Thanks so much for sharing your experience with Claimyr, Ginny! As someone who's been struggling to get through to EDD for weeks, it's really helpful to hear from someone who actually understands the system. I've watched a few of your YouTube videos and they've been incredibly informative - especially about the different tiers at EDD and what each one can help with. I'm definitely going to check out that interview with Claimyr's CEO before deciding whether to use their service. It's frustrating how difficult it is to get basic help with unemployment claims, so having resources like yours and services like Claimyr available makes such a difference for people who are already dealing with financial stress. Looking forward to learning more from this community!

Hi Ginny! Thank you so much for joining this community and sharing your expertise. I've been following your YouTube channel for a while now and your videos have been incredibly helpful in understanding how EDD works. I'm currently dealing with a pending claim that's been stuck for over 6 weeks - I can log into my UI Online account but all my certifications show as "pending" with no clear explanation. I've tried calling the regular EDD number multiple times but can never get through. Based on your experience, do you think this is something that would require a Tier 2 specialist to resolve, or could a Tier 1 representative potentially help? Also, would Claimyr be able to connect me to the right department for this type of issue? I'm getting really stressed about the financial situation and would appreciate any guidance you can offer. Thanks again for all the amazing work you do helping people navigate this complicated system!

Another option to consider - if you're still having trouble reaching EDD by phone, you can also contact your local state assemblymember or senator's office. Most of them have constituent services that can help with EDD issues, and they often have direct lines to EDD that bypass the regular phone system. I had to do this when I was stuck in a similar situation last year. They can't guarantee a specific outcome, but they can often get EDD to actually respond and send you the paperwork you need. Just search "[your city] assemblymember" and look for their constituent services contact info. It's a free service and sometimes works faster than trying to get through the main EDD phone lines. Worth trying while you're also sending your written appeal.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! The key thing that saved me was sending BOTH a written appeal AND calling every single day until I got through. Here's what worked for me: 1. Send your written appeal to the Sacramento address (P.O. Box 826880, Sacramento, CA 94280-0001) via certified mail so you have proof they received it 2. In your appeal letter, be super clear that you were only notified verbally and NEVER received any written determination 3. Keep calling EDD every morning at 8:01 AM sharp - don't give up after a few tries, literally call back-to-back for hours if needed The thing is, even though you never got the notice, the 30-day appeal clock probably started when they mailed it (or tried to mail it). So time is really critical here. I also discovered that if you can get through to a Tier 2 specialist (not just the first person who answers), they can sometimes expedite getting your determination notice resent or even help process your appeal over the phone. One more tip - when you do get someone on the line, immediately ask for their name and employee ID number and write down the exact time of your call. This documentation saved my butt when there were discrepancies later. Don't let them rush you off the phone without getting concrete next steps and timeframes!

So glad you got this resolved! This thread is going to be super helpful for anyone else dealing with inactive EDD cards. It's crazy that they don't send any kind of heads up before placing these security holds - you'd think after spending so much on unemployment benefits, they'd want to make sure people can actually access their money when they need it. The 8am calling strategy seems to be the real MVP here. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

This is such valuable information! I actually have an old EDD card from 2021 that I never used because I got back to work quickly. After reading this thread, I'm definitely going to check my UI Online account to see if my funds are still showing as paid. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD doesn't send any kind of notification before placing these security holds - like why wouldn't they want people to know their money is still available? Thanks Jackson for sharing your experience and following up with the resolution. The 8am calling strategy and making sure your address is updated seem like key takeaways here!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation - I've been on UI for about 4 months and have a small investment account that earned maybe $15 in dividends. I was panicking thinking I needed to go back and amend all my certifications, but after reading everyone's responses, I feel much more confident that I've been doing it correctly. The certification questions really are clear about asking for "work" income specifically. It's such a relief to find a community where people actually help each other understand these confusing EDD requirements instead of just complaining (though I get the frustration with their system!). Thanks to everyone who took the time to research and share their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice we all need when navigating unemployment benefits.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same worry! I've been collecting UI for about 7 months and have a money market account that earned around $20 total in interest. Like many of you, I was initially confused because the EDD system can be so unclear about what exactly needs to be reported. After reading through all these responses and doing my own research, I'm now confident that we only need to report income from actual work when certifying - not passive investment income like interest or dividends. The certification form is pretty specific about asking for work-related income. However, I do want to emphasize what others have mentioned - both your UI benefits AND any investment income still need to be reported on your tax returns, just not during the biweekly EDD certification process. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't make this distinction clearer, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where we can help each other navigate these confusing situations. Thanks OP for asking this question - I'm sure it's helped a lot of people who were silently worrying about the same thing!

Great update @Dylan Mitchell! For anyone else in a similar situation, here are a few additional tips I learned from my own experience: - If you can't reach Money Network's expedited shipping line, try calling early morning (around 8 AM PST) when call volume is lower - Keep your confirmation number from the expedited shipping - they'll email you tracking info within a few hours - Once you get the card, activate it BEFORE trying to set up the app (learned this the hard way!) - The Money Network app also lets you set up text alerts for when deposits hit your account, which is super helpful for tracking future payments The whole system is definitely not user-friendly, but at least there are workarounds when you're in a pinch. Glad you got it sorted before your rent was due!

Just went through this exact same thing two weeks ago! You absolutely cannot access the Money Network app or any funds without the physical card first - it's frustrating but that's how their security system works. Pro tip though: once you do get your card, make sure to set up direct deposit immediately through the app so future payments go straight to your bank account. That way you won't have to deal with this waiting game again. Also, if you're really in a bind for rent, try explaining the situation to your landlord - most understand that EDD delays are unfortunately common and may give you a few extra days. The card should arrive within the next few days based on when your payment was processed. Hang in there!