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Hey Oliver! I totally get that stress - I went through the exact same thing with my first unemployment check last year. The waiting period between "paid" status and actually holding that check feels endless, especially when bills are due! From my experience and what I've seen others share here, 6 days is still well within the normal timeframe. Most people report 5-9 business days depending on where you live in California. One thing that really saved my sanity was signing up for USPS Informed Delivery (it's completely free) - you get email previews of your incoming mail each morning, so you'll know exactly when your check is arriving instead of anxiously checking your mailbox multiple times a day. Also, I'd definitely recommend giving your landlord a proactive heads up about the timing. Most are pretty understanding when you communicate early rather than waiting until rent is actually late. And yes, switch to direct deposit the moment this check clears! I made the same mistake with paper checks initially and the stress just isn't worth it. With direct deposit, I now get my payments 1-2 days after the "paid" status appears. Hang in there - your check should arrive any day now!
This is exactly the kind of support and practical advice that makes this community so valuable! I'm definitely going to sign up for USPS Informed Delivery right now - that sounds like it would eliminate so much of the daily anxiety of wondering if today's the day. And you're absolutely right about being proactive with landlords. I've been putting off that conversation because I felt embarrassed, but it's much better to communicate early than deal with late fees. Thanks for the reassurance that 6 days is still normal - sometimes you just need to hear from people who've been through the exact same situation. Can't wait to get this resolved and switch to direct deposit!
I completely understand that anxiety about waiting for your first unemployment check! I went through the same stress when I started my claim last year. Six days is definitely still within the normal range - I'm in the Central Valley and my checks consistently took 7-8 business days after showing "paid" status. One thing that helped me manage the stress was remembering that the EDD system updates to "paid" as soon as they process the payment on their end, but there's still the time for them to actually mail it out plus regular postal delivery time. So you're really looking at processing time + mail time. Since your rent is due soon, I'd definitely suggest being proactive and reaching out to your landlord now to let them know your payment is in transit. Most landlords appreciate the heads up rather than finding out on the due date. And absolutely switch to direct deposit once this check arrives - it eliminated all this waiting anxiety for me! Hang in there, it should arrive any day now.
Thanks Sofia! That's really helpful to understand that the "paid" status updates when EDD processes it on their end, but then there's still the actual mailing and delivery time on top of that. I think I was expecting the check to arrive immediately after seeing "paid" which was clearly unrealistic! I'm going to call my landlord this afternoon to give them a heads up - you're right that it's much better to communicate proactively. Really appreciate everyone's support and advice in this thread. This community has been a lifesaver for navigating my first unemployment experience!
I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now! Certified Sunday night, status changed to 'paid' Monday morning, but still no deposit on my EDD card as of Thursday evening. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my account. The explanation about EDD's payment processing vs ACH banking transfers really cleared things up for me. I had no idea federal holidays could cause delays this long! I'm definitely going to start certifying right at midnight going forward and keep that Federal Reserve holiday calendar handy. It's so nerve-wracking when you're counting on the money for essential expenses, but seeing everyone's experiences here is really reassuring. Hope everyone still waiting gets their deposits soon!
I'm in the exact same boat! This is my first time dealing with a holiday delay and I was completely clueless about how any of this worked. Reading through this whole thread has been such a huge help - I never knew about the difference between EDD showing 'paid' and the actual banking system processing, or that certification timing could matter. The Federal Reserve holiday calendar tip is something I definitely wish I had known earlier! It's so stressful when you're new to unemployment and don't know what's normal vs what's a problem. Really grateful for this community sharing all their experiences - it makes navigating this whole system so much less scary. Hoping we all see our deposits by tomorrow morning!
I'm dealing with this same situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! My payment has shown 'paid' since Sunday but still nothing on my EDD card as of Friday morning. I was completely panicking until I found all these explanations about holiday delays and ACH processing. This is my first unemployment claim so I had no idea any of this was normal. The tips about certifying at midnight, checking the Federal Reserve holiday calendar, and understanding the difference between EDD's system showing 'paid' versus actual bank deposits are incredibly helpful. I'm definitely bookmarking this whole thread for future reference. It's amazing how supportive this community is for helping newcomers understand how everything works. Fingers crossed my deposit finally shows up today, but at least now I know not to stress when this happens again!
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a somewhat similar situation - worked in California for most of my base period but had a 6-month contract job in Oregon that I didn't initially report when I filed my UI claim. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like I should definitely call EDD to request a Combined Wage Claim to include those Oregon wages. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed yet: does anyone know if there are any situations where including out-of-state wages might actually hurt your claim or delay it beyond the typical 2-4 weeks? I'm just wondering if there are any downsides to be aware of before I call. My Oregon wages were decent but not huge, so I want to make sure the potential benefit increase is worth the processing delay. Has anyone run into any complications with the CWC process?
Great question about potential downsides! From what I've seen in this thread and my own research, the main "downside" is really just the processing delay (2-4 weeks typically). I haven't come across any situations where including out-of-state wages would actually hurt your claim - worst case scenario, if your Oregon wages don't significantly change your benefit calculation, you'd just end up with the same amount you would have gotten anyway, just with a delay. One thing to consider though: make sure you keep detailed records of your Oregon employment (pay stubs, W-2, etc.) since EDD might ask for documentation if there are any issues with Oregon's wage transfer. The consensus here seems to be that it's almost always worth requesting the CWC if you had substantial out-of-state earnings during your base period. The potential upside (higher weekly benefits) usually outweighs the temporary delay, especially since any increase would be backdated to when you first filed.
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in a similar boat - I worked in both California and Texas during my base period and initially didn't report my Texas wages when I filed. After reading through this thread, I called EDD last week to request a Combined Wage Claim. The process was pretty straightforward once I got through to a rep (took about an hour of calling at 8 AM). They explained that Texas has actually been one of the faster states to respond with wage information - usually within 10-14 days. The rep also mentioned that I should receive an automated notification through my EDD online account once they receive my Texas wage data, and then a new award letter within a few days after that. One tip that helped me: when you call, have your Social Security number, claim number, and employment dates for ALL your jobs during the base period ready. The rep was able to process everything much faster when I had all that information at hand. Still waiting for my updated award letter, but feeling optimistic about the potential increase!
Thanks for sharing your experience with Texas! It's really helpful to know that some states respond faster than others. I'm still waiting on my Nevada wage information (filed my CWC request about 10 days ago), so hopefully Nevada is similarly quick. The tip about having all your employment info ready when you call is spot on - I wish I had thought of that! Did the EDD rep mention anything about what happens if there are discrepancies between what you reported and what the other state sends over? I'm slightly worried that my memory of exact dates or wages from my Nevada job might be off by a bit.
I'm new to the unemployment system and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm still waiting on my initial claim to be approved, but I'm already stressing about which payment method to choose. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the Money Network card might be the way to go for faster access to funds. One question though - for those who switched to the card, are there any hidden fees I should know about? I've heard some prepaid cards have monthly maintenance fees or charge for balance inquiries. Also, can you transfer money from the card to your regular bank account easily if needed?
Good questions about the fees! From what I understand, the Money Network card doesn't have monthly maintenance fees, but there are some transaction fees to be aware of. You get one free ATM withdrawal per deposit, then it's around $1.50 for additional ATM withdrawals. Balance inquiries at ATMs are usually free, and you can check your balance online or through their app for free too. As for transferring to your bank account, yes you can do online transfers but I think there's a small fee (maybe $1-2). The card also works like a regular debit card for purchases with no fees. Overall the convenience of faster payments usually outweighs the minimal fees, especially if you're strategic about how you access your money. Welcome to the system - hope your claim gets approved quickly!
Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been through the EDD system multiple times over the years. The timing differences between direct deposit and the Money Network card can vary significantly based on when you certify and what day of the week it falls on. I've noticed that if you certify on Sunday morning (like most people do), direct deposit payments often get processed by EDD on Monday but then sit in the ACH queue until Tuesday or Wednesday depending on your bank's processing schedule. The Money Network card seems to bypass some of that banking bureaucracy since it's EDD's direct payment partner. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can actually track your payment status more granularly with the card through the Money Network mobile app - it shows pending deposits before they're fully available, which can give you peace of mind about timing. The app also sends push notifications when funds are added, so you're not constantly checking your balance. For anyone considering the switch, I'd say the speed advantage is real, but make sure you understand the fee structure and have a plan for accessing your funds without getting hit with unnecessary charges.
This is such a comprehensive breakdown - thank you! The point about the Money Network app showing pending deposits is really valuable info that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere else. That kind of transparency would definitely help with the anxiety of waiting for payments. I'm curious about your experience with the fee structure over time - have you found that the faster access to funds saves you money in other ways, like avoiding late fees on bills? I'm trying to weigh whether the convenience fees are worth it compared to the stress and potential late charges from waiting 3-4 days for direct deposit.
Sophia Long
I had this exact problem in 2024!! They ended up taking 25% of each payment but I called (took FOREVER to get through) and explained my situation with rent and kids and stuff and they reduced it to 15% for 6 months. So it's worth trying to negotiate but prepare for hell getting through to someone who can actually help. Make sure you have all your financial documents ready to prove hardship when you call.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•That's really helpful to know they might be flexible with the percentage. I've got medical bills too so maybe they'd consider reducing it. I'll try calling tomorrow morning.
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Ethan Taylor
Just wanted to add that you should also check if your overpayment has any appeal rights still available. Sometimes people don't realize they can still challenge the original overpayment determination even if it's old. I had a friend who successfully appealed a 2022 overpayment in 2024 and got it reduced significantly. The appeal process is separate from the waiver process, so it's worth looking into both options. You can find appeal forms on the EDD website under the "Forms" section. Even if the deadline has passed, you might be able to file for "good cause" to extend the appeal period if you have a valid reason for the delay.
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Aiden O'Connor
•This is really good advice! I didn't even think about appealing the original overpayment. My situation back in 2023 was pretty confusing - I was getting conflicting information from different EDD reps about my eligibility, and I think that's how I ended up with the overpayment in the first place. Do you know if there's a time limit on filing the "good cause" extension? I'm wondering if being given wrong information by EDD staff would count as good cause for missing the original appeal deadline.
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