How to withdraw full CalWORKs Cash Aid amount at once - need to pay bills from bank account

There are daily withdrawal limits on the EBT card but you have a few options to get your full cash aid amount: 1. You can ask for a cash withdrawal at any Bank of America branch - just show your EBT card and ID to the teller. They can give you your entire balance at once with no fees. 2. You can also set up direct deposit to your bank account for future payments. Your worker can help set this up so your Cash Aid automatically goes to your checking account each month. 3. If you need the money right away, you can do multiple ATM withdrawals over 2-3 days (though this means extra fees). Call your CalWORKs office right away and ask about these options. Getting direct deposit set up would be best for your situation since your landlord wants payments from a bank account.

When I was on CalWORKs last year I had the SAME ISSUE and my landlord was getting mad about me paying in cash too. I would do the bank teller thing like the other person said - I used to do that and they never gave me problems taking all the money out. Just tell them you want to cash out your EBT balance. They might ask for ID.

I'm a CalWORKs eligibility worker and can clarify a few things: 1. There is a daily withdrawal limit (usually $1000) at ATMs on your EBT card for Cash Aid 2. You can withdraw your FULL balance at any Bank of America teller window with your EBT card and valid ID 3. For future months, you can set up direct deposit by completing form CW 2225 (Direct Deposit Authorization). This will send your cash aid directly to your bank account each month If you're having trouble reaching your worker, I recommend going to your county office in person with your completed CW 2225 form and bank information. The form is available online if you search "California CW 2225 form" or at your county office.

I've been trying to reach my CalWORKs worker for THREE WEEKS about a payment issue too. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in 20 mins! It calls for you and holds your place in line. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE I was able to talk to someone who helped me set up direct deposit right over the phone. They emailed me the form to sign and everything. Saved me a trip to the office!

dont go to atm at all!!! they charge u fees every time. i just go inside bank of america and ask for cash withdrawl. u need ur EBT card + id + know ur pin. they'll give u all the money at once no fees. i do this every month on payday. also once u have a bank account set up direct deposit, way easier.

You might want to be careful withdrawing ALL your cash aid at once and then putting it in your bank account. If your bank account gets over a certain amount, you could go over the resource limit for CalWORKs eligibility. In California, the resource limit is $10,211 for a family (in 2025). Keep track of your bank balance so it doesn't affect your eligibility at your next SAR7 reporting period.

can't u just use the ebt card to pay bills directly? thats what i do for my phone bill and electric

UPDATE: i went to BofA yesterday and got all my cash aid money at once! the teller was really helpful and didnt charge any fees. i deposited it to my checking account and paid my rent online. going to fill out that direct deposit form too so i dont have this problem again. thanks everyone for your help!!!!

So glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - you can also check your EBT cash balance anytime by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or logging into the EBT cardholder portal online. This way you know exactly how much you have before going to the bank. Also, some Bank of America locations have longer lines than others, so if you're in a hurry like Isabella was, calling ahead to ask about wait times can save you stress!