UPDATE: Just got off the phone with EDD. They confirmed there was a processing delay due to quarterly system maintenance. All delayed payments should be released by tomorrow morning. The representative said if you don't see your payment by tomorrow afternoon, then call in because it might indicate a different issue with your specific claim.

This is exactly why I always keep a small emergency fund even when on UI - these random delays happen more often than people think! I've been dealing with EDD for over a year now and I've learned that quarterly maintenance periods (March, June, September, December) almost always cause some kind of hiccup. The good news is they're usually pretty quick to resolve it. For future reference, if you follow EDD on social media they sometimes post about these delays there before updating the website. Also, if you have the Money Network app, sometimes the payment shows up there before it actually posts to your card balance.

I just went through this exact situation last week! The "not enough wages" error is super misleading when you clearly have qualifying earnings. What worked for me was calling right at 8:00 AM sharp and pressing 1-2-4 when the menu starts. I got through on my 4th try that way. When I finally spoke to a rep, they explained that my recent temp work wages hadn't been reported to EDD yet by the employer, so the system was only seeing my older base period which had expired. They were able to manually review my pay stubs and file an alternate base period claim on the spot. Pro tip: Have your Social Security number, all employer names/addresses from the last 18 months, and total gross wages for each job written down before you call. The rep will need all of this info to process your claim correctly. Good luck!

This happened to me too and it's SO frustrating! The base period calculation is the culprit here - your temp job wages probably aren't showing up in their system yet or fall outside the qualifying period they're using. I had success calling the 833-978-2511 number around 8:05 AM and selecting the "file new claim" option. When you get through (and you will eventually!), tell them you need an "alternate base period" calculation and have all your pay stubs ready. The rep I spoke with was actually really helpful once I explained I had sufficient wages that weren't being recognized by the online system. Also definitely ask about backdating your claim to cover those 2 weeks you've already been waiting. They can usually do that if you provide proof of when your employment actually ended. Hang in there - the system is broken but there are people who can fix it on the phone side!

Just wanted to add that you should also keep documentation of everything - save the email or memo from your employer about the shutdown, take screenshots of your UI Online application, and keep records of any communication with EDD. If there are any issues later, having a paper trail will help resolve them much faster. Also, during your shutdown period, make sure you're genuinely available for work each day you certify - that means being able to accept temporary work if offered, even though you're expecting to return to your regular job. Good luck with your claim!

I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago when my small nonprofit shut down for the holidays without pay. Filed for UI benefits and it was approved without any issues. The whole "temporary layoff" classification worked perfectly since we had a definite return date. One tip that really helped me - when I called EDD to verify my claim status (which took forever to get through), the agent told me that small employers like yours often don't realize their employees can file for UI during unpaid shutdowns, so sometimes they're surprised when they get the notice. But like others said, it's totally legal and they can't retaliate. The hardest part honestly was just getting through to EDD on the phone if you need to talk to someone, but the online system worked fine for filing and certifying. Make sure you file ASAP since there's always processing time involved. Hope this helps ease your mind!

I'm brand new to this community and just discovered this incredible thread while desperately searching for help with my own EDD Money Network card closure! Like so many others here, my card was suddenly deactivated after I moved from California to Michigan, and I have about $3,200 trapped in the account. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and incredibly helpful. The detailed phone navigation steps from @helpfulEDDguy are exactly what I've been missing - I've been calling EDD for two weeks with no luck because I didn't know the right menu sequence. And @LeiliH's success story gives me so much hope that this can actually be resolved! It's absolutely mind-blowing how many people are dealing with this exact same issue with out-of-state moves triggering automatic account closures. The fact that EDD doesn't even send a warning before closing accounts is just cruel. But seeing how this community has figured out the system and created basically a step-by-step guide for getting through to actual humans who can help is amazing. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01am approach with those specific menu prompts tomorrow morning. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is honestly more helpful than anything I've found on EDD's official website! I'll report back with my results to hopefully add another success story to help future people dealing with this nightmare.

I'm completely new to this community but found this thread while frantically searching for help with my EDD Money Network card that was just closed yesterday! I moved from California to Arizona about 6 weeks ago and have been using the card regularly with no issues until suddenly it stopped working. When I called Money Network they said EDD requested the closure - exactly like what happened to @LeiliH. This entire thread has been like finding a treasure trove of actual solutions after hitting nothing but dead ends everywhere else. The step-by-step phone instructions from @helpfulEDDguy are incredible - I had no idea there was a specific menu sequence that actually works! And seeing @LeiliH's success story along with all the other people who've managed to get through gives me real hope that my $1,850 isn't just gone forever. It's absolutely insane how many people are dealing with this exact same situation. EDD clearly has a major systemic problem with out-of-state address changes triggering these automatic closures, yet they provide zero guidance about it on their website. The fact that this community has essentially had to reverse-engineer their phone system just to help people access their own earned benefits is both amazing and completely ridiculous. I'm definitely going to try the 8:01am approach tomorrow morning with those specific menu prompts. Thank you everyone for creating what's basically become the ultimate guide for navigating this EDD nightmare - this thread should honestly be required reading for anyone with EDD benefits who's planning to move out of state!

I was in a very similar situation last year - scheduled interview for eligibility determination after a hours reduction at my retail job. The waiting was absolutely brutal, especially when you're already struggling financially. From my experience and what I've learned from this community, calling early unfortunately won't help and could potentially create confusion in their system. However, here's what I wish someone had told me during that awful waiting period: apply for emergency food assistance immediately (CalFresh can be approved within days), contact your utility companies about hardship programs, and start documenting EVERYTHING about your job situation now. For your specific case with the restaurant hours cut from 40 to 10, that's typically considered "constructive dismissal" or reduction in work that constitutes good cause for leaving. Make sure you have any texts, emails, or schedules showing the dramatic hour reduction. The interview itself was much shorter and less intimidating than I expected. Hang in there - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating this process!

I went through this exact same anxiety last summer when I had my eligibility interview scheduled. The wait feels endless when you're stressed about money, but unfortunately calling early really won't help - those interviews are specifically scheduled and the rep needs time to review your file beforehand. What DID help me was using that waiting time productively: I gathered every piece of documentation I could find (old schedules, any messages about hour changes, pay stubs showing the reduction), wrote out a clear timeline of events, and practiced explaining my situation out loud. Since your hours dropped from 40 to 10 per week, that's actually a pretty strong case - that level of reduction often qualifies as good cause for leaving. The actual interview was way less stressful than I built up in my head, and having all my info organized made me feel much more confident. Also definitely look into CalFresh and local food banks while you wait - there's no shame in getting help during this gap period!