I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience right now! Been on unemployment since February and just got denied for Medi-Cal yesterday even though I submitted all my EDD documentation. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like I need to submit bank statements, make sure I'm applying for expanded Medi-Cal (not regular), and put together a complete evidence packet like some of you suggested. It's absolutely ridiculous that two state programs can't communicate with each other properly. We're already dealing with the stress of being unemployed and now we have to fight for basic healthcare coverage too! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips - it makes me feel less alone in this bureaucratic nightmare. Definitely not giving up!

This is such a widespread problem and it's honestly infuriating! I went through the same thing last year - got denied twice even with all my EDD paperwork. What finally worked was calling my county's Medi-Cal office directly (not the main state number) and speaking with a local eligibility worker. She was able to see exactly what was missing from my application and walked me through resubmitting everything properly. Turns out they needed me to specifically check a box indicating I was applying due to "loss of employer coverage" rather than just general eligibility. Also make sure your application reflects that your unemployment is TEMPORARY income - sometimes they treat it like it's permanent employment income which puts you in the wrong category. The local county offices seem way more helpful than trying to navigate the state system. Don't let them wear you down - you absolutely deserve coverage while you're job searching!

One thing to keep in mind is that even though your contract is only 6 months, you'll still need to pay into the unemployment insurance system during that time (it gets deducted from your paychecks automatically). So you're literally paying into the system that you might need to use when the contract ends - there's nothing unethical about collecting benefits you've contributed to! Also, make sure you get a clear termination letter or email from your employer when the contract ends stating that it was due to the contract completion, not performance issues or you quitting. This documentation can be super helpful if EDD questions your eligibility later. The transition from freelancing to W-2 and potentially back again is becoming more common, especially in tech. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about using unemployment benefits during that transition period - that's literally what the system is for!

Just want to add another perspective as someone who's done multiple contract-to-unemployment transitions - the key thing EDD cares about is that you're "able, available, and actively seeking work." The beauty of W-2 contracts is that they establish you as a traditional employee in their system, which makes everything cleaner than trying to transition from pure 1099 work. One tip I learned the hard way: when you do your weekly certifications, be consistent in how you describe your work search. If you say you're looking for "similar employment" in week 1, don't suddenly switch to saying you're open to "any work" in week 3. EDD's system flags inconsistencies and can trigger reviews. Also, California has pretty generous unemployment benefits compared to other states, and with your $42/hour rate, you'll likely qualify for close to the maximum. Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so don't forget to set aside money for taxes or elect to have taxes withheld from your benefit payments. The timing might actually work out well for you - if this contract goes well, it could open doors to other similar W-2 contract opportunities, and having that unemployment safety net gives you negotiating power and breathing room between contracts.

quick update - i just tried the website password reset thing from another comment and IT WORKED!!!! was able to transfer my money to my bank!!! says it'll take 2-3 business days but at least i know its coming now. try it OP!!!

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare last month, I feel your pain! Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Call Money Network early morning (7-8 AM) when wait times are shorter 2. When they ask those impossible security questions, politely say "I don't recall the exact time, but I can provide [whatever details you DO remember]" 3. Ask them to note in your file that you're having legitimate access issues due to their security requirements The key is persistence - I had to call 4 different times before getting a rep who was willing to work with me on alternative verification. Some reps are more flexible than others. Also, IMMEDIATELY set up direct deposit through UI Online once this is resolved. Go to "Payment Method" and switch from debit card to direct deposit. It takes 2-3 weeks to take effect, but you'll never deal with Money Network again. Trust me, it's worth the wait! Keep us posted on how the supervisor call goes - rooting for you to get this sorted quickly!

Pro tip for everyone: Transfer your full benefit payment to your personal bank account IMMEDIATELY when it hits your Money Network card. You can set up automatic transfers in the Money Network app. No fees for transfers, and then you avoid all these restaurant holds and ATM fees. Been doing this since they switched from BofA and haven't had a single issue since. Another workaround for restaurant purchases: if you know you're running low on funds, ask the cashier to process it as a final sale with no tip option. Many places can do this if you explain the situation. Doesn't always work, but worth trying.

This is absolutely infuriating! As someone who just started dealing with these Money Network cards after being on the old BofA system, I had no idea about these authorization holds. It's unconscionable that they're essentially holding our own money hostage when we're already struggling financially. I've been reading through everyone's suggestions and it sounds like the immediate transfer to a personal bank account is the way to go. But what about people who don't have bank accounts? Are there any other options for them, or are they just stuck dealing with these predatory practices? Also, has anyone tried disputing these holds directly with Money Network? I'm wondering if there's any way to get them to adjust their policy for unemployment benefit cards specifically, since this isn't regular spending money - it's government assistance that people depend on for basic necessities.

I've been dealing with EDD payment issues for the past month and this thread has been incredibly helpful! After reading everyone's experiences, I tried the DI line approach that Maya suggested (800-480-3287) and it actually worked! Got transferred to a Tier 2 specialist in about 20 minutes. Turns out I had the same identity verification flag issue that's been mentioned multiple times here. The agent confirmed what Maya said - this is extremely common right now, especially for people who completed ID.me verification between November and February. She said they're processing hundreds of these flag removals daily because of system integration issues from their January updates. For anyone still struggling, here's what the specialist told me to expect: once they remove the flag, payments typically process within 24-48 hours. She also mentioned that if you've been stuck for more than 3 weeks with completed ID verification, you should specifically ask about "identity verification flags" and "ID.me integration status" when you get through to someone. The key is being persistent but also knowing exactly what to ask for. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with these frustrating system issues!

As someone who just joined this community after weeks of EDD frustration, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing these detailed experiences and solutions! I've been stuck with missing payments since early February and had no idea about the identity verification flag issue until reading this thread. I completed my ID.me verification back in January but like so many others here, never received any confirmation that it was properly integrated with my EDD account. The fact that this is affecting 90% of people who verified over 60 days ago explains SO much about why the phone lines are completely jammed and why we're all dealing with identical problems. I'm definitely going to try the DI line approach (800-480-3287) that Maya and Jayden confirmed works. Having specific terminology to use - "identity verification flags" and "ID.me integration status" - makes me feel like I finally have a real strategy instead of just desperately calling random numbers and hoping someone can help. It's honestly mind-blowing that such a widespread system issue isn't being communicated to claimants. We're all left thinking we did something wrong when it's actually a backend integration problem from EDD's January system updates. This community support has been invaluable for understanding what's really happening behind the scenes!