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I'm new to this community but currently navigating a very similar situation! I was just laid off from my job as a pharmacy technician three weeks ago and I'm in the process of applying for unemployment benefits. I also receive partial disability benefits for a back injury I sustained a few years ago. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly informative and reassuring - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs available beyond the basic one I'm currently on. The information about income deductions, the ABD program, and especially the Working Disabled Program options gives me hope that I'll be able to maintain coverage. I'm particularly interested in what Mateo mentioned about the $20 general income deduction and the health insurance premium deductions. I currently pay about $180/month for supplemental coverage, so knowing that can be deducted from my countable income is huge! My question is: if I'm already on regular Medi-Cal and my unemployment benefits push me over the income limit, do I need to reapply for a different program or will they automatically check my eligibility for other programs like ABD? I want to make sure I don't fall through any cracks during the transition. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to share experiences and practical advice. Planning to call my county office first thing tomorrow morning with all the great tips from this thread!
Welcome to the community, Mei! Your situation sounds very similar to what many of us have experienced. Great question about the transition process - from what I've learned through this thread and my own experience, you typically don't need to submit a completely new application if you're already on Medi-Cal. When you report your income change (the unemployment benefits), they'll reassess your eligibility for all available programs automatically. However, it's really important to be proactive and specifically ask them to check your eligibility for the ABD program when you call, especially since you have disability benefits. Sometimes the workers don't automatically consider all programs unless you mention your specific circumstances. Make sure to bring up both your back injury/disability status AND the fact that you pay that $180/month for supplemental coverage when you call. That premium deduction could make a real difference in your countable income calculation. One tip - when you call, ask specifically: "Can you check my eligibility for the ABD Medi-Cal program and calculate my income with all allowable deductions?" This way you're being clear about what you need them to review. You're definitely on the right track being proactive about this! Let us know how your call goes tomorrow - this community is great at troubleshooting if you run into any issues.
I'm new here but dealing with a very similar situation! I just got laid off from my job as a case manager at a mental health clinic last week and I'm really anxious about how unemployment benefits will impact my Medi-Cal coverage. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea there were so many different Medi-Cal programs with varying income limits! I've been on regular expanded Medi-Cal for about two years, but I'm realizing I might need to explore other options once my UI benefits start. I have a question about the application process: if I'm proactive and call my county office before my unemployment benefits even start (I just applied yesterday), will they be able to give me guidance on which programs I should prepare to apply for? Or do they need to wait until I have actual income to report? Also, I do some very part-time tutoring work on weekends (maybe 4-6 hours per week) that brings in about $200/month. After reading about the Working Disabled Programs, I'm wondering if this minimal work activity could potentially help me qualify for programs with higher income limits? Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences and practical tips. It's overwhelming enough to lose your job without having to worry about healthcare coverage, but this community gives me so much hope that there are solutions out there!
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I'm also dealing with unemployment and unexpected expenses right now, so this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! The complexity around base period employers and retirement withdrawals is something I never would have understood without reading everyone's experiences here. @Sofía Rodríguez - I'm really hoping the 401k loan option works out when you call Meridian on Monday! That seems like it could solve your transportation issue without any of the tax penalties or EDD complications that everyone's warned about. What strikes me most about this discussion is how many resources exist that most of us probably don't know about - the 2-1-1 hotline, United Way programs, CalWORKs Emergency Aid, professional association grants, and EAP benefits for former employees. It makes me realize how important it is to exhaust all these options before touching retirement savings, especially given the potential tax implications. For anyone else in similar situations, I think this thread shows why it's so crucial to get official guidance from EDD before making any major financial decisions. The conflicting experiences people have shared really highlight how individual circumstances can lead to very different outcomes. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this kind of community support makes navigating unemployment so much less isolating. Please keep us updated on how things work out!
As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for how detailed and supportive everyone has been in this thread! The level of knowledge sharing here is incredible - from the technical details about base period employers to all the alternative resources people have mentioned. @Sofía Rodríguez - I m'also hoping the 401k loan route works out for you on Monday! It s'amazing how that option could potentially solve your problem without any of the tax headaches or EDD complications. What really stands out to me is how this discussion shows the importance of community knowledge when dealing with these complex government systems. The EDD rules seem so convoluted that even their own representatives sometimes give conflicting information, so having real experiences from people who ve'navigated similar situations is invaluable. The resource list that s'emerged from everyone s'contributions - 2-1-1, United Way, CalWORKs Emergency Aid, professional associations, EAP programs - should honestly be pinned somewhere for other community members dealing with financial emergencies while unemployed. I had no idea most of these existed! Really hoping everything works out for you, and thanks to everyone for creating such an informative and supportive discussion. This is exactly the kind of community help that makes dealing with unemployment less overwhelming.
This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's also navigating unemployment, I had no idea about the complexity around base period employers and retirement withdrawals. The distinction between different types of retirement accounts and how EDD treats them is something that really should be more clearly explained on their website. @Sofía Rodríguez - I'm really pulling for you with the 401k loan option when you call Meridian on Monday! After reading everyone's breakdown of the tax implications (potentially losing $4-5k for a $3,100 repair), that loan route seems like it could be a perfect solution if it's available. What I find most valuable about this thread is the comprehensive list of alternative resources that people have shared: 2-1-1 hotline, United Way's Wheels to Work programs, CalWORKs Emergency Aid, professional association grants, EAP benefits for former employees, auto shop financing partnerships, and community college assistance programs. These are resources I never would have known to look for, and they should honestly be compiled into a resource guide for this community. The emphasis everyone's placed on getting official EDD guidance and documenting everything is also crucial advice. Given the conflicting experiences people have shared, it's clear that individual circumstances can lead to very different outcomes, and having a paper trail seems essential. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - both the success stories and the cautionary tales. This kind of community support makes navigating these stressful situations so much more manageable. Please keep us posted on how everything works out!
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I'm also dealing with this exact same issue! Got laid off three days ago and I'm completely stuck in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2021. It's such a relief to find this thread and see I'm not going crazy - this really is a widespread problem that EDD apparently has no interest in fixing. Reading through everyone's strategies has been incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to try the 833-978-2511 number tomorrow morning at 8:03 AM with all the key phrases you've shared: "purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date." Already have all my employment documentation ready for the past 18 months just in case I can get them to file the new claim while I'm on the phone. It's absolutely mind-boggling that we need this level of strategic planning just to access unemployment benefits we're legally entitled to after losing our jobs. The fact that this takes a rep literally 5 minutes to fix after we spend days or weeks trying to navigate their broken system really shows how dysfunctional EDD is. But I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works - gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off! Will definitely report back with my results to help anyone else who gets trapped in this bureaucratic nightmare. Thanks to everyone for the practical advice and moral support! 🙏
Dmitry, I'm in the exact same boat! Just lost my job last week and dealing with this same COVID claim loop nightmare. It's incredibly frustrating but also reassuring to see so many people sharing their experiences and solutions here. I'm also planning to try the 833-978-2511 number strategy tomorrow morning at 8:03 AM - seems like that timing and those specific phrases about "purging" and "clearing the benefit year end date" are the magic combination. It's crazy that we need this kind of insider knowledge just to file for basic unemployment benefits, but at least we have this community to help guide us through EDD's broken system. Really hoping we can both break free from this digital prison soon! Good luck and thanks for sharing your plan - it helps to know we're all tackling this together! 🤞
I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! Got laid off earlier this week and I'm completely trapped in that same infuriating loop with my old COVID claim from 2020. Every time I click "File New Claim" it tells me I have an existing claim, but when I try to access it, the system just spins me back to the main page. It's like being stuck in digital quicksand! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both incredibly reassuring (I'm not losing my mind!) and really helpful. I had no idea this was such a widespread issue or that there were specific phrases you need to use when calling. Based on all the advice shared here, I'm planning to call 833-978-2511 tomorrow morning at 8:03 AM armed with the magic phrases: "purge my expired COVID claim and clear the benefit year end date." Already have all my employment info gathered for the past 18 months. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need this level of strategic planning just to access unemployment benefits we're legally entitled to after losing our jobs, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing what actually works. The fact that this takes a rep 5 minutes to fix after we spend days trying to solve it ourselves really shows how broken the EDD system is. Fingers crossed I can finally break free from this bureaucratic nightmare tomorrow! Will definitely report back with my results to help anyone else who gets stuck in this same loop. Thanks everyone for the hope and practical strategies! 🙏
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I see a lot of confusion in this thread between EDD and Money Network responsibilities. To clarify: - EDD processes your claim and approves payments - Money Network issues and manages the debit cards - They're separate entities with separate customer service systems For card issues (never received, lost, stolen), always contact Money Network directly at 1-866-692-9374. Their hours are 24/7, unlike EDD. For claim issues (payment amounts, disqualifications), contact EDD. OP, once you get your card situation resolved, I strongly recommend switching to direct deposit through your UI Online account. It's much more reliable and funds typically appear 1-2 days after payments are approved.
Update: Problem resolved! After calling Money Network, I discovered they had my address wrong (missing apartment number). They're sending a new card with expedited shipping that should arrive before my rent is due. I also learned I can transfer funds to my bank account through their website once I get access. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the tip about calling Money Network directly instead of EDD. I'll be switching to direct deposit as soon as possible!
So glad to see this got resolved! Your experience perfectly illustrates why it's so important to distinguish between EDD and Money Network issues. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar problems, here are the key takeaways: 1) Always call Money Network directly for card issues - they're available 24/7 unlike EDD, 2) Double-check that your full address (including apartment/unit numbers) is correct in both systems, 3) Don't wait more than 10 business days before requesting a replacement, and 4) Switch to direct deposit ASAP to avoid these headaches entirely. The Money Network transfer feature is also a great backup option once you have account access. Thanks for updating us on the resolution - it'll definitely help others in similar situations!
This is such a helpful summary! I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation - my EDD payments show as "paid" but no card yet after 2 weeks. Reading through this thread gave me hope that it's solvable. I'm definitely going to call Money Network directly instead of banging my head against the EDD phone system. Quick question - when you call Money Network, do they ask for any specific EDD information or just your personal details like SSN and address? Want to make sure I have everything ready before I call.
Teresa Boyd
UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked my UI Online account this morning and I have an award letter in my inbox! They approved my claim without needing the interview. Now I just need to wait for my first certification period. Thanks for all the help and reassurance!
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Lourdes Fox
•Awesome!! See, canceled interviews can definitely be good news. Make sure you certify as soon as your weeks become available - usually every two weeks on Sunday. And don't forget to report ANY income you earn during certification periods!
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Aileen Rodriguez
•congrats!! much faster than when i applied last year took me like 2 months to get approved
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Yuki Yamamoto
Congratulations Teresa! That's such great news and a huge relief! This is exactly why I always tell people not to panic when EDD cancels interviews - more often than not it means they have what they need to approve your claim. Thanks for coming back to update us with the good news. It really helps other people in similar situations to see these positive outcomes. Now you can focus on getting those certifications done on time!
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Sophia Clark
•So happy to see this positive update! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - just had my interview canceled yesterday with the same "don't need additional information" message. Reading through this whole thread and seeing Teresa's outcome gives me so much hope. It's really reassuring to know that this is actually a common pattern and usually means good news. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's confusing process!
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