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Isabella Costa

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

Im having problems getting my full cash aid money out to pay my landlord and utillity bills! Usually I just take out small amounts from ATM but my landlord wont take cash and wants me to pay from a bank account. I need to transfer my whole cash aid into my checking account so I can pay my rent ($1980) and PG&E bill ($245) before I get evicted!!! When I tried to withdraw it all at once from the ATM it only let me take out $1000. The Bank of America told me I need to contact CalWORKs because they cant help!! My worker doesnt answer and Im afraid Im gonna get late fees or evicted if I cant pay these bills soon. Can anyone tell me how to get all my cash aid money at once?? Is there a daily limit?? Do I have to go to a specific place???

Ravi Malhotra

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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.

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Tyank you!!! I didnt know i could go to BoA teller to get it all at once. Im gunna try that tomorrow morning. Do u know if I need to bring anything besides my ebt card? And how do I do the direct deposit thing? My worker is impossible to reach😑

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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.

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Omar Farouk

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Is this at any bank or just Bank of America? My cousin tried at Wells Fargo and they wouldn't help her with her CalWORKs card.

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Has to be Bank of America only!! They're the ones who issue the CalWORKs EBT cards so other banks can't access them the same way.

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Chloe Davis

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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.

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Thx so much!! I didnt know about that form. Im gonna look it up rite now and fill it out. Do I have to wait till next month for the direct deposit to start or can they do it for this months payment too?

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Chloe Davis

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Direct deposit usually takes effect the following payment cycle after your form is processed. For this month's payment, the BofA teller option would be your best solution to get the full amount quickly. Bring your ID and EBT card to any BofA branch.

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AstroAlpha

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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!

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O wow ill check that out thank u! I hate waiting on hold for hours just to get cut off!!

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Omar Farouk

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does that work for real?? every time i call my county office i get the 'call volume too high' message and they hang up πŸ™„

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AstroAlpha

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Yes it works! That's exactly what was happening to me too. They keep your place in line even when the system hangs up on you normally. When they get through, they call and connect you directly to the worker.

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Diego Chavez

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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.

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Thank u!! I didnt realize atms took fees each time, I just thought it was a one time fee per month. ur right its way better to do bank teller! appriciate the help

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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.

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Omg i didnt think about that!! My rent takes almost all of it so it won't be in there long but thats really good to know for the future!!!

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Glad to help! Just make sure when you do your SAR7 form that you report your bank account balance accurately. As long as your rent and bills are paid before the end of the month when they check your resources, you should be fine. It's more of an issue if you're saving money over multiple months.

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Omar Farouk

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

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Chloe Davis

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That's only for EBT food benefits with certain qualifying utility companies through the EBT cardholder portal. Cash Aid on EBT can be withdrawn as cash but generally can't be used to directly pay bills electronically through the card system. This is why direct deposit to a bank account is often the better option for managing bills.

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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!!!!

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Ravi Malhotra

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That's great news! Definitely get that direct deposit set up - it'll save you a lot of hassle. One tip: when you submit the CW 2225 form, ask for a receipt or confirmation number and keep a copy of the completed form for your records. Sometimes these requests can take a cycle or two to process.

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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!

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AstroAce

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That's really helpful advice about checking the balance first! I wish I had known about the EBT portal when I was dealing with my cash aid issues. Quick question - does the online portal show your transaction history too? It would be nice to track where my money goes each month for budgeting purposes. Also thanks for the tip about calling ahead to BofA - some locations near me always seem super busy!

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Malik Jenkins

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Yes! The EBT portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past several months. It's super helpful for budgeting and tracking expenses. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA ahead of time - the downtown locations are usually packed but some of the suburban branches have way shorter waits, especially if you go mid-morning after the rush.

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Yuki Sato

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Yes the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA first - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when the one across town had no line at all!

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Logan Stewart

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Yes the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and your current balance. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. I use it all the time to track my spending and make sure I have enough for bills before I go withdraw cash.

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Liv Park

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, where you used the card, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account using your EBT card number. And you're so right about calling BofA ahead of time - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when the one down the street had no line at all!

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CyberSiren

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Yes! The EBT portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your cash withdrawals, where you used your card, and when. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And yeah, calling ahead to BofA is a game changer - the downtown locations are always packed but some of the smaller branch locations have way shorter waits!

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Isaac Wright

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@AstroAce Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and remaining balance for both cash aid and food benefits. It's really helpful for budgeting! You just need to create an account using your EBT card number. And you're so right about BofA locations - the ones near shopping centers are usually packed, but smaller branch locations often have shorter waits. I learned this the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at a busy location when there was a quieter branch just a few miles away!

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Yes the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and remaining balance for both cash aid and food stamps. It's super helpful for budgeting - I check mine every few days to make sure I'm not overspending. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some basic info. And you're so right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the one on Main Street near me always has a line but the smaller branch by the mall is usually much faster!

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Dyllan Nantx

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past several months. It's really useful for budgeting and tracking your spending patterns. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. The transaction details show the date, location, and amount for each transaction. Super helpful for keeping track of everything, especially when you're trying to budget for rent and bills like Isabella was doing!

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GamerGirl99

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info to verify your identity. And definitely call ahead to BofA - the branch on Main Street near downtown is usually way less crowded than the one by the mall if you have multiple locations to choose from!

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Sara Unger

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your cash withdrawals, where you used the card, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for budgeting and keeping track of spending. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info to verify your identity. The transaction history usually goes back several months too, so you can see patterns in your spending. Super useful tool that not enough people know about!

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Chloe Green

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@AstroAce Yes! The EBT cardholder portal shows your transaction history for both cash aid and food benefits. You can see withdrawals, purchases, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for budgeting - I use it to track my spending patterns each month. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number. And you're so right about busy BofA locations - the one downtown near me is always packed but there's a smaller branch about 10 minutes away that usually has shorter wait times!

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Yara Haddad

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@AstroAce Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past several months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account using your EBT card number and some personal info. The portal also lets you set up text alerts when your balance gets low or when deposits are made, which is super convenient!

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Emma Johnson

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@AstroAce Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your cash withdrawals, where you used the card, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for tracking your spending. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the ones near grocery stores or in busy shopping areas always seem packed. I've found the smaller branch locations usually have shorter waits!

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Yes, the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for budgeting. You can access it at www.ebt.ca.gov - just need your card number and PIN to set up an account. The history goes back several months so you can track your spending patterns. And you're right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the ones near grocery stores or in shopping centers tend to have longer waits, especially around the first of the month when benefits come out.

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Zara Malik

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@AstroAce Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting! You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA ahead of time - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when another branch down the street had no line at all!

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Riya Sharma

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Yes the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. Really helpful for budgeting like you said. I use it to track my spending patterns and make sure I'm staying within my limits. The portal is ebtEDGE.com if you haven't found it yet. You just need your card number and the last 4 digits of your SSN to set up an account.

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Noah Ali

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your cash withdrawals, where you used the card, and when your benefits were deposited. It's super helpful for budgeting! You just need to create an account with your card number and some personal info. The transaction history goes back several months too, so you can really track your spending patterns. And you're right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the ones near shopping centers are usually the worst!

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Emily Thompson

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and even your deposit dates. It's super helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number. And you're so right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the one on Market Street near me always has a line but the smaller branch on 5th is usually pretty quick!

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Nick Kravitz

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and remaining balance. It's super helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account using your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA first - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when another branch down the street had no wait at all!

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Alexis Robinson

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@AstroAce Yes, the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting and keeping track of your spending. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some basic info. The website is usually called something like "EBT Edge" or your state's EBT cardholder portal. Super useful for planning out your monthly expenses!

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Dmitry Popov

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see withdrawals, purchases, and your balance over the last few months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA ahead of time - the one downtown by me is always packed but there's another location about 10 minutes away that's usually way less busy. Saves tons of time!

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Yes the EBT portal does show transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and remaining balance for the past few months. Really helpful for budgeting like you said. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And yeah definitely call BofA locations first - the one on Main Street near me is always packed but the one by the mall is usually way faster!

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Yes the EBT portal does show transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals and when/where you used the card. Super helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number. And yeah definitely call the BofA branches first - the one on Main Street near downtown is always packed but the one by the mall usually has shorter waits.

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Kendrick Webb

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Yes! The EBT cardholder portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And you're so right about calling BofA ahead of time - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when the branch down the street had no wait at all!

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Rhett Bowman

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Yes, the EBT portal does show your transaction history! You can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And definitely call ahead to BofA - I learned that the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at one location when the one down the street had no line at all!

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Madison King

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Yes! The EBT portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and your remaining balance. It's really helpful for budgeting. You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. I use it all the time to track my spending and make sure I don't go over my limits. And you're so right about some BofA locations being crazy busy - the one downtown near me always has long lines but the one by the mall is usually much faster!

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Ben Cooper

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Yes! The EBT portal does show your transaction history - you can see all your withdrawals, purchases, and balance changes for the past few months. It's really helpful for budgeting! You just need to create an account with your EBT card number and some personal info. And yeah, calling ahead to BofA is smart - the downtown locations are usually packed but some of the suburban branches are way quicker. I learned this the hard way after waiting 45 minutes at the wrong location lol

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