Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards look like debit cards. A person uses their EBT card to redeem their CalWORKs, SNAP, Paid Family Leave, and other benefits. However, obtaining those benefits isn’t always free
Using an ATM to withdraw cash: Using the “right” ATM will cost you $0.85 for each withdrawal if you withdraw cash more than four times in a month.
Question: How can I find the “right” ATMs to use my EBT card?
Answer: MoneyPass ATMs can be found here: http://www.moneypass.com. Another good resource for ATMs that don’t charge fees (including MoneyPass ATMs) is here: http://www.ebtnearme.org
Question: Why does it cost that much?
Answer: The contract that the state of California has with Xerox to provide EBT services allows Xerox to charge $0.85 for cash withdrawals at any ATM but requires that the charge be waived for the first four cash withdrawals. The MoneyPass network has the contract to provide EBT cash withdrawals with no additional fee. Some banks and credit unions voluntarily waive additional fees.
Many ATMs will charge anywhere from $0.75 to $4.00 per cash withdrawal. If you have already made four withdrawals that month, you will also be charged $0.85.
Question: Which ATMs will charge me?
Answer: Bank of America, Chase Bank, Wells Fargo, Union Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union and many other banks and credit unions charge EBT users to withdraw cash. You can find a list of the banks and credit unions that charge as well as the ones that don’t at http://www.ebtproject.ca.gov/Library/Cash_Access.pdf.
Using ATMs to check your balance
Checking your balance at an ATM will cost $0.25 each time. Check you balance for free by calling 1-877-328-9677 or checking online using the EBT Client Website: https://www.ebt.ca.gov/caebtclient/reciplogin_client.jsp.
End the ATM Fees on EBT 
Can i Transfer cash from my EBT card directly to my pre paid VISA?
LikeLike
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your inquiry- we’re including a response from Andrea Luquetta, deputy director at the California Reinvestment Coalition below. If you need more info, we also have a Prepaid 101 card on our website.
Thanks!
Thank you for your question on our ebtforfree website. You can absolutely get your cash aid direct deposited onto a prepaid card. There are a few rules that apply to the card company (not you): the card company has to hold your money at a federally insured bank (this should not be a problem, most do), the company has to provide you with “pass-through FDIC insurance” (meaning that if the card company goes under, your money will still be available to you through FDIC insurance, and the card cannot allow overdrafts. Many card companies will meet these rules. If you’re not sure, feel free to email me your card company and the card program you use and I’ll look it up.c
Ask your worker for the paperwork for getting direct deposit to your card. It can take a while for the county to set it up but your EBT card will work until the direct deposit kicks in (this could be up to 6 weeks after you hand in your paperwork).
A word of advice: many prepaid card companies charge a lot of fees so you should compare the fees you pay now versus the ones you’ll pay using your prepaid card.
I would love to hear if you decide to do this and how the process goes for you. I’m trying to make the process go easier and faster for anyone who wants their cash aid by direct deposit to a prepaid card or a bank or credit union account.
Take care,
Andrea
LikeLike
Can I transfer my ebt cash to my Wells Fargo account?
LikeLike
Hello,
Thanks for your inquiry. You can’t transfer EBT cash directly to your account. However, you can have your EBT benefits direct deposited into a banking account. We have a list of bank accounts that we’ve screened against our SafeMoney standards (like no costly overdrafts) that you can see here: http://www.calreinvest.org/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMTQvMDgvMTIvMjFfNDVfMzlfODE4X1NhZmVfTW9uZXlfU3RhbmRhcmRzX0p1bHlfMjAxNC5wZGYiXV0/Safe%20Money%20Standards%20July%202014.pdf
LikeLike
Hello. Can i go to a bank teller and withdraw my EBT Cash benefits? I need a 10 dollar denomination not a 20 dollar. I have to walk to the atm, the only one i know of that has 10 dollar denominations. And then to my bank to deposit it. And if you can get it direct deposited, how do you go about doing that?
LikeLike
Hello Randall, you would need to talk to your case worker about setting up direct deposit of your benefits into your bank account. They can help give you the forms to set it up.
LikeLike
I already have an Alaska quest card for my food stamp benefits. I recently was approved for TANF benefits and they were issued nearly a week ago. Do I use my same quest card for this or am I getting a new one in the mail since there was a $0 balance on my cash account? No answers found on google and I cannot call the public assistance offices because they’re closed on weekends.
LikeLike
Hi Elena,
This website is administered by a small nonprofit in California, so the best place to check on your question would be at the office where you applied/with your case manager. Based on their website, it would appear you’re correct that both benefits would be on the same card, but probably better to confirm with them to be sure. Here’s their website: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/ebt/default.aspx
Thanks,
CRC
LikeLike