What time can I withdraw CalWORKs Cash Aid after midnight deposit?

mine always shows up at 12am but I cant actually get it till like 6am at my atm

The deposit technically happens at midnight, but the banks usually don't make the funds available until their "business day" starts. Most ATMs release CalWORKs funds between 4am-6am, but it can depend on your specific bank. Some credit unions might be different. I've found that Bank of America ATMs (the ones that don't charge a fee for EBT withdrawals) usually update around 4:30am in my area. You'll probably need to wait until at least 4am to access your cash aid.

I've spent HOURS trying different ATMs at different times after midnight!! So frustrating! Even though it SAYS the money is there at 12am, most ATMs won't let you withdraw until between 4-6am. It's because of how the banking system processes the deposits. Your landlord sounds like mine - cash only and gets upset if you're even a few hours late. 🙄 The whole "midnight deposit" thing is super misleading and I've complained to my caseworker about it many times!!!

To give you an accurate answer: CalWORKs cash benefits technically hit your EBT card at midnight, but the system requires time to fully process the transaction. Most ATMs make the funds available between 4:00-6:00 AM, but it varies by bank and ATM location. Some 24-hour retailers with ATMs might process earlier (around 2:00-3:00 AM). If you need to guarantee morning access, I recommend trying one of the following options: 1. Use a 24-hour grocery store ATM around 4:00 AM 2. Try an independent ATM (though watch for fees) 3. Use the BofA ATMs (if you have a California EBT card) around 4:30 AM Also, remember you can check your balance by calling the number on the back of your EBT card - this will tell you if the funds are actually available for withdrawal.

Omg i know its so annoying!! i just got on calworks this year and the first month i was up at 12:30am trying to get money out for diapers and NOTHING. had to wait til like 5am. now i just know not to bother trying until morning. wish they would fix this!!!

So I had this exact problem and wasted so much time trying to contact someone at the county to explain why this happens! I kept getting stuck on hold or disconnected when calling the EBT customer service line. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalWORKs office who explained the whole deposit process to me. Basically they said the system update happens between midnight-4am, which is why we all see different availability times. Check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - saved me hours of frustration trying to reach someone. Their website is claimyr.com if you need to ask specific questions about your account or when you can expect funds to be available.

sum banks let u take it out at 2am but most atms dont work til after 4am thats just how it is

I always go to the walmart neighborhood market by me around 5am and the atm there always works by then

I've been dealing with this same issue for months! What I've found is that it really depends on the ATM network. Chase ATMs seem to release funds around 3:30am in my area, while Wells Fargo is closer to 5am. The grocery store ATMs (like at Safeway or Vons) tend to be faster - usually by 3am. Since you need the cash first thing in the morning, I'd suggest trying a 24-hour grocery store ATM around 4am to be safe. Also, some ATMs will let you check your available balance even if you can't withdraw yet, so you can at least confirm the funds are there! Good luck with your landlord situation - the cash-only thing is such a pain when dealing with EBT timing.

I've had this exact same frustration! What I've learned is that even though the deposit shows at midnight, there's usually a 4-6 hour delay before you can actually access the funds. I've had the best luck with credit union ATMs - they seem to process faster than the big banks, sometimes as early as 2:30-3am. If you're in a bind with your landlord, you might also want to ask your caseworker about emergency cash assistance next time - some counties have programs that can help with rent payments that don't go through the regular EBT timing. For tomorrow morning though, I'd definitely wait until at least 4am before trying any ATM. The waiting game is so stressful when you have bills due!

I work nights so I've dealt with this timing issue a lot! What I've found is that it varies by location but there's usually a pattern. The EBT system does a batch update around 2-4am that makes the funds actually available, even though the balance shows at midnight. I keep a little notebook of which ATMs near me work at what times - sounds nerdy but it's saved me so many wasted trips! The 7-Eleven on Main St works by 3am, but the one by the gas station doesn't work till 5:30am. If you're stuck and really need cash ASAP, some 24-hour check cashing places will do EBT cash advances (with fees obviously) and they sometimes have earlier access. Not ideal but might help in emergencies when your landlord is being difficult about timing!

Ugh I feel your pain! I'm still pretty new to CalWORKs (just got approved 3 months ago) and this midnight deposit thing is SO misleading! My first month I was literally standing at the ATM at 12:05am like an idiot trying to get rent money out. Nothing worked until almost 5am. Now I know better but it's still frustrating when you have bills due and landlords breathing down your neck. From what I've learned from this thread, seems like 4-5am is the safe bet at most ATMs. Really wish the county would just be honest about when the money is actually available instead of saying "midnight deposit" when we all know that's not when we can actually use it! Good luck tomorrow morning - hopefully your landlord is understanding about the timing!

I've been on CalWORKs for about a year now and I still get frustrated by this every month! What I've figured out is that even though they say "midnight deposit," it's really more like a 3-6am availability window depending on your ATM. I've had the best luck with grocery store ATMs - Albertsons and Ralph's near me usually work by 3:30am. The worst are the standalone bank ATMs which sometimes don't work until 6am or later. One trick I learned is to call the EBT customer service line (the number on the back of your card) around 3am to check if your funds are actually available for withdrawal, not just showing as a balance. Sometimes the automated system will tell you if there's still a processing hold. Save yourself the frustration and don't even bother trying before 3:30am - I learned that the hard way too many times! Hope you get your rent sorted out without too much stress from your landlord.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this thread is SO helpful! I had no idea about the timing difference between when it shows deposited vs when you can actually withdraw. My first payment is coming next week and I was definitely planning to try getting cash out right at midnight - thank goodness I found this! Sounds like 4-5am at grocery store ATMs is the way to go. Quick question though - do you all get your deposits on the same day each month or does it vary? My caseworker said it would be "around the 1st" but wasn't super specific about the exact timing. Also really appreciate everyone sharing which specific ATMs work best in their areas - wish there was like an official list somewhere but I guess we have to figure it out ourselves!

This is such a common problem and I'm glad someone brought it up! I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 years now and went through the exact same frustrating experience when I first started. The "midnight deposit" is really misleading - I spent my first few months thinking there was something wrong with my card or the ATMs! What I've learned is that while the balance updates at midnight, there's always a processing delay before you can actually withdraw. I've found that ATMs at 24-hour Walmarts tend to be pretty reliable around 4am, and CVS pharmacy ATMs often work by 4:30am. One thing that might help for future months - some banks will let you set up low balance alerts on your checking account, so you could potentially do a cash advance or money transfer once your EBT hits, though that comes with fees. For dealing with landlords who only take cash, I started explaining the EBT timing issue to mine and most have been understanding about getting paid by 8-9am instead of first thing. Good luck tomorrow morning - hopefully the 4am grocery store ATM trick works for you!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just got approved for CalWORKs last month and my second payment just hit at midnight. Reading through all these comments is SO helpful because I was about to make the same mistake of trying the ATM right after midnight. Sounds like the consensus is to wait until at least 4am and try grocery store ATMs first. I have a Safeway and a CVS near me so I'll try those around 4:30am. It's really frustrating that they say "midnight deposit" when we can't actually access it until hours later - they should be more upfront about the processing delays! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and specific ATM recommendations. This community is a lifesaver for navigating all the confusing parts of the system that caseworkers don't always explain clearly.