I just went through this exact same issue a few weeks ago! The frustration is real when you can see the money but can't touch it. Here's what finally worked for me: Since you already confirmed with Money Network that no card was issued, you're ahead of where I was. I also switched to paper checks using the DE 5800 form and it was the right call. My first check arrived exactly 9 days after EDD updated my payment preference. A couple things that helped me: - When you call EDD (or use Claimyr), ask them to check for any "payment holds" or "address verification flags" on your account. Sometimes there are hidden issues blocking the payment setup - Request they send you the confirmation letter about your payment preference change via both mail AND email if possible - Get a reference number for the call and ask them to put detailed notes about what they changed The paper check system is honestly more reliable than the debit card mess. You can always switch back to the card later once you know everything is working properly. Don't feel bad about using a paid service to get through - I wasted weeks trying the free route and wish I'd just paid to talk to someone sooner. You're so close to getting this resolved! Keep us posted on how the Claimyr call goes.

Wow, reading through all these responses is both helpful and infuriating - it's clear this payment preference issue is a widespread problem with EDD's system! I'm dealing with something similar right now where my claim shows approved but I've been waiting 3 weeks for any kind of payment method to be set up. Isabella, your situation sounds exactly like what happened to my sister earlier this year. She also had the automated system showing thousands available but no actual way to access it. The advice about calling Money Network directly at 1-866-320-8699 is golden - I had no idea you could do that to check if a card was actually issued. Based on everyone's experiences here, it seems like going with paper checks is definitely the way to go for now. The debit card system sounds like a nightmare with all the third-party confusion between EDD and Money Network. At least with checks you know exactly when they're sent and when to expect them. I'm also really interested in hearing how the Claimyr service works out for you. The regular EDD phone lines are absolutely useless - I've been trying for weeks with no luck. If a small fee can actually get me connected to someone who can fix this mess, it seems worth it at this point. Keep us posted on your progress! This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what's actually going wrong with these payment systems.

update us when u get ur card!! im curious how long it takes lol

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Filed in November and still no card. The worst part is not knowing if you should keep certifying or wait. Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm going to keep certifying and try calling Money Network directly tomorrow. One thing I learned from my neighbor who went through this - if you have a local EDD office, sometimes showing up in person can help more than calling. The rep was able to see that her card had been sent to the wrong zip code and immediately ordered a replacement. Might be worth a shot if you have an office nearby! Thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one stuck in this nightmare. The system is definitely broken when people are waiting 5+ months for a piece of plastic.

So glad to see this got resolved! This is exactly why I joined this community - to help fellow veterans navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. I went through something similar with my Air Force retirement when I filed for UI after my tech job got eliminated. For future reference, veterans should always emphasize the "base period" distinction when dealing with EDD. The key phrase to use is "non-base period pension income" - that's the magic language that gets their attention. I keep a copy of my DD-214 and retirement orders handy whenever I deal with any government benefits. It's frustrating that EDD staff aren't properly trained on military retirement vs regular pension rules. Hopefully your success story will help other vets who face this same issue!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - retired from the Marines 5 years ago and just got laid off from my civilian job. EDD initially approved my claim but then suddenly stopped payments saying there was an "income verification issue" with my retirement pay. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like they might be incorrectly treating my military retirement as base period income even though my service ended way before my base period. I'm going to call tomorrow and use that key phrase "non-base period pension income" that @Mateo Rodriguez mentioned. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you called, did you need any specific documentation beyond your DD-214? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I try to get through to someone.

I'm having this exact same problem! My card worked fine last week but started declining at every store yesterday - tried at three different places including a pharmacy and grocery store. But like everyone else, ATMs work perfectly which is so weird! I was getting really anxious thinking my account was suspended or there was a fraud hold. Reading through all these comments, especially Miranda's explanation about the widespread Money Network system issue, is such a huge relief! I also couldn't get through to their customer service after waiting on hold forever. Based on everyone's recommendations here, I'm definitely going to switch to direct deposit through UI Online - seems like that's the best way to avoid these technical headaches completely. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know this was a widespread issue and not something wrong with our individual accounts!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My Money Network card has been declining everywhere since yesterday - tried at Kroger, CVS, and even a small local shop, but ATMs work perfectly fine. I was starting to panic thinking my account was frozen or something went wrong with my certification. Reading through everyone's comments here, especially Miranda's explanation about it being a widespread Money Network system problem, is such a relief! I also tried calling their customer service twice and was on hold for over an hour each time before giving up. After seeing all the recommendations for switching to direct deposit through UI Online, I'm definitely going to set that up today - seems like the best way to avoid these recurring technical headaches with Money Network. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know this is affecting so many people and not just me!

Glad to see you got it working @Katherine Hunter! This is such a common issue that trips up so many first-time filers. For anyone else reading this thread who might be stuck on the same problem, here's a quick checklist based on what worked: 1. Wait at least 48 hours after filing your initial claim 2. Use Firefox or Microsoft Edge (avoid Chrome/Safari for EDD) 3. Clear browser cache and cookies completely 4. Turn off autofill and type everything manually 5. Enter name exactly as shown on Social Security card (middle initial only, not full middle name) 6. Try during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) The system architecture at EDD is pretty outdated and has all these weird timing delays between their phone system and online portal. It's frustrating but once you know the workarounds it's manageable. Save yourself the headache and don't try to rush the registration - patience really does pay off here!

Just wanted to chime in with another potential solution that worked for me when I had this same error. After trying all the browser tricks and waiting the full 48 hours, I was still getting blocked. Turns out my issue was that I had a tiny typo in my address when I filed the phone claim. The EDD rep had misheard my street name and entered it slightly wrong in their system. When I tried to register online using my correct address, the system couldn't match it to what was in their database from the phone filing. I had to call back (took forever to get through) and have them correct the address in their system first. Once they fixed that, the online registration worked immediately. So if you've tried everything else and still can't get in, double-check that ALL your personal info matches exactly what was entered during your phone claim - not just your name and SSN, but also your address, phone number, etc. Sometimes the phone reps make small data entry mistakes that cause these matching issues later.