This is such an important warning thread! I'm a new claimant too and I've been getting so many suspicious texts lately claiming to be from various agencies. What really helped me was setting up Google Voice notifications so I can screen calls/texts related to my claim. Also, for anyone still waiting on their Money Network card - mine took exactly 10 business days to arrive after my first payment was processed. The key is checking your UI Online account regularly rather than relying on any texts or emails. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping each other safe from these scammers!

This thread is so helpful - thank you all for the warnings! I'm also a new claimant (filed about a month ago) and have been getting similar sketchy texts. What I found really useful was taking screenshots of all the scam messages and forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM) - apparently that helps carriers track and block these numbers. Also wanted to mention that when I finally got through to EDD about my pending status, they told me that scammers are specifically targeting people who recently filed claims because our info might be in some data breach. They recommended never giving out your EDD customer account number or social over the phone unless YOU initiated the call to their official number. Stay safe everyone!

Anybody else feel like they need a degree in bureaucracy just to navigate this stuff? I swear, dealing with unemployment has been harder than any job I've ever had 🤣🤦‍♂️

Hey Gabriel, I was in the exact same boat last month! Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8am when they opened (set like 5 alarms lol) and got through after about 2 hours on hold. When I explained I had a family emergency that caused me to miss the interview, they were actually pretty understanding and rescheduled me for the next week. Make sure you have all your documents ready and a really good explanation. Also, don't panic - missing one interview doesn't automatically disqualify you, but you do need to act fast. The key is being persistent but polite when you finally get someone on the line. You got this! 💪

Hey Camila! I just wanted to share my recent experience since I went through this exact same thing about 3 weeks ago. My first transfer from the Money Network card took exactly 3 business days to show up in my checking account. Since you initiated it Sunday night, it probably didn't actually start processing until Monday morning, so you should see it by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. One tip that really helped me - log into your bank's mobile app or website and look for any pending transactions. Sometimes the transfer will show up as "pending" before it's fully available, which at least gives you peace of mind that it's on its way. Also, if you haven't already, download the Money Network mobile app and enable push notifications. They'll send you an alert as soon as the transfer is completed on their end. Since your rent is already late, you might want to call your landlord and explain the situation. Most landlords are understanding about unemployment payment delays, especially if you can show them proof that the payment is processing. Hang in there - it's frustrating but the money will come through!

I've been using the Money Network card for about 6 months now and I can tell you that first transfers definitely take longer than the advertised 1-2 days. Mine took 4 business days the first time, but now they usually complete in 2 days since my bank account is verified in their system. Since you started the transfer Sunday night, it won't begin processing until Monday, so realistically you're looking at Thursday or Friday for it to hit your account. One thing that helped me speed things up for future transfers was linking a account at a major bank (Chase, Bank of America, etc.) rather than a smaller credit union - the big banks seem to process these faster. For your immediate rent situation, you could try getting a cashier's check or money order using the Money Network card at your bank or a grocery store. Most landlords will accept these just like cash. It's not ideal but might save you late fees while you wait for the transfer to go through!

FINAL UPDATE: Got my decision letter today - I WON!! The judge reversed the EDD's determination and found I was eligible for benefits! The letter says EDD has to process this within 10 days. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else waiting - definitely call that CUIAB number to check status, and definitely keep certifying every two weeks even while you wait!

Congratulations on winning your appeal! This gives me so much hope as someone who's been waiting for my decision too. I had my hearing 6 weeks ago and have been checking the mail obsessively every day. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the wait times are all over the place but most people are getting decisions between 7-10 weeks. I'm definitely going to call that CUIAB number to check my status - thanks for sharing that resource! And good reminder about continuing to certify - I almost stopped doing it because it felt pointless when everything keeps showing "disqualified." Really glad it worked out for you after all that stress and financial hardship.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with a very similar situation right now! I was laid off two weeks ago from a company based in Austin (same as yours) but I've been working remotely from my home in Berkeley for 18 months. I just filed with CA EDD yesterday and now I'm worried I'm going to get the same denial you did. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a common issue! It's honestly pretty outrageous that so many employers are apparently ignoring their multi-state tax obligations and leaving us to clean up their mess when we need benefits. Reading everyone's success stories with the DE 1000M appeal is giving me hope though. I'm going to start gathering all my documentation now just in case - my remote work agreement, lease showing my Berkeley address, utility bills, etc. It's so frustrating that we have to become legal experts just to get unemployment benefits we've rightfully earned, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their experiences and help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. For those who've been through this successfully - any other tips for someone who's probably about to start this same journey?

I'm new to this community but dealing with almost the identical situation! My employer is based in Phoenix but I've been working remotely from my home in Fresno for the past year and a half. Just got laid off last week and filed with CA EDD, but after reading this entire thread I'm now expecting to get the same denial you all received. It's honestly infuriating to learn that this is such a widespread problem - how are so many companies just ignoring their basic tax obligations and leaving us scrambling when we lose our jobs? The fact that there are dozens of people in this one thread alone dealing with this exact same issue shows how broken the system is for remote workers. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice! I'm going to proactively gather all my documentation (remote work agreement, CA address on paystubs, lease, utility bills) and get ready to file that DE 1000M appeal form if needed. Reading everyone's success stories is giving me hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel. One question - for those who successfully appealed, did you include a cover letter explaining your situation with the DE 1000M form, or just let the form and documentation speak for itself? I want to make sure I present the strongest case possible right from the start.