EBT words to know

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EBT words to know

POS (Point-of-Sale) Machine
A POS machine reads your EBT card and allows you to buy food with your food stamp benefits. If you have cash benefits on your EBT card, you can buy food or non-food items with your cash benefits and get cash back with your cash benefit purchases at some stores. Some stores may also allow you to get cash at a POS machine without a purchase.

ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
An ATM is a cash machine found at banks, stores and many other places that allows you to get your cash benefits.

PIN (Personal Identification Number)
A PIN is a four-number secret code you use with your EBT card to make sure no one can use your card but you. POS machines will not work unless you enter your PIN. This is how your PIN looks on a POS machine:
PIN Entry Field

It is important to learn and remember your PIN. DO NOT WRITE YOUR PIN ON YOUR EBT CARD, THE CARD SLEEVE, OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARRY WITH THE CARD.

Quest® Mark
The Quest® Mark is the sign you will see on store doors, check-out lanes, ATMs and POS machines that tells you that your EBT card can be used at that store or machine. There are special pictures on the Quest® sign that tell you what benefits you can use. Look for the Quest® sign and these pictures at the store before you shop.

	You may use food stamp benefits ONLY.
	You may use cash benefits ONLY.
	You may use food stamp AND cash benefits
	You may use cash benefits or check account balances ONLY. Found at ATMs.
How to Get Your Cash Benefits at NO cost. English Spanish

Surcharge
A surcharge is a service fee that some stores and banks MAY charge you each time you get cash benefits with your EBT card. Before you use your card, LOOK FOR A NOTICE telling you about this surcharge on the ATM screen, or on a sign near the POS machine in stores. If you do not want to pay a surcharge, you can choose another location.

Check with your local public assistance office to find out where you can get your cash without paying a surcharge. You can also click here for a list of banks and financial institutions in California that have agreed accept the Golden State Advantage Card at their ATMs, many surcharge free.

Transaction Fees (for cardholders that received cash benefits via their EBT card)
A transaction fee is an additional fee you may be charged for cash withdrawals at an ATM. You are allowed to make four (4) cash withdrawals each month from an ATM or POS without a transaction fee. After four cash withdrawals, you will be charged an 85-cent transaction fee taken from your account for each additional withdrawal at an ATM. Purchases and purchases with cash back do not count as part of the four cash withdrawals. You will never be charged a transaction fee for using your card at a POS. At an ATM, you will be charged 25 cents if you check your balance.