I just switched to direct deposit last week after reading through all these comments and I'm so glad I did! The setup was exactly like everyone described - super straightforward online process, got the test deposits in 2 days, verified them, and boom - my latest payment hit my new checking account yesterday morning instead of that awful Money Network card. I followed the advice about opening a separate account specifically for EDD payments and went with a local credit union. They were really helpful when I explained what the account was for and even waived the minimum balance requirement. The peace of mind is incredible - no more worrying about card fees, lost cards, or sketchy ATM machines. For anyone still on the fence: the fraud concerns from 2020-2021 were mainly about people's EDD accounts getting compromised, not the payment methods themselves. Your bank's fraud protection is going to be way better than anything Money Network offers. Just use strong passwords, enable 2FA if available, and consider the separate account approach. It's honestly been life-changing not having to deal with that prepaid card anymore!

I was in the exact same situation as you a few weeks ago - excited about finally having direct deposit but terrified about security after all the EDD horror stories. After reading tons of posts like this one and talking to people who made the switch, I decided to go for it and I'm so glad I did! Here's what convinced me: the separate bank account strategy is genius. I opened a no-fee checking account at a local credit union specifically for EDD payments. That way, even if something did go wrong (which it hasn't), the hackers would only have access to an account that I immediately empty after each deposit. It's like having the convenience of direct deposit with the security isolation of the Money Network card. The setup process was surprisingly smooth - took maybe 10 minutes online, got the verification deposits in 2 days, and my first payment hit the account exactly when expected. No more dealing with ATM fees, lost cards, or that terrible Money Network customer service! My advice: if you're on the fence, the separate account approach really eliminates most of the risk while giving you all the benefits. The fraud stories from 2020-2021 were scary, but they were mostly about compromised EDD logins, not the payment methods themselves. Your bank's security is going to be way better than any prepaid card system.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. The name mismatch issue seems to be way more common than EDD lets on. For anyone else reading this who might be stuck - it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Try entering your info exactly as it appears on official docs, including removing special characters, 2) Make sure you're on the registration page not login page, 3) If all else fails, you really do need to call and ask specifically for "UI Online Technical Support." The Claimyr service seems like a legit option too if you're willing to pay to avoid the phone nightmare. Thanks Matthew for following up with the resolution - that kind of follow-through helps the whole community!

Just wanted to add another data point here - I had this exact same issue last week and it turned out to be related to how my address was entered in the system. The EDD rep I finally reached told me that sometimes the address verification can also cause the "no match found" error even when your name and SSN are correct. In my case, they had my apartment number in a different field than expected. For anyone still struggling with this, when you do get through to a rep, ask them to verify ALL the information in your file - name, DOB, SSN, AND address. Don't assume it's just a name issue. The whole system is way more finicky than it should be. Also seconding the recommendation for asking specifically for "UI Online Technical Support" - regular claims reps couldn't help me but the tech support team knew exactly what to look for.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently providing IHSS care for my uncle who has dementia, and I just got laid off from my warehouse job last week. Based on all the detailed information shared here, it sounds like my IHSS wages will definitely count toward my unemployment calculation since I'm caring for my uncle (not spouse or minor child). I'm planning to file my claim this weekend and feel much more confident about how to handle the IHSS portion now. One quick question - when reporting the county as my IHSS employer, should I expect any delays in processing since it's a government entity rather than a private business? I've heard that sometimes government employment can take longer to verify. Also, has anyone had experience with how EDD handles IHSS wage verification if you've only been a provider for a few months? I started caring for my uncle in December, so I only have about 3 months of IHSS wages in the system. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion - the level of detail and personal experiences shared here is amazing!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently providing IHSS care for my disabled brother and just got my hours reduced to almost nothing at my office job. From reading everyone's experiences, it's clear that since I'm caring for my sibling (not spouse or minor child), my IHSS wages will count toward my UI benefits. What I'm wondering about is the timing of filing - should I wait until my office hours are completely eliminated, or can I file now while still working reduced hours? Also, I noticed someone mentioned keeping records aligned with EDD's Sunday-Saturday certification weeks rather than IHSS pay periods - this is such a practical tip that I hadn't thought of! Has anyone had success using a specific method or app for tracking these hours by week? I want to make sure I'm super organized from the start since accuracy seems so important based on what others have shared about overpayment issues. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community is amazing!

This whole thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I've been dealing with EDD for over a year now and I still remember how confusing and stressful that first payment was. The Money Network card system really is designed poorly - having to wait for funds before you can even set up your bank transfer just adds unnecessary anxiety when you're already worried about money. But seeing how everyone jumped in to help explain the timeline and share their experiences is exactly what makes navigating this bureaucratic maze bearable. @Gianna Scott, you handled this perfectly by asking the right questions, and it looks like you got some amazing advice from folks who've been through it all. The tip about keeping notes on your certification and payment patterns is spot on - I wish I had started doing that from the beginning. It would have saved me so much stress trying to remember if payments were "late" or just following their usual weird timeline. Welcome to the EDD journey - it's bumpy but this community makes it so much easier!

This is such a heartwarming thread to read! As someone who's been on unemployment benefits twice now (once in 2020 and again recently), I can definitely relate to that initial confusion and stress about the Money Network card system. The first time around, I was calling customer service every day wondering where my payment was, not realizing that the 24-48 hour processing time they mention doesn't include weekends. It's so true what everyone said about the system being backwards - why make people wait to set up their bank info? It just creates unnecessary anxiety when folks are already dealing with financial stress. @Gianna Scott I'm so glad your payment came through and you got such amazing help from this community! One small tip I'd add: if you ever need to check your card balance quickly, you can text "BAL" to 96411 from your registered phone number instead of logging into the app. It's saved me time when I just need a quick balance check. Welcome to the community and don't hesitate to ask questions - everyone here has been through the EDD maze and is happy to help!

I'm in a similar boat - been trying to reach EDD for weeks about my pending claim but can't call during work hours. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared tips here, especially @GamerGirl99 for the insider info about calling at 8:00:01 and using 1-2-1. I had no idea there was such a specific way to navigate their phone system! For what it's worth, I also found that EDD has a live chat feature on their website that's available during the same hours as phone support (M-F 8am-5pm). It's not always staffed but sometimes you can get basic claim information that way without burning through phone attempts. Not a replacement for actually talking to someone about complex issues, but might be worth trying for simple status checks. Going to take a personal day next week and try the 8:00:01 method. Will report back if it works! This thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on the official EDD website.

Adding to what everyone has shared - I'm a social worker who helps clients navigate benefit systems, and I can confirm EDD has NO weekend hours whatsoever. They're strictly M-F 8am-5pm. One strategy I've seen work well for people who can't call during work hours: try calling during your lunch break using the speakerphone while doing other tasks. Even if you're on hold for 45+ minutes, you can at least get in the queue. I've had clients successfully reach representatives this way. Also want to echo what others said about checking your UI Online inbox thoroughly - I'd say about 60% of pending claims I see are due to missed document requests or verification requirements that people didn't realize were there. The notifications can be easy to overlook. For @Dmitri specifically - given that your claim has been pending over a month, there's almost certainly a specific flag that needs manual review. The automated system literally cannot proceed until a human clears it. All the tips shared here about calling techniques are solid, but don't give up if the first representative can't help - ask to be transferred to a Tier 2 specialist who has more authority to make changes to your claim. Hang in there - once you get through to the right person, these issues often resolve quickly!