I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to share my timeline! Had my phone interview on a Monday and got approved that Thursday - so 3 business days total. I was laid off from my administrative role due to company downsizing, very similar to your budget cuts situation. The interviewer seemed pretty neutral during our call but I had my termination letter ready when they asked for details. Once approved, all 4 of my pending certifications switched to "paid" status within about 12 hours, which was such a relief! The money hit my EDD debit card 2 days later. Since your interviewer seemed positive and you have documentation showing legitimate budget cuts, that's definitely working in your favor. The 3-7 business day range seems pretty consistent based on everyone's experiences here. Keep certifying every two weeks like you've been doing - when your approval comes through, getting all that back pay at once will really help with your rent situation. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking but it sounds like you're in a great position!

I just went through this exact same process about 3 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your anxiety! I had my phone interview on a Wednesday afternoon and got my determination the following Monday - so 4 business days total. Like you, I was laid off due to budget cuts from my retail management position and had been certifying while waiting for the interview decision. The interviewer seemed fairly positive during our call, similar to what you described, and I had my termination letter ready when they asked for verification. Once I got approved, all my pending certifications (I had 5 weeks worth at that point) switched to "paid" status within about 10 hours, which was much faster than I expected! The money hit my EDD debit card 2 days later. Since your interviewer seemed positive and you have clear documentation of a legitimate layoff due to budget cuts, I'd say you're in an excellent position. The fact that you've been diligent about certifying every two weeks is really going to work in your favor - when your approval comes through, you should get a nice lump sum that will definitely help with your rent situation. Based on all the experiences shared here, most people with straightforward layoff cases like yours hear back within 3-7 business days. I know the waiting is absolutely brutal especially when bills are due, but it really sounds like everything is working in your favor. Keep checking your UI Online account daily and try to stay positive - you should hopefully have good news soon!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The stress is absolutely real when you're trying to reschedule last minute. I'm so glad you found the specific number on your interview notice - that's such a game changer that I wish more people knew about. For anyone else reading this, I'd also recommend having your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and a quiet space ready when you call. The representatives often ask for verification right away and it helps speed up the process. Also, if you do get disconnected (which happened to me twice), don't panic - just call back with the same number. They usually have notes in the system about your previous call attempts. This thread is such a perfect example of how this community can really help people through these stressful EDD situations!

Reading through this entire thread as someone who's been helping family members navigate EDD issues, I have to say this is one of the most comprehensive and helpful discussions I've seen on this topic! The key takeaway about checking your actual interview notice for specific contact numbers is absolutely crucial - I've seen so many people waste hours on the main 800 number when there were direct lines available. Another thing I'd add is to take notes during your actual interview too, not just during the scheduling process. Write down the interviewer's name, any reference numbers they mention, and a summary of what was discussed. This documentation can be invaluable if you need to follow up later or if there are any discrepancies in your claim processing. It's so encouraging to see how this community comes together to share practical solutions rather than just frustrations. Threads like this genuinely make the difference between people successfully navigating the system and getting lost in bureaucratic chaos!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been dealing with EDD and Money Network issues for over a year now. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful - the community here really came together to provide amazing support! One thing I haven't seen mentioned that might be worth trying if the standard verification process doesn't work immediately: Money Network sometimes has different verification requirements for accounts with larger balances. Since you mentioned having over $1,450 on the card, they might have triggered enhanced verification protocols that require additional documentation beyond just ID, SSN card, and utility bill. If you run into any roadblocks tomorrow even after uploading documents and calling at 8am, ask the Account Verification rep specifically about "enhanced verification for high-value accounts." Sometimes they need bank statements or additional proof of address for accounts over $1,000. Also, I wanted to second everyone's advice about switching to direct deposit immediately after this is resolved. I've had Money Network cards randomly freeze for everything from "unusual geographic activity" (using the card in a different zip code than usual) to "suspicious merchant patterns" (buying gas and groceries on the same day - apparently that's suspicious?). Direct deposit eliminates all these headaches. You've got such a solid plan now thanks to everyone's advice - document upload, early morning call, all your paperwork ready, bank notification, etc. With rent due Thursday, you should definitely have this sorted in time. Really hoping for a quick resolution for you tomorrow morning!

I just wanted to add something that might help speed up your resolution tomorrow - when you call Money Network at 8am, if you get stuck in their automated phone menu again, try pressing # followed by 0 repeatedly. This sometimes bypasses their voice recognition system and gets you straight to a human operator. Also, I noticed from reading through all the great advice here that you might want to have a backup plan ready just in case. If for some reason the verification process takes longer than expected, you could try going to a Bank of America ATM (Money Network cards are issued through BofA) and see if you can at least withdraw some cash for immediate expenses while waiting for the transfer issue to be resolved. The identity verification hold you found on the website is definitely the main culprit, but having multiple options gives you the best chance of accessing at least some of your money quickly. With all the detailed steps everyone has shared, I'm confident you'll get this sorted before your rent is due! One last tip - after you get everything working, consider keeping a small emergency fund in a regular savings account so you're never completely dependent on EDD payment timing again. These kinds of banking hiccups are unfortunately pretty common with government benefit cards. Good luck tomorrow morning! This community really pulled together to help you - definitely pay it forward when you can!

I work as a benefits specialist and can confirm what others have said - your non-fraud UI overpayment should not impact your PFL eligibility or benefits. Since you're actively on a payment plan and making regular payments, EDD typically won't interfere with your PFL. The 2-week timeline is actually pretty standard right now. PFL claims are taking 14-21 days on average in 2025, so you're still well within normal processing time. I've seen many cases where parents panic at the 2-week mark, but most get approved by week 3. One thing to keep in mind: make sure you continue your overpayment plan payments while on PFL. As long as you stay current, there shouldn't be any cross-program issues. The worst thing you could do is stop paying because you think PFL will cover everything - that could potentially trigger collection actions later. Hang in there - you're doing everything right, and this time with your daughter is precious. Try to focus on that instead of the EDD stress!

I'm a case worker who's handled hundreds of these situations, and I want to give you some peace of mind. Your UI overpayment will absolutely NOT affect your PFL baby bonding claim since it's non-fraud and you're actively making payments. Here's what's actually happening behind the scenes: When you have an active payment plan, EDD flags your account as "compliant" which means you're meeting your obligations. This prevents any automatic offsets or garnishments from other programs. The computer systems literally can't touch your PFL benefits while you're current on your plan. The 2-week wait is completely normal - we're actually seeing faster processing times now than we have in years. Your claim is probably sitting in a queue waiting for final review, not because of any issues but simply due to volume. One quick tip: If you want to check status without calling, log into your EDD account and look under "Claim History" - if there are no pending items or requests for additional info, you're just waiting in the normal processing queue. Keep making those monthly payments and enjoy this time with your baby girl. Everything will work out fine!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! As someone new to this community, I've been reading through everyone's experiences and I'm really struck by how similar your situation is to so many successful appeals. The vague termination language ("we're letting you go") combined with office talk about budget issues creates exactly the kind of reasonable misunderstanding that appeals judges understand. Reading through all these responses, it's clear you have an excellent roadmap: get that DE 1101CZ form through records request, document every detail of your termination conversation, keep certifying religiously, and prepare your appeal with all the evidence you can gather. The success stories here are really encouraging - multiple people have overturned similar penalties and gotten full back pay. One thing that really stands out is how your employer's vagueness actually works in your favor. If there had been misconduct or performance issues, any reasonable employer would have been specific about that instead of just saying "we're letting you go." The fact that they weren't suggests they knew it wasn't a for-cause termination. While you're dealing with the financial stress, remember that 211.org and local emergency assistance programs can help bridge the gap. This penalty situation is temporary and fixable if you stay organized and persistent with your appeal. You've got this - the community here has given you all the tools you need to fight this successfully!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the incredible advice and support you've received here, and I'm really encouraged by how many people have successfully fought similar false statement penalties. Your situation sounds exactly like what several others have described - a vague termination ("we're letting you go") that you reasonably interpreted as a layoff, but your employer may have reported differently to EDD. The fact that there was office chatter about budget issues and restructuring makes your interpretation completely understandable. What really strikes me is how well-prepared you are now thanks to everyone's guidance. You have a clear action plan: get that DE 1101CZ form from EDD Records, document every detail of your termination conversation while it's still fresh, continue certifying religiously, and prepare for appeal with solid evidence. The success stories here prove these employer miscommunication cases are absolutely winnable. A couple additional thoughts that might help: - When documenting your termination, include the overall company context you were aware of (budget talks, restructuring rumors) that influenced your reasonable interpretation - That recent positive performance review you mentioned is excellent evidence this wasn't about misconduct or poor performance - Don't let the financial stress make you give up - remember that successful appeals result in full back pay for all those penalty weeks You've got an amazing support network here and all the tools you need to fight this successfully. The bureaucracy is frustrating, but you're not facing it alone anymore. Keep us posted on what you discover from that employer response - I have a feeling you're going to have strong grounds for appeal!