One more thing I should mention - if you do choose paper checks, make sure your mailing address is always current with EDD. Unlike the debit card (which is issued once) or direct deposit, each check needs to be physically mailed to you. If you move during your claim period, update your address immediately in UI Online under the Contact Information section.

I've been collecting unemployment for about 8 months now and went with paper checks from the beginning after hearing all the horror stories about Money Network. Just wanted to share my experience - yes, they do take longer (usually get mine about 7-10 days after certifying), but I've never had a single issue. No frozen accounts, no fees, no customer service nightmares. The peace of mind is totally worth the extra wait time. One tip: I always deposit my checks via mobile app as soon as they arrive rather than going to the bank, just to get the funds available faster. Good luck with your claim!

I see a lot of confusion in this thread between EDD and Money Network responsibilities. To clarify: - EDD processes your claim and approves payments - Money Network issues and manages the debit cards - They're separate entities with separate customer service systems For card issues (never received, lost, stolen), always contact Money Network directly at 1-866-692-9374. Their hours are 24/7, unlike EDD. For claim issues (payment amounts, disqualifications), contact EDD. OP, once you get your card situation resolved, I strongly recommend switching to direct deposit through your UI Online account. It's much more reliable and funds typically appear 1-2 days after payments are approved.

So glad to see this got resolved! Your experience perfectly illustrates why it's so important to distinguish between EDD and Money Network issues. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar problems, here are the key takeaways: 1) Always call Money Network directly for card issues - they're available 24/7 unlike EDD, 2) Double-check that your full address (including apartment/unit numbers) is correct in both systems, 3) Don't wait more than 10 business days before requesting a replacement, and 4) Switch to direct deposit ASAP to avoid these headaches entirely. The Money Network transfer feature is also a great backup option once you have account access. Thanks for updating us on the resolution - it'll definitely help others in similar situations!

Hey! I just went through this same process about two weeks ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I was really nervous about transferring from my EDD card because I'd heard horror stories, but it ended up being much simpler than expected. Here's exactly what I did: 1. Downloaded the Money Network app (make sure it's the official one - blue and white logo) 2. Set up my account using the card number and PIN 3. Added my bank account info (you'll need routing and account numbers) 4. Did a small test transfer of $100 first to make sure everything worked 5. Once that cleared in 2 days, I transferred the rest The $3,400 you mentioned should be fine to do in one transfer since the daily limit is $5,000. No fees on the Money Network side, and the transfer took exactly 2 business days for me. One tip that really helped: I called my bank ahead of time to let them know a large ACH transfer was coming so they wouldn't flag it as suspicious. Probably overkill but gave me peace of mind! The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. You've got this! 💪

I just successfully transferred money from my EDD Money Network card to my local credit union last week, so I can confirm it's definitely allowed and pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it! Here's what worked best for me: - Use the official Money Network app (NOT the Bank of America app - that was my first mistake) - Have your credit union routing and account numbers ready - Start with a small test transfer to make sure everything connects properly - The actual transfer is free and takes 1-3 business days The Money Network customer service line on the back of your card is actually pretty helpful if you get stuck. Way better than trying to reach regular EDD support! I was worried about doing something wrong with my claim too, but transferring your benefits to your own bank account is totally normal and won't cause any issues. Once the money hits your EDD card, it's yours to move wherever you need it. Good luck with the transfer! The peace of mind of having your unemployment benefits in your regular checking account is definitely worth the small setup effort.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently dealing with what sounds like the exact same citizenship error - the system suddenly has me marked as needing work authorization even though I've been a US citizen my whole life and have successfully filed UI claims before. It's beyond frustrating that their system can just randomly decide you're not a citizen anymore! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this is a widespread issue with their January 2025 system update. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service since calling directly has been completely useless - I've tried over 20 times this week and either get disconnected or stuck in endless hold loops. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got this resolved, did the citizenship error affect your ability to certify for benefits while waiting for the fix? I'm worried I'm going to miss certification deadlines while dealing with this mess. The whole situation is making me incredibly anxious about losing weeks of benefits over their technical screw-up.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for everyone dealing with these citizenship errors! Just wanted to add another data point - I experienced this exact same issue 2 weeks ago and can confirm that Claimyr is definitely worth the cost. Got connected to an EDD rep in under 30 minutes after weeks of failed calling attempts. One thing I'd add for anyone going through this process: when you do get connected to the Tier 2 specialist, ask them to put a note in your file about the citizenship correction. My rep told me this helps prevent the error from happening again during future system updates. Also, save confirmation numbers for EVERYTHING - the citizenship correction, document uploads, even the call itself if they give you one. The whole situation is ridiculous that we have to pay a third party service just to access the government agency that's supposed to help us, but honestly it's the only reliable way to get through right now. Their January system "upgrade" has been a complete disaster for so many people.

Been in a similar boat myself! One thing that helped me was logging into UI Online and checking if there's a "Reopen Claim" or "Additional Claim Required" section. Sometimes when you miss employment info, the system flags it and creates a pathway to add the missing details. Also, if you have wage statements or pay stubs from that missing employment, have them ready - EDD loves documentation. The key is being proactive about it rather than waiting for them to reach out. Good luck getting this sorted! 🤞

Hey Malik! I went through almost the exact same thing earlier this year. Forgot to include a seasonal job from my employment history and my claim got stuck for weeks. Here's what finally worked for me: First, log into your UI Online account and look under "History" - sometimes there's a way to submit additional employment information there. If that doesn't work, try calling the 833-978-2511 number early morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) - that's when I had the best luck getting through. Also, when you do get someone on the phone, have all your employment details ready: employer name, dates, wages, reason for separation, etc. They can usually add the missing info right there on the call and push your claim through processing. Don't stress too much - this is super common and they deal with it all the time. It's just frustrating that there isn't a better self-service option for updating employment history. Hang in there! 💪