I'm so sorry you're going through this Sarah! I just went through the exact same situation about a month ago and I know how incredibly stressful it is when you can see your money is there but can't access it. Here's what finally worked for me: Call Money Network at 1-866-692-9374 at exactly 8:00 AM - the wait times are SO much shorter in the morning. I got through in about 10 minutes versus the hours I spent on hold calling later in the day. When you reach them, ask them to confirm your card was actually mailed and get the date it was sent out. If it's been more than 10-12 business days, don't hesitate to request a replacement with expedited shipping. It costs around $15 but honestly it's worth every penny when you have bills due. They can also send the replacement to a different address if you're worried about mail issues at your current place. Also definitely check with your apartment complex's leasing office or mail room - sometimes cards get held there separately from regular mail and you might not even know it's arrived! The good news is once you get your card, you can immediately transfer all your funds to your bank account through the Money Network mobile app, then set up direct deposit for future payments so you never have to deal with this mail delay nightmare again. Hang in there - your money is absolutely safe and this will get resolved! The system is frustrating but you're not alone in dealing with this.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 2 months ago and I feel your pain! It's absolutely maddening to see your payments marked as "paid" but not be able to access the money when you have bills due. Here's what finally worked for me: Call Money Network at 1-866-692-9374 at exactly 8:00 AM when they open. I cannot stress this enough - the difference in wait times between calling early morning versus afternoon is night and day. I got through in 12 minutes calling at 8 AM versus being on hold for literally 3+ hours when I tried calling later in the day. When you reach them, ask for these three things: 1. Confirmation that your card was actually mailed and the exact date 2. Verification that your address is 100% correct in their system 3. If it's been more than 10 business days, request a replacement with expedited shipping The expedited replacement costs about $15 but it's absolutely worth it - you'll get it in 2-3 business days instead of waiting potentially weeks more. They can also send it to a different address if you want it sent to a friend or family member's house for more reliable delivery. Also definitely check with your apartment complex's leasing office or mail room tomorrow. My card was actually sitting there for 4 days before I thought to ask! Once you finally get your card, you can instantly transfer all the funds to your bank account through the Money Network app, then immediately set up direct deposit through your EDD account so you never have to deal with this mail delay nightmare again. Your money is definitely safe and this will get resolved - the system is just incredibly frustrating. Hang in there!

Wow, what a journey this thread has been! As someone who's been lurking on this community for a while but never posted, I had to jump in after reading through all of this. I'm currently waiting for my own EDD eligibility interview to be scheduled, and honestly, I was dreading the whole process. But seeing how everyone came together to help @Luca Russo, and all the practical tips that came out of it (especially about checking the interview notice for specific numbers!) has made me feel so much more prepared. It's incredible how much valuable information gets shared when people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'm definitely going to keep this thread bookmarked for reference. Thanks to everyone who contributed - you've probably helped way more people than you realize!

This thread is exactly what I needed to read today! I'm scheduled for my own EDD phone interview next week and have been so anxious about the whole process. Seeing @Luca Russo successfully reschedule and all the amazing tips everyone shared (especially about checking the interview notice for specific numbers - who knew?!) has really eased my nerves. The advice about documenting everything and being prepared with all your paperwork is spot on too. It's so refreshing to find a community where people actually help each other navigate this confusing system instead of just venting. I'm bookmarking this thread for sure and will definitely pay it forward when I can help someone else. Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Based on all the great advice in this thread, I wanted to add one more important point that I learned the hard way. When you do report your workers comp settlement, make sure you have the exact date you received the payment, not just the week. EDD sometimes asks for very specific details during their review process, and having precise dates helps avoid any confusion or delays. Also, if your settlement includes any attorney fees that were deducted, report the gross amount you were awarded, not the net amount you received. EDD wants to know the full settlement value to properly categorize it, even though you didn't receive the attorney fee portion. Your lawyer should be able to provide you with a settlement statement that breaks all this down clearly. One last tip - take screenshots or photos of your certification answers when you report the settlement, especially the "other income" section. I've seen people forget exactly what they reported and then panic later when EDD asks for clarification. Having that record helps you stay consistent if questions come up down the road. Good luck with your settlement and job search!

This is such a comprehensive and helpful thread! As someone new to this community who's dealing with a similar situation, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences. I'm currently on UI after being laid off from my retail management job, and I just found out my old workers comp case from a workplace slip and fall 18 months ago is finally settling. Reading through all these responses, it seems like the key principles are: keep certifying no matter what, report the settlement when you actually receive it (with detailed breakdown), and be completely transparent throughout the process. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated this gives me confidence that it's manageable if you follow the right steps. One thing that really stands out is how important it is to get that detailed breakdown from your attorney showing what portion is for permanent disability, medical expenses, vs wage replacement. It sounds like this documentation is crucial for both your initial reporting and any potential follow-up requests from EDD. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences - this thread should definitely be bookmarked for anyone dealing with workers comp settlements while on unemployment!

I'm also dealing with a manufacturing layoff (precision machining) and just started my claim after getting laid off two weeks ago. This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about programs like TAA, ETP, or the specific Fed-Ed thresholds everyone mentioned. The 2.8% vs 5% unemployment rate gap really puts things in perspective about how unlikely extensions are right now, which helps me set realistic expectations rather than banking on benefits lasting longer than 26 weeks. My shop also closed partially due to overseas competition and cheaper imports, so I'm definitely going to look into TAA eligibility based on all the detailed information shared here. I love the structured approach several people have taken - dedicating specific percentages of time to immediate job searching versus exploring retraining options. I'm going to start with that CalJOBS career assessment this week to see what adjacent industries might be good fits for my machining skills. It's both reassuring and sobering to see so many of us in manufacturing facing similar challenges with foreign competition and plant closures. Thanks to everyone for sharing such specific program details and strategies - this peer knowledge sharing is exactly what I needed to approach my situation more strategically instead of just feeling overwhelmed by the 26-week timeline!

I'm another manufacturing worker who just got laid off (chemical processing equipment) and filed my first claim this week. This entire thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea about TAA, ETP, or any of the specific Fed-Ed threshold requirements before reading everyone's experiences. That 2.8% vs 5% gap really shows how far we'd need to fall economically for extensions to kick in, which definitely helps me plan more realistically for just the 26 weeks. My plant also cited foreign competition and cheaper overseas manufacturing as major factors in the closure, so I'm going to research TAA eligibility based on all the detailed information shared here. The pattern of manufacturing layoffs due to international trade issues seems to be affecting so many different sectors - it's both reassuring to know we're not alone and concerning to see how widespread the problem is. I'm going to adopt the structured approach several people mentioned: splitting my time between immediate job applications and exploring retraining options. The CalJOBS career assessment sounds like a great starting point to identify which of my manufacturing skills might transfer to more stable industries. Thanks to everyone for sharing such specific program names, threshold numbers, and practical strategies. This kind of peer knowledge sharing is exactly what those of us new to unemployment need to navigate this situation strategically instead of just feeling overwhelmed by the timeline. It's amazing how much we can learn from each other's experiences!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue! After reading through all these suggestions, I finally got it to work by combining several approaches. Here's what did it for me: 1) Used my tablet instead of my computer, 2) Applied at 4:30am on a Wednesday, 3) Made sure JavaScript was enabled and disabled my ad blocker, 4) Had all my employment info written down on paper so I could fill everything out super quickly without the session timing out. The mobile approach that @Atticus Domingo mentioned was clutch - the mobile site seems way more stable than desktop. Also @Evelyn Rivera's tip about having everything ready beforehand is SO important - I literally had my last 18 months of employment history typed up in a notes app ready to copy/paste. Don't give up Ana! It took me 12 tries over 3 weeks but persistence pays off. The system is trash but it's not impossible 🙌

I just want to say how grateful I am for this thread! I've been lurking here feeling so alone and frustrated with this broken system, but seeing everyone share their experiences and solutions is really giving me hope. I'm going to try the combination approach that seems to be working for people - mobile device + super early morning + all documents prepped + JavaScript enabled. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we've paid into, but I appreciate everyone taking the time to share what worked for them. Will report back once I give it another shot! 🙏