When I went to Texas last year my EBT card was rejected at EVERY bank ATM I tried!!! The system is RIGGED to make it hard for us to access OUR MONEY when we travel. I ended up having to do cash back at grocery stores $40 at a time which took FOREVER to get all my cash. And some stores made me buy something each time which wasted money! The county workers never warn you about this travel restriction BS. Just another way they control us and our money!!!

It's not actually a conspiracy lol. The ATM networks just don't all communicate with out-of-state benefit systems. It's a technical issue not a plot to control people. But yeah it is super annoying and they should definitely tell people about it before they travel!

try walmart self checkout u can get cashback there without talking to nobody

Just wanted to add something important: make sure you're not away from California for too long. If you're out of state for more than 30 consecutive days, your CalWORKs benefits could be affected since residency is an eligibility requirement. Not saying you can't travel - you absolutely can - but just be aware of the timeframe if you're planning to stay longer.Also, if you have any reporting due (like a SAR7 form) while you're away, make sure you still submit it on time. You can do it online through BenefitsCal now which makes it easier when traveling.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm only here for 2 weeks total so I should be fine with the 30-day rule. I actually did my SAR7 right before I left because I didn't want to deal with it while traveling.

This happened to me before too but I found out u can use any ATM with the MoneyPass logo on it!!! They work with out of state EBT cards. Look it up on Google maps

That's good to know about MoneyPass! Quest network ATMs are supposed to work too but they're getting harder to find. The cash back option is still the most reliable method in my experience.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned when I had a similar problem with my CalWORKs benefits while in Nevada. It actually worked pretty well - got me through to someone who explained exactly which ATMs would work with my card and why the bank ones were giving me errors. Saved me from having to wait on hold forever with the regular county line. Definitely worth it if you need to talk to someone directly about this.

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the advice! I tried Walmart today and was able to get cash back with my purchase using the EBT Cash option. I could only get $100 at a time so I had to do a couple small purchases to get what I needed, but it worked! For anyone else traveling out of state: don't bother with bank ATMs, just do cash back at registers with your EBT card.

Glad you got it figured out! That's exactly what I do when I travel - skip the ATMs entirely and just plan to do cash back at stores. Pro tip for next time: some stores like Target and CVS also work well for this, and you can often get larger amounts in a single transaction ($200+) compared to some grocery stores that cap it lower. Safe travels and hope the rest of your Florida visit goes smoothly!

This is such valuable information for anyone who travels with their EBT card! I had no idea about the out-of-state ATM restrictions until I read this thread. I'm planning to visit relatives in Oregon next month and was definitely going to rely on ATMs for cash. Now I know to plan ahead and use the cash back option at stores instead. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful to learn from people who've actually dealt with this situation rather than trying to figure it out on your own when you're already stressed about accessing your money while traveling.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs and had no clue about the out-of-state ATM issues. I was actually planning a trip to visit my brother in Arizona next month and would have definitely run into this problem if I hadn't read all these responses. The cash back method sounds like the way to go - I'm definitely going to plan around that instead of relying on ATMs. It's honestly pretty frustrating that this isn't explained clearly when you first get your benefits. They should really include this kind of travel information in the initial paperwork or orientation. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it makes such a difference to hear from people who've actually dealt with this rather than trying to decode official policy documents!

I had the exact same issue when I went to visit family in North Carolina last year! The ATM situation is so frustrating - I tried like 5 different banks and none of them worked. What finally saved me was finding a Food Lion grocery store that let me do cash back up to $200 per transaction. I also discovered that some gas stations with the right ATM networks will work, but you have to look specifically for the Quest or AllPoint logos on the machine. One thing I learned the hard way is to test your card at a store first before you really need the cash, just to make sure everything is working properly while you're out of state. Also, if you're staying somewhere for more than a few days, it might be worth asking locals which stores are most EBT-friendly for cash back - some places are just better set up for it than others. The whole system definitely needs to be more user-friendly for people who travel, but at least the cash back workaround is pretty reliable once you know about it!

This thread is gold! I wish I had found something like this before my first trip out of state with my EBT card. I made the mistake of going to Las Vegas and trying to use ATMs at casinos - of course none of them worked! Ended up having to walk to a CVS pharmacy at like 11pm to get cash back just so I could pay for a taxi back to my hotel. One thing I'll add that I learned from a county worker later: if you're planning to be out of state for more than a couple weeks, it's actually not a bad idea to call and let them know, especially if you have any upcoming appointments or paperwork due. They can't help with the ATM situation, but at least they know you're not trying to establish residency somewhere else. Also, for anyone reading this in the future - download the EBT Edge app if you haven't already. It won't solve the ATM problem, but you can at least check your balance and transaction history while you're traveling, which helps you keep track of your daily withdrawal limits when you're doing multiple cash back transactions.

This has been such an eye-opening thread for me! I'm relatively new to CalWORKs and had absolutely no idea about these out-of-state restrictions. I was planning to visit my aunt in Texas next month and definitely would have been caught off guard by the ATM issues. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially the specific tips about which stores work best for cash back and the daily limits to watch out for. It's honestly pretty disappointing that this kind of practical information isn't included in the initial orientation or paperwork when you first get benefits. Like others have mentioned, they basically just hand you the card and tell you to "use it like a debit card" without explaining all these important restrictions and workarounds. I feel like I've learned more from this one discussion than from any official documentation I've received. I'm definitely going to plan my trip around the cash back strategy now, and I'll make sure to test my card at a store early in my visit like someone suggested. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community is way more helpful than trying to navigate the system on your own!

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm planning a trip to visit family in Washington state next month and honestly had no clue about any of these out-of-state EBT restrictions. Like so many others have said, when I first got my CalWORKs benefits they just handed me the card with basically zero explanation about travel limitations or workarounds. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the cash back method at major retailers is definitely the way to go. I'm going to make a list of Walmart, Target, and CVS locations near where I'll be staying so I have multiple options. The tip about testing your card early in the trip is brilliant - I would have definitely waited until I desperately needed cash and then panicked when ATMs didn't work. One question for those who have used cash back frequently while traveling - do you find that cashiers are generally understanding about EBT cash transactions, or do you sometimes get weird looks or attitude? I'm a bit anxious about having to explain the situation if there are any issues at the register. Also, has anyone had problems with daily transaction limits when doing multiple cash back purchases in one day? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this thread should honestly be pinned somewhere as a travel guide for CalWORKs recipients!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm pretty new to having CalWORKs benefits and was planning a trip to visit my sister in Oregon next month. I had absolutely no idea about these out-of-state ATM restrictions - I definitely would have been one of those people standing at a Bank of America ATM getting frustrated when it didn't work! The cash back strategy makes so much sense now that everyone's explained it. I'm going to map out some Walmart and Target locations near where I'll be staying so I have backup options. The tip about testing your card early in the trip is really smart too - I would have definitely waited until I was desperate for cash and then panicked. It's honestly pretty disappointing that none of this information is explained when you first get your benefits. They really should include a simple travel guide or at least mention these restrictions during the initial process. This community discussion has been way more helpful than any official paperwork I've received. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's made me feel so much more prepared for traveling with my EBT card!