EDD SDI debit card not received but benefits showing as paid - how to access my money?

The EDD debit card usually arrives 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed. Unfortunately, you can't pick it up in person as Bank of America mails them directly. If it's been more than 10 business days, you should contact Bank of America EDD customer service at 1-866-692-9374 to request a replacement card with expedited shipping.

mine took almost 3 weeks to come last year!!! its ridiculouse they dont tell u this stuff when u file. had to borrow $ from my sister for rent. u should call edd and complain

I had the same issue when I started SDI for my pregnancy disability last month. Once you get the card, download the Bank of America EDD debit card app and you can set up transfers to your regular bank account. You can also call Bank of America directly at the number on the EDD website to check if your card has been mailed and when. They can tell you the exact date it was sent out so you have a better idea of when to expect it. For future payments, direct deposit is much faster than waiting for the debit card to load.

I remember waiting for that stupid card for my disability last year. SO STRESSFUL. Maybe ask a neighbor if they've accidentally gotten your mail? Mine was delivered to the wrong address initially.

The whole system is designed to make it hard to get YOUR MONEY! They hope you'll give up. I waited 12 days for my card and when I called BofA they said it had been mailed 10 days earlier. YEAH RIGHT. Keep calling EDD until you get a real person who can help. That's what I did.

Just to add some clarification about the timing: For first-time SDI claims, the debit card is typically mailed within 1-2 business days after your first payment is processed (not when it shows as "paid" in the system). There can be postal delays too. For future reference, you can actually request direct deposit before your first payment by calling EDD, though getting through on the phone is challenging. When you do get the card, immediately set up the transfer to your bank account as others mentioned, and for your next certification, the money will go directly to your bank.

i got my card fasterr by calling bank of america directly... edd cant help with the card itself since BofA handles that part. the edd card customer service can tell u if its been sent or not

UPDATE: Good news! My card finally arrived today. For anyone with the same issue, it took exactly 8 business days from when my first payment showed as issued. I called Bank of America yesterday using the special EDD debit card number (not the regular BofA customer service) and they confirmed it had been mailed 6 days ago. I've already set up the transfer to my regular checking account. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got your card! This is such a common issue that EDD really should mention during the application process. For anyone else waiting - I had success calling the Bank of America EDD line (1-866-692-9374) early in the morning around 8 AM when call volume is lower. They can at least confirm when your card was mailed so you're not completely in the dark about timing. And definitely set up direct deposit ASAP once you get the card - it makes future payments so much smoother!

I went through this exact same situation 2 months ago when I started SDI for my back injury. The waiting period is absolutely brutal, especially when you're already dealing with financial stress from not being able to work. One thing that helped me was checking with my local post office to see if they could expedite delivery once the card was actually in their system - sometimes they can put a rush on it if you explain it's for disability benefits. Also, if you have a trusted family member or friend, you might want to ask them for a short-term loan to cover your rent since you know the money is coming. I had to do that and paid my sister back as soon as I got access to the funds. The whole system really needs better communication about these delays!

I feel your pain - I went through the exact same thing when I started SDI for a shoulder injury last year. The anxiety of seeing your benefits marked as "paid" but having no way to access them is terrible! A few tips that helped me: 1) Call BofA EDD customer service at 8 AM sharp when they open - much shorter wait times. 2) Ask your apartment manager if they can give you a 3-day grace period on rent while explaining you're waiting for disability benefits to arrive. Many are understanding about medical situations. 3) If you have a credit card, you might be able to get a cash advance to cover rent temporarily since you know the money is definitely coming. The card should arrive within the next few days based on your timeline. Hang in there - this part is the worst but once you get the card and set up direct deposit, future payments are much smoother!

I'm currently going through this exact situation right now! Filed my SDI claim for a knee injury three weeks ago, got approved, and my first payment processed 6 days ago showing as "paid" in my online account. Still no debit card and I'm getting really anxious about my bills. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really comforting - at least I know I'm not alone and this seems to be unfortunately normal. I've been calling Bank of America but keep getting transferred around. Going to try the 8 AM tip tomorrow morning. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with an injury and then have to worry about accessing your own benefits! EDD really needs to do a better job explaining this delay upfront.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! My first SDI payment for a work-related back injury processed 5 days ago and I'm still waiting for the debit card. The stress is unreal - I have rent due this weekend and can see the money sitting there but can't access it. I've tried calling both EDD and Bank of America multiple times but either can't get through or get bounced around between departments. It's infuriating that they don't warn you about this delay when you're already in financial distress from being unable to work. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences - it helps to know this is unfortunately "normal" even though it shouldn't be. Going to try the 8 AM calling strategy and check with my neighbors in case it was misdelivered. This whole system really needs to be redesigned with actual human needs in mind!