How to withdraw Cash Aid money from ATM with EBT card - first time user help!
Just got approved for CalWORKs cash aid!! So excited but now I'm confused about how to actually get the money. Do I use the ATM with my EBT card? Is it the same process as using a regular debit card? Do I need a special PIN or something? Anyone know if there are fees when withdrawing at different ATMs? Sorry for all the questions but this is my first time receiving benefits and I don't want to mess anything up!
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Oliver Zimmermann
Congrats on your approval! Yes, you can withdraw your Cash Aid from ATMs using your EBT card. It works pretty much like a debit card. Your PIN should have been mailed to you separately from your card (for security reasons). If you didn't get a PIN or forgot it, call the number on the back of your EBT card to set/reset it. And heads up about ATM fees - you get 4 free withdrawals per month at most ATMs. After that, there's usually a fee. BUT, if you use Bank of America ATMs, you won't pay a fee at all for Cash Aid withdrawals. I always use BofA to avoid those charges.
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Amina Toure
•Thank u sooo much!! I got the PIN in a separate envelope, just wasn't sure if it was the same for food stamps and cash. So I use the same card for both benefits? And do I have to take all the cash aid out at once or can I just take what I need for the week?
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CosmicCommander
u can also buy stuff with the ebt card directly at some stores like target and walmart... just select EBT CASH at checkout. Saves u a trip to atm sometimes
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Amina Toure
•OMG I had no idea you could do that!! That's actually super helpful because I hate carrying cash. Would this work at grocery stores too?
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Natasha Volkova
BE CAREFUL at atms in sketchy areas!!!! My cousin got her cash stolen last month when some creep was watching her take money out. He followed her home and she got robbed. Try to go inside banks or use grocery store atms with good lighting. Better safe than sorry.
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Javier Torres
•This is actually really good advice that most people don't think about. The EBT card doesn't have the same fraud protection as regular debit cards. If someone steals your cash, the county won't replace it. I always withdraw my CalWORKs money inside a grocery store during daylight hours. And I immediately put most of it toward bills instead of keeping it in cash form.
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Emma Davis
To directly answer your questions: 1. Yes, your EBT card works at ATMs for Cash Aid (not for CalFresh/food benefits) 2. You use the same physical EBT card for both CalFresh and Cash Aid, but they're separate accounts 3. You can withdraw any amount up to your available balance 4. You select "WITHDRAW FROM CHECKING" at most ATMs 5. Watch out for ATM fees! Bank of America has no fees for EBT transactions 6. You can also use "cash back" when shopping at many stores by selecting EBT CASH as payment type 7. Your benefits are typically deposited on the same day each month based on the case number Hope this helps!
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Amina Toure
•This is SUPER helpful, thank you! The case worker explained everything else really well but not really how to use the card. One more question - my approval letter says the benefits will come on the 3rd of each month. If the 3rd falls on a weekend, will it still deposit then or do I have to wait till Monday?
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Malik Johnson
I had THE WORST time trying to get my pin reset when I first got approval. Had to call like 20 times and kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual human at the county who fixed my PIN issue right away. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - saved me hours of frustration!
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Amina Toure
•Thank you! My PIN seems to be working for now but I'll save this info in case I have problems. The EBT customer service line had me on hold for like 40 minutes last time I called about my application status!
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Isabella Ferreira
congrats! but just fyi u should get a bank account if u dont have 1 already. then u can transfer ur cash aid to ur bank instead of carrying cash. my worker told me its safer that way. oh also dont forget u need to submit the SAR7 form every 6 months to keep getting benefits!!! i forgot once and my cash aid got cut off for like 3 weeks and it was a NIGHTMARE to get it back on
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Just to clarify on this - you can't actually transfer funds electronically from your EBT card to a bank account directly. You'd need to withdraw the cash first and then deposit it. Some people find it helpful to immediately deposit their Cash Aid into a bank account after withdrawing to keep it secure, but there's no direct transfer option in California's system.
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CosmicCommander
Does anyone know if the grocery store can tell its ebt cash vs regular debit when u pay? Kinda embarrassing sometimes
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Emma Davis
•The receipt will show EBT Cash, but cashiers see it all day long and honestly don't care. Self-checkout is also an option at many stores if you prefer more privacy. Remember that CalWORKs is a support system designed to help families - there's absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about when using benefits you qualify for.
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Natasha Volkova
I gotta say be careful about how much you take out at once. When my benefits first got approved, I was so happy I went and withdrew it all. Then I lost my wallet the next day with $550 inside! The county won't replace stolen/lost cash. Now I only withdraw what I need for a couple days at a time.
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Amina Toure
•Omg that's awful! I'm so sorry that happened to you. That's really good advice - I'll definitely only take out what I need at a time. Thank you for sharing!
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