Just wondering - has anyone here successfully gotten backpay for the weeks during the appeal process if you were initially denied but then approved? I'm in week 4 of waiting for my appeal hearing after leaving a toxic workplace...

Thank you everyone for all this helpful advice! I'm going to follow the suggestions about creating a paper trail. I just sent a formal email to HR summarizing our conversation and specifically requesting intervention. I'll give them two weeks to address it, and in the meantime, I'll continue documenting any further incidents. I also managed to get through to an EDD representative using the Claimyr service someone suggested. The rep confirmed that harassment can qualify as good cause to quit, but I need to show I tried to resolve it first. They suggested I keep a detailed log with dates/times/descriptions of incidents and any witnesses present. If things don't improve after my formal complaint, I'll draft a resignation letter specifically citing the hostile work environment as the reason. I'm still hoping it won't come to that, but at least I feel more prepared now if it does. I'll update this thread once there's a resolution.

something to think about... if u work part time while on unemployment you can still get partial benefits. i worked 2 days a week at a coffee shop and still got partial unemployment, ended up making more than the $450 max. u just report earnings when u certify and they reduce ur benefit some but not dollar for dollar. might be worth looking into temp work while job hunting in ur field.

One other thing to keep in mind - California does periodically offer extension programs when unemployment is high, though none are active right now. Also, don't forget that your benefit year lasts for 12 months from when you file, but the maximum benefit amount is calculated by multiplying your weekly amount by 26 (so 26 weeks maximum of full benefits). If you find temporary work and then lose it within your benefit year, you can reopen your claim rather than filing a new one.

Just explain exactly what happened - that you're a substitute teacher trying to collect legitimate benefits during summer break, have been waiting X weeks, and can't get anyone on the phone who can actually help. They'll have you fill out a form authorizing them to inquire about your case. Their office deals with EDD problems constantly, so they know exactly what to do.

I know this is frustrating, but there's actually a reason behind the school employee flags. EDD is required by federal law to verify that school employees don't receive benefits if they have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work after a break. The system automatically flags ALL school employees for this verification - it's not personal or targeted at you specifically. Once you have your interview, clarify your substitute status with no guarantee of hours. Having documentation ready will speed things up. After the initial interview, you might still see pending payments but they should resolve all at once when your eligibility is established.

keep us updated!! hope it works out for u

This is definitely a workable situation! Here's what you should do: 1. File the appeal IMMEDIATELY (DE 1000M form) 2. Include copies (not originals) of pay stubs, W2s, or anything showing your work history 3. Write a clear explanation that they missed some of your wages 4. Request an overpayment waiver due to financial hardship 5. Keep certifying every two weeks 6. If possible, try calling EDD to explain the situation Most importantly - don't ignore this! Responding quickly and thoroughly usually resolves these issues.

Wait so they just marked you paid without even interviewing you??? I had my interview and they still put me on pending for like 3 more weeks! WTH is wrong with EDD??!! This system is completely random and unfair. Some people get instant approval and others like me get stuck in pending hell forever even after doing everything right and having a valid claim. I'm on week 6 of pending after my interview. This is beyond frustrating.

UPDATE: My Money Network card arrived today! That was only 6 days after my status changed to paid. The envelope really did look like junk mail - plain white with very little indication of what was inside. I've set up the online account and app like someone suggested. Already transferred my funds to my regular bank account! Thanks everyone for your help and advice. Such a relief to have this sorted out!

The EDD system is so confusing sometimes. Last year they sent me an overpayment notice for $4,500 because I made a similar mistake but with multiple weeks of reporting! Had to go through the whole appeal process and everything. Such a headache.

I think the most important thing here is your intention wasn't to defraud the system. You made an honest mistake that you're trying to correct. For such a small amount, adding it to your next certification with a clear explanation is reasonable. EDD is primarily concerned with intentional misrepresentation, not small calculation errors.

my card from edd had a chip issue and wasnt working at stores. took me 2 weeks to get a replacement and i couldnt access any of my unemployment money that whole time!!! sooo frustrating. i recommend always transfering the money to ur bank asap so ur not relying on that stupid card.

Just to address the original question more directly - I confirmed with Money Network customer service that their prepaid cards specifically block certain MCC codes (Merchant Category Codes) that are associated with person-to-person payment services. This includes Cash App, Venmo, PayPal (when sending to individuals), and similar services. This is actually written in their cardholder agreement, though it's buried in the fine print. This isn't unique to EDD cards - many government-issued prepaid cards have similar restrictions. The restriction exists because these platforms could potentially be used for money laundering or to circumvent the fraud detection systems built into the card program. To summarize your options: 1. Transfer to a bank account via the Money Network portal/app (free) 2. Set up direct deposit for future payments (best long-term solution) 3. Use the card directly for purchases and bills (no fees) 4. ATM withdrawals (free at in-network ATMs, once per deposit period

my sister did this and when she tried to actually certify it wouldnt let her!! she had to call and they fixed something on there end. just a heads up u might still have issues

i rember in 2024 edd changed the rules for reopening claims and you have to do a phone interview if you worked more than 4 weeks so don't be surprise if they schedule you for one

Make sure you understand how your freelance earnings will affect your claim. If you're paid as a 1099 contractor, you'll report gross earnings before any expenses. If your freelance work is irregular (like some days full-time, some days nothing), report the hours and earnings for the specific days worked within each certification week. Also, important note: California's benefit year is 12 months from when you first applied. As long as you're still within that year, your claim stays open even if you don't certify for a while (though it becomes inactive after 2 weeks of no certification). Just remember that you only get a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits during that 12-month period, so if your gig doesn't work out, you'll still have whatever weeks you haven't used yet.

honestly the easiest thing is just keep certifying every 2 weeks no matter what. even if youre making too much money to get benefits during your freelance gig, just report it all accurately. the system will figure it out and youll get whatever youre eligible for. then when the gig ends your regular benefits pick back up automatically. its actually way simpler than most people think!

Just a follow-up about the Money Network timing: if you certified early Sunday morning, your payment likely was processed in Monday's batch. Money Network typically receives the funds Tuesday, then takes 1-2 business days to make them available on your card. So Thursday is actually right on schedule. One tip: try setting up alerts in the Money Network app. This way, you'll get a notification as soon as funds are deposited.

this one time i certified and it said paid but money didnt come for TWO WEEKS!! found out there was a flag on my account for "excessive earnings" even tho i only reported like $120 from my side gig lol. EDD is weird sometimes but if urs already says paid ur probably fine