UPDATE: The money just hit my card this morning (Wednesday)! So that was about 48 hours from when it showed paid on the EDD site. Thanks everyone for the help and calming my nerves. I'm definitely switching to direct deposit for future payments based on all your advice.

I have edd money network card. My disability is using on my card Sunday night. It’s not there, Memorial Day is tomorrow. Could that be a possibility?

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

That's absolutely unacceptable behavior from the EDD representative. It sounds like she deliberately flagged your account out of spite, which is a serious abuse of power. Here are some steps you can take: 1) Document everything - write down the exact time/date of the call and what was said, 2) File a complaint with EDD's customer service supervisor about the representative's unprofessional conduct, 3) Contact your local assembly member's office - they have dedicated EDD liaisons who can help resolve these issues, 4) Try calling back to speak with a different representative who can review your account and reverse any fraudulent flags. Since you were already verified through ID.me and have been receiving payments, this is clearly retaliation. Don't let one bad agent derail your legitimate claim!

For those still struggling with this, I want to add that when you call Bank of America EDD at 1-866-692-9374, make sure you have your Social Security number and the phone number associated with your EDD account ready. They'll ask for verification before processing the emergency transfer. Also, double-check that the Western Union location you're planning to visit is actually open and has enough cash on hand - I learned this the hard way when I drove to a location that had closed early. The $15 fee is automatically deducted from your transfer amount, so if you request $300, you'll actually receive $285. Hope this helps someone avoid the headaches I went through!

Just wanted to share my recent experience with the emergency transfer process. I called the BOA EDD line yesterday and the wait time was about 45 minutes, which seems better than what some others have experienced. One thing I learned is that they'll ask you to stay on the line after processing your request because Western Union will call you back within 10-15 minutes with a confirmation number that you'll need to pick up your money. Make sure you're in a quiet place where you can hear clearly when they call back. Also, bring a photo ID that matches the name on your EDD account when you go to Western Union - they're pretty strict about this. The whole process took about 2 hours from start to finish, but it was worth it to get access to my funds without waiting for a replacement card.

I just went through this same situation about a month ago and wanted to share what worked for me! You're definitely on the right track - EDD will automatically send you the Money Network card regardless of whether you set up direct deposit or not. The card typically arrives within 5-10 business days in a plain white envelope that honestly looks like junk mail, so keep an eye out for it. For direct deposit, log into your UI Online account and look for "Payment Methods" - it might be under "Profile" or "Manage Account" depending on how the site is laid out that day (their interface seems to change randomly). You'll need your bank's routing number and your account number. Just make sure to double-check those numbers because even a small typo can delay everything by weeks. Here's the important part: even if you set up direct deposit immediately, your first payment will almost certainly still go to the card because of processing delays. But don't worry - you can use that card right away at ATMs or stores just like a regular debit card. After that first payment, everything should switch over to direct deposit automatically. One last tip - take screenshots of your direct deposit setup confirmation and save any confirmation emails. EDD's system can be glitchy and sometimes "forgets" your settings, so having that documentation can save you a lot of headaches if you need to call them later. Hang in there and congrats on getting approved!

I just went through this exact same process about two weeks ago, so this thread is super timely! Like everyone mentioned, you'll definitely get the Money Network card automatically - it came to me in about 6 days in a really plain white envelope that I almost threw away thinking it was spam mail. For direct deposit, I found the option under "Manage Account" in my UI Online portal, but it took me a while to locate it because their menu layout isn't very intuitive. Make sure you have your routing and account numbers ready, and definitely verify them with your bank first - I called mine just to double-check and they confirmed my account could receive ACH deposits no problem. One thing that really helped me was setting up both payment methods right after approval but not stressing too much about which one would be used first. My first payment went to the card as expected, but starting with payment #2, everything has gone smoothly to my bank account via direct deposit. The Money Network card actually isn't terrible to use if you need quick access to funds - I used it at an ATM the day I got my first payment and there were no fees for the first couple withdrawals. But direct deposit is definitely more convenient long-term. Just remember to activate that card even if you plan to use direct deposit, because EDD can be unpredictable about which method they use sometimes! Hope this helps and congrats on getting through the approval process - I know how stressful that wait can be!

This whole thread is exactly what I needed to see! I just made the switch to the Money Network card last week and was starting to get anxious about when my first payment would show up. Reading everyone's experiences really helps manage expectations - sounds like 5-7 business days is pretty standard for that initial deposit. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and tips. The automated phone system check is definitely something I'll try, and good to know about potential system delays they're having right now. Thanks for documenting this whole process!

This thread is super helpful! I'm about to make the switch from paper checks to the Money Network card myself and was wondering about the timing. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like that first deposit really does take 5-7 business days which is way longer than I expected. The fact that EDD doesn't clearly communicate this delay upfront is pretty frustrating - would definitely help reduce anxiety if they just told people to expect a week wait for the initial deposit. Thanks for sharing all the real-world experiences and tips, especially about checking the automated phone system. Bookmarking this thread for when I make my switch!