Thanks for sharing this! I was able to get through this morning using the 8:01 AM trick you suggested. They rescheduled my interview for next week and added a note to my file about the notification issue. The rep also recommended I opt into text notifications once the new system is implemented. Appreciate everyone's help here!

That's amazing news that you got through and resolved it! For anyone else dealing with this same issue, I'd also recommend keeping screenshots of your UI Online account showing no interview notifications and saving any confirmation emails you get about the rescheduled interview. EDD's system has been known to have recurring glitches, so having that documentation could save you time if this happens again. Really glad this community was able to help you navigate such a frustrating situation!

I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm brand new to unemployment benefits (just filed my claim two weeks ago) and was completely lost about when to expect payments. The EDD website is so confusing and doesn't explain any of this clearly. From reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key things to remember are: 1. Check your UI Online account to see which certification group you're in 2. Payments come 1-3 days after you certify (not on fixed weekdays) 3. The first few payments might be irregular while your claim gets established 4. Set up Money Network text alerts if you're using their card 5. Create calendar reminders for certification dates I'm still waiting for my first payment but now I know what to expect instead of just sitting here wondering when money might randomly appear. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - it's so reassuring to know this confusion is totally normal for newcomers!

As someone who's been navigating EDD for about 5 months now, I can totally relate to this confusion! The system really doesn't make it clear upfront, which is so frustrating when you're trying to budget on a tight timeline. Here's what I've learned: Your payment schedule is tied to your certification group, not specific days of the week. I'm in Group 1 and certify every other Sunday night, then my payment hits my account consistently on Tuesday mornings around 6 AM. It took about 3 certification cycles for this pattern to become rock solid, but now I can plan my budget around it perfectly. The most important thing is to log into your UI Online account and check your "Notifications" section - it will show your next certification date. That's your anchor point for predicting payments. Also, if you're using direct deposit instead of the Money Network card, the timing might vary slightly based on your bank's processing schedule. One practical tip that saved my sanity: I set a phone reminder for my certification day that says "Payment expected in 2 days" so I never have to wonder when money is coming. Takes all the guesswork out of it! Your first payment being on a random day is totally normal while your claim gets established. After that, you'll have a predictable routine that's as reliable as a regular paycheck. Hang in there!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation - had an old EDD card from early 2021 that I thought might still work when I got approved for a new claim in late 2024. The good news: if your card hasn't expired, they'll absolutely use it! Mine worked perfectly and I saw my first payment within 24 hours of certifying, which was way faster than I remembered from 2021. The not-so-good news: like others mentioned, you'll probably need to reset your automatic transfer settings. Mine were completely gone after the long gap. But honestly, setting them back up in the Money Network app took maybe 5 minutes tops. One thing I wish someone had told me - even if your transfer settings need to be reset, you can still access your money immediately through ATMs or by using the card for purchases. I was stressed about rent too, but I just used the card directly at my bank's ATM to get cash. No fees and no waiting around for transfers to process. Also definitely call the number on your card first to make sure it's active - that tip from others here is gold. My card was valid but needed to be reactivated after sitting unused for so long. Quick 5-minute call saved me days of worry!

Just wanted to jump in here since I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! My EDD card from 2021 was still good (expires 2027) and they definitely used the same one for my new claim. The Money Network system has gotten SO much better since 2021 - payments now show up within 1-2 days instead of the 3-5 days it used to take. My auto-transfer settings were still there and working, which surprised me since I'd heard mixed reports about that. One thing that might help with your rent timing - if you're really worried about access to funds, you can always do a quick balance transfer to a friend or family member through the Money Network app (if they also have a Money Network card) or use Zelle/Venmo once the money hits your card. That way you're not dependent on ACH transfers to your bank if timing is tight. Sounds like you're in good shape though if your card is still valid and you can log into the account! The whole process is much smoother now than it was during the pandemic chaos.

When you do get through to EDD, make sure your husband asks about the work sharing program if his hours are just reduced rather than completely eliminated. My brother-in-law is in roofing and they use this during rainy seasons - the company reduces everyone's hours and EDD pays partial benefits to make up some of the difference. It's better than full unemployment in some ways because he doesn't have to do the job search requirements. Just something to consider!

I went through this exact same situation last year! My account got locked after about 8 months of not using it when my seasonal job ended unexpectedly. The key thing is that your husband absolutely has to be the one to call - they won't unlock it for anyone else, even spouses. When I finally got through (took about 2 hours of calling), they asked me tons of verification questions including my previous employers, the exact dates of my last claim, and even details about my last certification. Have him gather all that info before calling. Also, since he's in construction and it's weather-related, that's actually one of the fastest types of claims to process once the account is unlocked. They understand seasonal construction layoffs are legitimate and usually don't require as much documentation. The rep told me weather-related work stoppages are pretty routine for them to handle. One tip that helped me: call right at 8am when they open. The wait times are usually shortest then before everyone else starts calling.

Hi Ginny! Thank you so much for joining this community and bringing your expertise here. As a newcomer who's been struggling with EDD for months, I can't tell you how valuable it is to have someone who actually understands the system offering real guidance. I've been stuck in the endless loop of calling EDD with no success - just busy signals and disconnections. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already dealing with financial stress and can't even get basic help. I'm definitely going to check out your YouTube channel, especially that interview with Claimyr's CEO. I had no idea there were different tiers at EDD or that services like this existed to help navigate their broken phone system. The fact that you've helped thousands of people gives me hope that there might actually be a way to resolve my pending claim issues. This community already feels like such a lifeline for people like us who are trying to figure out this maze. Looking forward to learning from your videos and hopefully getting connected to someone who can actually help!

Hi Ginny! Thank you so much for joining this community and sharing your expertise with us. As someone who's been struggling to get through to EDD for over a month, I really appreciate having access to someone who actually understands how their system works. I've been stuck in the endless cycle of busy signals and automated hangups, which is incredibly frustrating when you're already dealing with financial stress. I'm definitely going to check out your YouTube channel, especially that detailed interview with Claimyr's CEO - it sounds like exactly what I need to understand whether their service would be worth it for my situation. The fact that you've helped thousands of people successfully navigate EDD gives me real hope that there might actually be a solution to this maze. I had no idea there were different tiers of representatives at EDD or that knowing which tier can help with specific issues was so important. This community already feels like such a valuable resource for getting practical advice from people who've actually been through these challenges. Looking forward to learning from your videos and hopefully finally getting my claim issues resolved!