EDD SDI payment options: Direct deposit vs. debit card - what's available now?

Congrats on your approval! EDD SDI payments are still primarily issued on Bank of America EDD Debit Cards, not through direct deposit. This has been the standard method for several years now. When your first payment processes, they'll mail you a debit card if you don't already have one from previous claims. All subsequent payments will be loaded onto that same card automatically. You can set up transfers from the card to your bank account through the BofA prepaid website once you activate your card.

They ONLY do the stupid debit cards. I HATE it!!! Had so many problems with mine getting lost in the mail and then waiting FOREVER for a replacement. EDD is stuck in the stone age I swear!!!!

The person above isn't entirely correct. While the BofA debit card is the default payment method, you CAN set up a direct deposit transfer from your EDD debit card to your bank account. It's not automatic direct deposit like with regular paychecks, but once you activate your card and set up the BofA prepaid account online, you can schedule automatic transfers whenever new payments hit your card. Here's what to do: 1. Receive and activate your EDD debit card when it arrives 2. Register for an online account at the BofA Prepaid website 3. Link your personal bank account 4. Set up an automatic transfer rule This way, funds will move to your regular bank account shortly after hitting your EDD card. Not perfect, but better than having to manually transfer each time.

my sister had disability last year and she said the card came about a week after her first payment was approved. the payments go on pretty fast after that i think

When I couldn't get answers about my disability payments last year, I used Claimyr to actually get through to an EDD representative on the phone. Saved me hours of frustration after trying for days with no luck. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd that shows how it works. The rep I talked to was able to confirm exactly when my card was mailed and even expedite a replacement when the first one never arrived.

Don't forget the card expires after 3 years! I learned this the hard way when I had a second disability claim and tried to use my old card... had to wait almost 2 weeks for a new one while bills piled up. So annoying they don't have a true direct deposit option in 2025!

i think you can also go to some bank of america branches and get money off the card right away but not all of them do it you have to check first

Quick tip about the BofA EDD cards: Make sure you update your address with EDD if you've moved since your last claim. The cards are not forwarded by USPS due to security policies. This is one of the most common reasons people experience delays receiving their cards.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this process twice. While the BofA debit card system isn't ideal, I've found a few workarounds that made it more manageable: 1. Download the BofA Prepaid app - it's actually pretty decent for checking balances and doing quick transfers 2. You can get cash back at most grocery stores without fees (up to $100 I think) 3. If you have a credit union, many will do shared branching where you can deposit cash from ATM withdrawals without fees The automatic transfer feature mentioned earlier is definitely the way to go if you want everything in your regular account. Takes about 1-2 business days once set up. Good luck with your surgery and recovery! The payment system is clunky but at least the benefits themselves are reliable once you're approved.

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I can confirm what others have said - it's definitely the BofA debit card system only. But here's something I wish someone had told me: call BofA Prepaid customer service (the number on the back of your card) as soon as you activate it and ask them to remove the "card replacement fee." By default, they charge you $7.50 if you need a replacement card, but they'll waive this fee if you ask when you first activate. Also, keep the card in a safe place even after you're back to work - if you ever need disability again in the future, payments will automatically load to the same card if it's still valid. Saves you from waiting for a new one to be mailed. Hope your surgery goes well!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can actually check the status of your EDD debit card shipment online! Once your first payment is processed, you should get an email or text (if you signed up for notifications) with a tracking number from BofA. You can then track it just like any other package. This really helped ease my anxiety when I was waiting for mine last year - at least I knew it was actually on its way and when to expect it. Also, just a heads up that the card comes in a pretty plain envelope that doesn't look like anything important, so make sure anyone in your household knows to look out for mail from Bank of America. My roommate almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail! The waiting game is stressful enough without wondering if your card got lost in the mail.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. The BofA debit card is indeed the only option, but here's something that might help with your planning: once you get your card and set up the automatic transfer like others mentioned, you can actually schedule the transfers to happen on specific days of the week. I set mine to transfer every Tuesday, so even though EDD payments can hit the card on different days, I always know when the money will be in my regular checking account. Also, pro tip - keep your first payment stub or screenshot from your EDD portal showing when your benefits started. If you ever have issues with the card or payments, having that documentation makes resolving problems with customer service much faster. The whole system is definitely outdated, but once you get the workflow down it becomes pretty routine. Wishing you a smooth recovery from your surgery!