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Henrietta Beasley

EDD SDI debit card delivery timeline and direct deposit setup questions

Good news! My disability claim was finally approved after being stuck in pending for nearly a month. I can see in my EDD SDI Online account that payments have been issued starting today. My question is about the Bank of America EDD debit card - do I need to do anything special to get it mailed to me or does it automatically come once payments start? Also, I'd rather not use the debit card and would prefer direct deposit into my checking account. Can I set up direct deposit now before I even receive the card, or do I have to wait until the physical card arrives? This is my first time on disability and I'm trying to plan my finances. Thanks for any advice!

Congrats on getting approved! The B of A EDD debit card will automatically be mailed to you - you don't need to do anything else. It usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive after your first payment is processed. Unfortunately, you DO have to wait until you physically receive the card before setting up direct deposit. You'll need the card number to register on the Bank of America EDD cardholder website where you can then set up the transfer to your bank account.

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Thank you! That's really helpful. 7-10 business days feels like forever when you're waiting for money, but at least now I know what to expect.

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u can call BofA and ask them to rush the card. sometmes they can do it faster if u ask nicely

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Oh that's a good idea! Do you have the number for BofA's EDD card department?

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The EDD Bank of America card customer service number is 1-866-692-9374. They're open 24/7. Just be prepared to verify your identity when you call.

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Emma Johnson

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Congratulations! Such a relief when that money finally starts coming in! 😊

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Liam Brown

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The whole EDD debit card system is RIDICULOUS! Why can't they just direct deposit from the beginning?? I had to wait THREE WEEKS for my card last year because they sent it to my old address even though I updated my address online. Then I had to pay $10 for a rush replacement! The entire system is designed to make it harder for disabled people to access their own money. It's DISCRIMINATION plain and simple.

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Oh no, that sounds awful! I'm going to double-check my address is correct in the system right away.

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Olivia Garcia

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This happened to me too! Make sure your address is updated in BOTH systems - the EDD SDI Online account AND with Bank of America EDD card services (if you've had a card before). They don't always communicate with each other about address changes.

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Noah Lee

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I've been through this process twice with my pregnancy disability leaves. One thing to note - once you set up direct deposit, it doesn't happen instantly. The first transfer from your card to your bank account can take 1-3 business days to process. After that, future payments will go directly to your bank account (though there's still sometimes a 1-day delay). Also, don't throw away the card after setting up direct deposit! Sometimes there are random issues where a payment might go to the card instead of your bank. I learned this the hard way when my final disability payment went to a card I had cut up, and I had to request a replacement.

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That's really good advice about keeping the card - I would have probably cut it up after setting up direct deposit. Thank you!

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Olivia Garcia

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If you're having trouble reaching Bank of America about your EDD debit card, I'd recommend using Claimyr. I was going crazy trying to get through to them about a lost card last month. Claimyr connected me to an agent in less than 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd and their website is claimyr.com. It saved me from waiting another week for my benefits.

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does this really work? im always getting hung up on when i call EDD

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Ava Hernandez

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This reminds me of when I was on disability last year for my back surgery. They sent me the card but my name was misspelled so I couldn't activate it! Had to call and request a new one with the correct spelling which took ANOTHER 10 days. Make sure your name is exactly the same on all your disability paperwork and ID documents to avoid this headache.

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Oh wow, I never would have thought about name spelling issues. I do have a hyphenated last name that sometimes causes problems. I'll make sure everything matches. Thanks for the heads up!

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One more tip - when you receive your card, activate it immediately and check your balance. Sometimes there can be a discrepancy between what shows as paid in your EDD SDI Online account and what's actually on the card. If there's a difference, you'll want to contact EDD SDI right away. The payment information in your SDI Online account should match what's loaded onto your card.

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That's really helpful. I'll definitely compare the payment amounts as soon as I get the card. Thank you so much for all your advice!

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Emma Bianchi

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Just wanted to add - once you do get your card and set up direct deposit, you can also set up text or email alerts through the Bank of America EDD website to notify you when payments are deposited. This has been super helpful for me to know exactly when my money hits my account without having to constantly check. The alerts are free and you can customize what notifications you want to receive.

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Congratulations on getting approved! I went through this same process last year. Just to add to what others have said - if you're in a rush to access your money, you can also use the Bank of America mobile app once you get your card to transfer funds to your bank account instantly (though there's usually a small fee for instant transfers). The regular transfer through their website is free but takes 1-3 business days like others mentioned. Also, some ATMs let you withdraw cash without fees using the EDD card - you can find fee-free ATMs using the locator on the Bank of America website. Hope this helps with your financial planning!

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Leo McDonald

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Thank you for the tip about the mobile app! I hadn't thought about using instant transfers if I need the money right away. Good to know about the fee-free ATMs too - that could save me some money while I'm waiting to set up direct deposit. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences, it's making me feel much more prepared for this process.

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Ava Thompson

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Welcome to the disability benefits community! I'm so glad your claim finally got approved - that pending status is nerve-wracking. Just wanted to share my recent experience: I received my EDD debit card exactly 8 days after my first payment was issued, so you're looking at about a week and a half. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you can actually check the card shipping status by calling the Bank of America number that others mentioned (1-866-692-9374) - they can tell you when it was mailed out. Also, make sure you have your EDD Customer Account Number handy when you call, as they'll need it to verify your identity. The direct deposit setup is pretty straightforward once you get the card - just log into the BofA EDD website and follow the prompts. Hang in there, you're almost at the finish line!

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Avery Flores

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Thank you so much Ava! That's really reassuring to hear about your timeline - 8 days sounds much more manageable than I was worried it might be. I definitely didn't know I could call to check the shipping status, so that's super helpful. I'll make sure to have my Customer Account Number ready when I call. It's so nice to have support from people who have actually been through this process. I'm feeling much more confident now about what to expect!

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Asher Levin

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Congratulations on getting approved! I just went through this same process a few months ago. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're worried about the timing and need some cash before your card arrives, you can also ask family or friends to help spot you money temporarily. I was stressed about rent and bills during that waiting period, but my sister helped me out and I paid her back as soon as I got access to my funds. Also, keep track of all your payment dates in your SDI Online account - it really helps with budgeting once the money starts flowing regularly. The whole process feels overwhelming at first, but you'll get into a routine with it. Wishing you a smooth recovery!

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Hannah White

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That's really thoughtful advice about asking for help from family if needed! I'm fortunate that I have some savings to get by for now, but it's good to know that's an option if things get tight. I really appreciate you mentioning keeping track of payment dates too - I hadn't thought about how that would help with budgeting once everything gets regular. It's so comforting to hear from people who've successfully navigated this whole process. Thank you for the well wishes on my recovery!

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Congratulations on your approval! I'm new to this community but going through a similar situation right now. My disability claim just got approved last week and I'm also waiting for my first debit card. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about things like keeping the card even after setting up direct deposit, or being able to call to check shipping status. It's amazing how much practical knowledge everyone here has shared. I'm definitely going to double-check my address in both systems like others mentioned, and I'll make sure to have my Customer Account Number ready when I call Bank of America. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's making this whole process feel much less intimidating for those of us going through it for the first time!

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Aisha Ali

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Welcome to the community Destiny! It's so great to see new members helping each other out. I'm also pretty new here but have found everyone to be incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. It really does make such a difference having people who understand what you're going through share their real experiences rather than trying to figure it all out from official websites that don't always give you the practical details. Congratulations on your approval too! Sounds like we're both in the same boat timing-wise. Feel free to update us on how your process goes - I'm sure others who come after us will benefit from hearing about your experience just like we've benefited from everyone else's advice here.

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Sienna Gomez

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Congratulations on your approval! I'm currently going through the disability application process myself and it's so encouraging to hear success stories like yours. This thread has been incredibly informative - I had no idea about so many of these details like keeping the card after setting up direct deposit or being able to call to check shipping status. I'm bookmarking this conversation for when (hopefully!) I get to this stage. Quick question for everyone - is there anything you wish you had known or prepared before your claim was approved? I want to make sure I have everything ready to go once I hopefully get that approval notification. Thanks again for sharing all this valuable information!

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Jasmine Quinn

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Hi Sienna! I'm also new to this community and relatively new to the disability benefits process, but from what I've learned so far, I'd suggest making sure your address is updated in all your accounts (both EDD and any previous Bank of America EDD accounts if you've had them). Also, having your Customer Account Number easily accessible seems really important for when you need to call. From reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the waiting period between approval and actually getting access to funds can be stressful, so maybe having a small financial cushion if possible would help with peace of mind. Good luck with your application process - I'm rooting for you!

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Victoria Jones

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Congratulations on your approval! I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now - my claim was just approved yesterday and I can see payments issued in my SDI Online account. Reading through all these responses has been so incredibly helpful! I had no idea about most of these details. A few things I'm taking away: definitely calling BofA to check shipping status with that 1-866-692-9374 number, making absolutely sure my address is correct in both systems, and keeping the card even after setting up direct deposit. One question I have - has anyone had experience with how long it takes for the direct deposit setup to actually take effect once you submit it through the BofA website? Like, if I set it up as soon as I get my card, will my next payment automatically go to my bank account or does it take a payment cycle or two to kick in? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing!

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Liam Mendez

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Hi Victoria! Congratulations on your approval too! From what I've read in other threads and my own research, the direct deposit setup usually takes effect with the next payment cycle after you set it up. So if you set it up right when you get your card, your following payment should go directly to your bank account instead of the card. However, a few people have mentioned there can sometimes be random glitches where a payment might still go to the card even after direct deposit is set up, which is why everyone recommends keeping the physical card just in case. I'd suggest setting it up as soon as possible once you get the card to minimize the number of payments that go to the debit card first. Hope that helps, and good luck with everything!

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Ava Garcia

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Congratulations on getting your approval! I'm so glad you made it through that stressful pending period. I went through this exact process about six months ago and can confirm what others have said - the Bank of America EDD debit card gets automatically mailed once your first payment processes, and you'll definitely need to wait for the physical card to arrive before you can set up direct deposit. One tip that really helped me: when you do get the card and log into the BofA EDD website to set up direct deposit, take a screenshot of the confirmation page showing that direct deposit was successfully enabled. I had an issue where my second payment still went to the card even though I had set up direct deposit, and having that screenshot helped when I called to resolve it. Also, don't be surprised if your first payment amount looks different than what you expected - mine included some backdated amounts that made the math confusing at first. The EDD customer service can explain the breakdown if needed. You're almost there - hang in there!

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