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If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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Just wanted to add another option that worked for me - you can also get a cashier's check or money order from many grocery stores and pharmacies using your Money Network card. Places like Kroger, Safeway, and CVS usually offer this service. There's typically a small fee ($1-3) but you can get a cashier's check for your full rent amount without dealing with daily withdrawal limits or waiting for bank transfers. I did this last month when I needed to pay $1,800 for rent and my landlord only accepts checks. Just go to the customer service counter, tell them you want a money order, and they'll run your Money Network card like a regular debit purchase. The money order is as good as cash to most landlords and you get it immediately. Also wanted to second what others said about credit unions - they're usually much more helpful with cash advances than big banks. My local credit union has never charged me a fee for cash advances and the staff actually knows how to process them quickly.
@Zane Gray This is such a helpful tip! I had no idea you could get money orders with the Money Network card at grocery stores. That s'actually perfect for my situation since I need to pay my landlord exactly $1,600 and he only accepts cash or checks. A money order for $1,600 plus a small fee sounds way easier than trying to do multiple ATM withdrawals or coordinating a cash advance at a bank. Is there a limit on how much you can get in a single money order, or could I get the full $1,600 in one transaction? I m'definitely going to try this at my local Safeway tomorrow - thanks for sharing this option!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just got my Money Network card and was so confused about the $300 ATM limit. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the cash advance option at bank tellers or that you could get money orders at grocery stores with the card. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned - has anyone tried using the card for large purchases and then returning the item for cash? Like buying something expensive at a store that gives cash refunds instead of store credit? Probably not the most practical solution but just curious if anyone's tried that workaround. Also, for anyone still struggling with this - I called Money Network customer service directly (the number on the back of your card) and they actually walked me through all the withdrawal options. The rep confirmed that bank teller cash advances are legit and there's no fee from their side. Took about 10 minutes on hold but way easier than trying to reach EDD directly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - you've saved me a lot of frustration!
@Maria Gonzalez Welcome to the Money Network card confusion club! 😅 Your idea about buying something expensive and returning it for cash is actually pretty creative, but most major retailers will refund purchases back to the original payment method so (back to your card rather) than giving cash refunds. Plus they usually have policies against large cash refunds for fraud prevention reasons. That said, some smaller local stores might be more flexible, but it seems like way more hassle than just doing a cash advance at a bank teller or getting a money order at the grocery store like others have mentioned. Really glad you had luck calling Money Network directly! I ve'been hesitant to call them because I assumed it would be as bad as trying to reach EDD, but 10 minutes on hold sounds totally manageable. Did they mention anything about the daily limits or give you any other useful tips that weren t'covered in this thread? The cash advance and money order options seem like the best immediate solutions for accessing larger amounts. Thanks for confirming that Money Network doesn t'charge fees on their end for cash advances - that s'really good to know!
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I'm currently in the exact same boat and this thread has been absolutely incredible for my peace of mind! Just switched from Money Network to my Ally Bank account last Friday, certified on Sunday, shows 'paid' since Monday but it's now Wednesday with no deposit yet. I was literally starting to panic thinking I somehow entered my routing number wrong or that my money just disappeared into the EDD void. It's honestly shocking that EDD doesn't provide ANY heads up about this delay when you change payment methods - like literally just a simple warning saying "First direct deposit may be delayed 5-7 business days for verification" would save so many people from this stress! I'm on day 3 now and feeling much more confident after reading everyone's consistent experiences. What really helped was seeing that the "paid" status means EDD has already processed it on their end, so the money is definitely in the system somewhere. Planning to give it until early next week before I start making phone calls. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and especially those who came back with updates - this community is honestly more helpful than any official EDD resource could ever be!
I'm literally in the exact same situation right now! Just switched from Money Network to my online bank last week and I'm on day 4 of waiting. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think I had somehow messed up my bank info. It's crazy how many of us are going through this same stress! You're absolutely right that EDD should put some kind of warning about this delay. I had no idea it was so common until I found this thread. The fact that your status shows 'paid' is definitely a good sign - means your money is in the system and just working its way through their ancient verification process. Based on everyone else's experiences here, we should both see our deposits by early next week. This community really is so much more helpful than trying to get answers from EDD directly!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this entire thread has been such a relief! Just switched from Money Network to my online bank account yesterday, certified this morning, and my UI Online already shows 'paid' but no deposit yet. I was starting to panic thinking I'd entered something wrong, but reading everyone's experiences here makes it clear this delay is totally normal for the first direct deposit after switching. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD doesn't warn people about this when you make the change - like seriously, just one simple sentence saying "First deposit may take 5-7 additional business days" would save so much stress! I'm bookmarking this thread because the information here is way more helpful than anything on EDD's website. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and came back with updates - knowing this community went through the same anxiety makes the wait so much more manageable!
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wait does this apply to state tax refunds too or just federal?
Both federal AND state tax refunds can be intercepted for EDD overpayments. California has its own offset program separate from the federal TOP program. So you need to protect both refunds if possible.
well that sucks. thanks for letting me know
Just went through this exact situation last month! I had a $3,800 non-fraud overpayment and was making $200 monthly payments for 5 months. EDD still intercepted my federal refund ($2,400) BUT here's the key - I called them BEFORE tax season and got them to put a "hold" on the offset. You have to specifically request this and get it in writing. The rep told me that being on a payment plan doesn't automatically protect you from offset, but you can request protection if you're in good standing. Try calling early morning (7:30-8am) - that's when I had the most luck getting through. Also keep all your payment confirmations as proof you've been making payments on time.
This is really helpful info! So you were able to get the hold put in place and keep your refund? I'm in almost the exact same situation - $5,300 overpayment, making $150 monthly payments for 4 months now. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you requested the hold, or was it just based on your payment history? And when you say "get it in writing" - did they email you confirmation or send a physical letter?
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Fantastic outcome! This is exactly why it's so important to be proactive about reporting income discrepancies. Your experience will hopefully help other people in similar situations realize that EDD is generally understanding when you come forward voluntarily rather than waiting for them to discover it during their automated crosschecks. The fact that you avoided penalty weeks by reporting it yourself is a perfect example of how transparency pays off. Thanks for sharing the update!
This is such a relief to read! I'm new to unemployment benefits and stories like this really help understand how the system works. It's reassuring to know that EDD actually works with people who are honest about mistakes rather than just throwing penalties around. Your documentation tip about keeping the rep's name and confirmation number is something I'll definitely remember if I ever face a similar situation. Thanks for taking the time to update us with the positive outcome!
So glad you got this resolved! Your experience is a great example of why it's always better to be upfront with EDD about these situations. I'm dealing with a similar issue right now - my former employer just sent me a bonus payment that was supposed to be paid out before my layoff but got delayed due to their payroll system upgrade. Reading your post gave me the confidence to reach out to them proactively rather than hoping it won't be noticed. Going to try Claimyr tomorrow morning to get through to a rep quickly. Thanks for sharing both your initial concern and the successful resolution - it really helps the rest of us navigate these tricky situations!
NeonNova
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now after losing my job at a local restaurant two weeks ago. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was honestly terrified that I might mess up my benefits by not understanding the reporting requirements correctly. Everyone's explanations about EBT being "assistance" rather than "income" finally made it click for me. I was overthinking this so much and worried I'd accidentally commit fraud or something. It's such a relief to know that when EDD asks about income during biweekly certification, they only want to know about actual money earned from work - not food assistance benefits. I've been approved for both unemployment and CalFresh, and I was losing sleep over whether I was supposed to report the food benefits to EDD. But reading all these real experiences from people who've successfully navigated both programs has really put my mind at ease. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge - this community is amazing for helping people understand these confusing government programs during an already stressful time. Now I can focus on what really matters: finding a new job!
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Levi Parker
I went through this exact same worry when I lost my job at a local electronics store about 7 months ago! The anxiety about potentially messing up your benefits is totally real, but everyone here has given you perfect advice. You absolutely do NOT need to report EBT/CalFresh benefits when certifying for unemployment. I was just as stressed about this and even called the EDD help line (after waiting forever) to confirm. The rep told me that food assistance is not considered income for unemployment purposes - it's assistance, which is completely different. When you're doing your biweekly certifications, EDD only wants to know about actual earnings from work (part-time jobs, gig work, freelancing, etc.) or other income sources that would reduce your unemployment benefits. EBT doesn't fall into that category at all. I collected both benefits for months without any issues. Just make sure you report your unemployment income TO CalFresh when you apply/recertify for food benefits (since that does count as household income for EBT purposes), but not the other way around. You're being smart by asking these questions upfront - shows you want to do everything correctly. But you can definitely relax on this particular issue and focus your energy on the job search instead!
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Ezra Collins
•Thank you Levi! It's so reassuring to hear that you actually called EDD to confirm this - that must have taken forever to get through! I really appreciate you sharing what the rep told you about food assistance being different from income. I've been so worried about accidentally doing something wrong, but hearing from so many people who've successfully managed both programs really puts my mind at ease. You're right that I should focus my energy on job searching instead of stressing about something that isn't even an issue. Thanks for taking the time to help newcomers like me understand how this all works!
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