I switched from Money Network to direct deposit about 4 months ago and it's been night and day difference! I was in a similar situation - transferring from the card to my bank and waiting days for it to clear. Now I certify on Sunday and typically see the deposit in my account by Tuesday morning, sometimes even Monday evening. The setup through UI Online was straightforward but definitely take your time entering the bank info. I printed out a voided check and had it right next to me when I filled out the form - didn't want to risk any typos after reading horror stories. One thing I didn't expect: EDD sent me a confirmation letter in the mail about a week after I made the change online, which was reassuring. And like others mentioned, the first payment after switching still went to my Money Network card, then the following one went to direct deposit. My advice: make the switch! The consistency and speed have made managing my finances so much easier, especially with auto-pay bills like you mentioned. Just give yourself about 2-3 weeks for the transition to fully complete.

I switched from Money Network to direct deposit about 8 months ago and it was one of the best decisions I made! I was in the exact same boat - using the card then transferring to my bank account and waiting forever. Now I certify Sunday morning and my money hits my checking account by Tuesday morning consistently, sometimes even Monday night. The setup process is really straightforward through UI Online. Just have your bank routing and account number ready and triple-check every digit before hitting submit. I actually called my bank beforehand to confirm the routing number because I wanted to be 100% sure. They also told me they don't put holds on government ACH deposits for established customers, which was a relief. One tip that saved me: when you're entering your bank info online, zoom in on the page so the numbers appear larger on your screen. Makes it way easier to catch any typos before you submit. Also keep your Money Network card active until you see that first direct deposit come through - took about 10 days for me. The peace of mind has been amazing. No more worrying about transfer timing or fees. Definitely recommend making the switch!

I'm in a similar situation - applied 3 weeks ago and still showing "submitted" status with zero communication from EDD. The anxiety is real when you're watching your savings disappear! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like anywhere from 2-7 weeks is the current reality, which is frustrating but at least gives me some perspective. I've been checking my account obsessively but maybe I should focus on the certification piece that Nick mentioned - I had no idea I was supposed to be doing that already. Going to try calling first thing Monday morning and see if the early bird strategy works. Hang in there Santiago, sounds like we're both in the same boat waiting for this bureaucratic machine to turn!

I went through this exact same waiting period last year and I know how nerve-wracking it is! 23 days is definitely within the "normal but frustrating" range unfortunately. A few things that helped me during my wait: 1. Set up text alerts in your UI Online account if you haven't already - sometimes notifications come through text before showing up in your online inbox 2. Try calling the 833-978-2511 number right at 8:00 AM sharp - I had better luck with that line than the main number 3. Keep detailed records of when you applied and any communications (or lack thereof) - this helped when I finally got through to someone The hardest part is the complete radio silence, but from everyone I know who's been through this recently, that seems to be standard operating procedure. Your claim is almost certainly just sitting in a queue somewhere. Stay strong and try not to refresh that account page 50 times a day like I did (easier said than done I know!).

Hey Douglas! I just went through this exact process last month and wanted to add my experience to all the great advice already here. YES, you can absolutely do student teaching while on CTB - it's literally what the program was designed for! Here's what worked for me: - Called my credential program's student services office first (they had a template letter ready!) - Submitted DE 3100 form 4 weeks early with all required docs - Got approval in exactly 14 business days - During student teaching, certification was super simple - just select "in approved training" The most important thing is getting that approval BEFORE you start. Don't listen to anyone suggesting you hide it from EDD - that's fraud and not worth the risk when there's a legitimate pathway. One tip I haven't seen mentioned: if you have trouble getting through to EDD by phone, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. I had much better luck getting connected early in the day. You're so close to finishing your credential - don't let EDD stress derail that! The CTB program exists specifically so people like us can complete required training. Get your paperwork submitted ASAP and you'll be fine. Good luck with student teaching - it's challenging but so rewarding! 🍎

I actually work as a benefits counselor (not for EDD, but I help people navigate these systems) and wanted to clarify a few things I'm seeing in the comments that might be confusing: The CTB program is absolutely the right path for student teaching, but there are some misconceptions floating around. Here are the key facts: 1. **You don't need your ENTIRE credential program pre-approved** - just the student teaching portion needs CTB approval if you're already receiving benefits 2. **Student teaching is NOT considered employment** - it's educational training, which is exactly what CTB covers 3. **The DE 3100 form is critical** - but make sure you're filling out the RIGHT version (there are different forms for different situations) Most importantly: **Document everything and submit early!** I've seen too many people get caught in bureaucratic delays because they waited until the last minute. One resource I always recommend is contacting your local One-Stop Career Center - they have staff specifically trained on WIOA programs and CTB who can review your paperwork before you submit it. Much better than dealing with EDD's phone system! The bottom line is this: if student teaching is a mandatory requirement for your credential and your program is on the approved list, you SHOULD be eligible for CTB. Don't let inconsistent information from different reps discourage you from pursuing benefits you're entitled to. Good luck with your student teaching! We definitely need more teachers in California! 🎓

Congratulations on getting through the appeal process! This is actually a really positive outcome overall. The split decision might look confusing at first, but you essentially won the big battle and only lost on a minor technical issue. The 1256 determination in your favor is huge - it means you avoided a potentially lengthy disqualification penalty that could have lasted weeks or months. The 1253(c) denial for your hospital period is completely reasonable since you correctly reported being unavailable during that time. From what I've seen with similar cases, you should receive backpay for all eligible weeks except those hospital weeks once EDD processes the decision. However, their system won't automatically update - you'll definitely need to call and have them manually implement the judge's ruling. A few tips for when you call: Have your appeal decision letter handy with all the case numbers, call right at 8 AM when they open for the shortest hold times, and ask the rep to provide written confirmation of what payments they're processing. Also keep certifying for any current weeks while you wait. The part about your employer's reserve account just means they won't see their unemployment insurance tax rate increase - it doesn't affect your benefits at all. You're basically in the clear now, just need to get through the administrative hurdle of actually getting paid!

Ashley, this is actually a really encouraging result! I know the legal language makes it confusing, but you basically won the important battle here. The 1256 ruling means you're not disqualified for how your job ended - that's HUGE and saves you from potentially months of waiting. The 1253(c) denial is just for those specific weeks when you were hospitalized, which makes total sense since you correctly reported being unavailable. I went through something similar and here's what worked for me: Try calling EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - the wait times are much shorter then. Have your appeal decision letter ready with all those subcase numbers. When you get through, ask them to process the judge's decision and request an email confirmation of what they're doing. You should get backpay for all weeks except the hospital period. It might come as multiple deposits rather than one lump sum, so don't panic if the amounts look weird at first. Most importantly, keep certifying for current weeks while waiting - don't let any new weeks become ineligible. The employer reserve account part doesn't affect your benefits at all - it just means your former employer won't see their UI tax rate go up. You're almost at the finish line now!

Hi everyone, just made a video about how to call the EDD and reach a live human agent: https://youtu.be/-R4SqP7_JUA

I'm glad to see you were able to get through to EDD and that they're calling you back today! For anyone else in a similar situation, it's worth noting that EDD phone interviews are usually rescheduled if missed, so don't panic. Make sure to keep your phone on and answer any calls from blocked numbers today. If you miss the callback, you can also check your EDD online account for any updates or new correspondence about rescheduling. Good luck with your interview!