Using CalWORKs Cash Aid EBT card in Oregon - Will it work out of state?
So I just found out my mom is really sick and I need to travel to Oregon for a week to help her. My Cash Aid benefits are supposed to load onto my card tomorrow, but I'm worried about accessing my money while I'm up there. Can I still withdraw my CalWORKs money from ATMs in Oregon? Or will my EBT card only work in California? I've never left the state since being on Cash Aid and I'm kinda stressing about this. The trip is urgent so I can't really wait to ask my worker. Has anyone used their California EBT card in other states before?
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Riya Sharma
ya ur card will work in Oregon no problem. i used mine in Nevada last summer when i went to visit my cousin. u might pay a little extra in ATM fees tho so try to take out what u need all at once
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Nathaniel Stewart
AuthorThank you!! That's a relief. Do you know if I need to notify my worker that I'll be out of state? Don't want to mess up my benefits.
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Santiago Diaz
Your EBT card will work in any state because it's part of a national network. However, there are two important things you need to know: 1. You should report your temporary absence to your county worker if you'll be gone for more than 30 days. Since you're only going for a week, you don't technically need to report it, but it's good practice to let them know anyway. 2. Be careful about ATM fees when using out-of-network ATMs. Try to use bank ATMs rather than standalone ones in convenience stores, as those typically charge higher fees. And as the previous commenter mentioned, it's better to make one larger withdrawal than multiple small ones. Your eligibility won't be affected for a short trip like this, especially when it's for taking care of a family member.
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Nathaniel Stewart
AuthorThis is super helpful information! Thank you so much. I'll definitely look for bank ATMs to avoid those high fees.
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Millie Long
I think u still need 2 report even for a week cuz ur supposed to live in cali to get calworks? my friend went to arizona for 2 weeks and when she came back they cut her off saying she wasnt a state resident anymore and she had to reapply!!
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KaiEsmeralda
This is incorrect information. CalWORKs rules allow for temporary absences, especially for family emergencies or care of ill family members. The rule is that you need to report absences that last more than 30 days. A one-week trip to help a sick parent absolutely won't affect residency status or eligibility. Your friend's situation sounds unusual - there were likely other factors involved. Perhaps she didn't report income changes, missed an appointment, or there was a misunderstanding about how long she was gone.
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Debra Bai
I've had NOTHING but problems trying to reach my worker about travel issues. Last month I needed to go to my brother's funeral in Arizona and spent THREE DAYS trying to get through on the phone to ask if it was okay. Never got through and had to just go anyway. Try using Claimyr.com if you really want peace of mind before you leave. They got me through to a real person in 10 minutes when I needed to sort out my SAR7 issues last week. They have a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE But honestly for just a week trip you should be fine. The EBT card definitely works in other states.
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Nathaniel Stewart
AuthorI'm so sorry about your brother. And yeah, I've been trying to call too with no luck. I'll check out that service, thanks for the tip! I think I'll try to let them know just so it's documented somewhere, but I feel better knowing the card will work out of state.
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Gabriel Freeman
This whole system is SO CONFUSING!! One worker tells you one thing and another tells you something completely different. Last year I went to visit my sister in Washington for 5 days and my worker said I HAD to report it, but now people here are saying under 30 days is fine?? How are we supposed to know what's actually required when the county doesn't even know their own rules!! 😡😡😡
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KaiEsmeralda
You're right that the inconsistency is frustrating. The official CalWORKs policy is that temporary absences under 30 days don't affect eligibility as long as you maintain California residency (meaning you intend to return). But some workers are more strict or cautious and may advise reporting even short trips. It's always safer to report any absence if you can, but it's not technically required for short trips. The MPP (Manual of Policies and Procedures) Section 42-302 covers residency requirements if anyone wants to look up the exact rules.
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Laura Lopez
my card didnt work in vegas last year just fyi. the machine kept saying error when i tried to get cash. ended up having to borrow money from my cousin
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Santiago Diaz
That was likely an issue with that specific ATM or a temporary system problem, not a restriction on using your card out of state. EBT cards are designed to work nationwide. Next time that happens, try calling the customer service number on the back of your card - they can tell you if there's a system issue or if your card has been flagged for some reason.
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Nathaniel Stewart
Update: Just wanted to let everyone know that my card worked fine in Oregon! I was able to withdraw money from a Bank of America ATM with just the normal ATM fee. And when I called my worker (finally got through yesterday), she confirmed that trips under 30 days don't need to be reported but said it was good that I let them know anyway. Thanks for all the help!
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Riya Sharma
awesome! glad it worked out for u. hope ur moms doing better
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Sebastián Stevens
Thanks for sharing that update! Really helpful to know it worked out okay. This thread is going to be super useful for anyone else who has to travel out of state for family emergencies. It's good that you got confirmation from your worker too - having that official word makes all the difference when you're stressed about following the rules correctly.
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