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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - fraud on unemployment cards seems to be happening way too often lately. Based on what others are sharing here, it sounds like you should prepare for potentially 2-4 weeks minimum for resolution, which I know doesn't help your immediate rent situation. A few things that might help while you wait: contact your landlord ASAP to explain the situation and see if they'll work with you on a payment plan or extension. Most landlords would rather work with you than go through eviction proceedings. Also check if your county has any emergency rental assistance programs - many do and they can sometimes help within just a few days. For the Money Network side, definitely take the advice about calling every few days and mentioning financial hardship. Sometimes being the squeaky wheel really does help. And yes, file that police report - it creates an official record that can strengthen your fraud claim. Hang in there - this system is absolutely terrible but you will get your money back eventually. Just focus on protecting your housing situation in the meantime.
Thank you for the encouragement and practical advice! You're absolutely right about contacting my landlord immediately - I was dreading that conversation but it's better to be proactive than wait until the last minute. I'm going to call them today and explain the situation. I've also been reading through all these responses and it's clear I need to get more organized about this whole process. I'm going to start a document today tracking every call, confirmation number, and piece of advice from this thread. The police report is definitely happening tomorrow too. It's honestly both terrifying and reassuring to see how many people have gone through this same nightmare. The system really is broken when fraud victims are left scrambling to pay rent while investigations drag on for weeks. But knowing others made it through gives me hope I will too.
I'm dealing with Money Network card fraud right now too - had $800 stolen from my account three weeks ago. Based on my experience so far, here's what I've learned that might help: 1. When you call Money Network, ask to speak with the "fraud resolution department" specifically - don't just go through regular customer service. They have different timelines and seem more empowered to help. 2. Get everything in writing via email if possible. I started requesting email confirmations of our phone conversations and it's made a huge difference in tracking progress. 3. Check if your state has any emergency UI assistance programs. California actually has some rapid response funds for situations like this, though they're not well publicized. 4. Document the financial impact this is having on you - late fees, inability to pay rent, etc. This can be used as evidence for expediting your case and potentially getting additional compensation beyond just the stolen amount. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you have bills due. I'm still waiting on mine but following these steps has at least made me feel like I have some control over the process. Stay strong and keep fighting - these fraudsters shouldn't get away with stealing from people who are already struggling!
This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your current experience! I had no idea there was a separate fraud resolution department at Money Network. I've just been going through regular customer service and getting nowhere fast. I'm definitely going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask for that department. The email confirmation tip is brilliant too. I've been relying on just writing down what they tell me over the phone, but having actual email documentation would be so much better for tracking everything. I'm really curious about those California emergency UI assistance programs you mentioned - do you happen to know where I can find information about those? That could be a lifesaver while I'm waiting for this mess to get resolved. It's both frustrating and comforting to know so many of us are dealing with this same issue right now. The fact that unemployment card fraud is this widespread really shows how broken the system is. Hope your case gets resolved soon too - three weeks is way too long to be waiting for your own money back!
I had this exact same panic attack during my first certification! The wording is so confusing. Just to add to what others have said - if you ever DO have supplemental unemployment benefits (like from a union or employer fund), they'll usually give you specific paperwork that clearly states it's "SUB pay" or "supplemental unemployment benefits." You'd definitely know if you had it because it would be a separate payment from a different source than EDD. Since you only got the one regular UI payment from EDD, you're definitely good to answer NO. The system really should explain these terms better instead of making us all stress out about it!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to know I'm not the only one who freaked out over this question. You're absolutely right that they should explain these terms better - I was sitting there staring at my screen for like 10 minutes trying to figure out if I was about to accidentally commit fraud or something! The fact that you mentioned you'd definitely know if you had SUB pay because of the separate paperwork makes me feel so much more confident. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this stuff to newcomers like me!
I'm going through my first certification too and this thread has been SO helpful! I was literally about to call in sick to work tomorrow just so I could spend the whole day trying to call EDD about this same question. The way everyone explained that "supplemental unemployment benefits" means extra money from employers/unions and NOT the regular EDD payments makes perfect sense now. It's crazy how one confusing question can make you feel like you're going to accidentally mess up your whole claim! Thank you all for being so patient with us newbies - this community is a lifesaver when the actual EDD system is so hard to navigate.
I just went through this same situation a few weeks ago! The whole payment method thing is so confusing when you're new to unemployment. Since your payment is already processing, it will definitely go to the Money Network card first - there's no way to redirect a payment that's already been issued. The good news is that once you get the card (usually takes about a week), you can transfer the money to your bank account pretty easily through their app. I did the instant transfer for the small fee since I needed my rent money right away, and it was totally worth it. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you have a backup plan for rent if the card doesn't arrive by when you need it. Maybe talk to your landlord about a few days extension or see if a family member can help temporarily? The card delivery timing can be unpredictable, especially with mail delays. Also, keep checking your UI Online account - sometimes the system will show when the card has been mailed, which gives you a better idea of when to expect it. Good luck, and don't stress too much - you'll get your money, it's just a matter of waiting for that card to arrive!
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about talking to my landlord preemptively about a potential delay. That's actually a really smart suggestion since I'd rather give them a heads up than scramble at the last minute if the card doesn't arrive in time. I've been checking my UI Online account obsessively and it still just shows "paid" status, but I'll keep watching for any updates about the card being mailed. It's reassuring to hear from people who've actually gone through this recently - makes the waiting feel less scary when you know it's a normal part of the process!
Hey there! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation right now - just got my first unemployment approval yesterday and was completely lost about the payment method thing. Reading through all these comments has been super helpful! I'm planning to set up direct deposit for future payments like you did, but it sounds like I should also prepare for that first payment to come via the Money Network card. The 7-14 day wait time is nerve-wracking when bills are due, but at least now I know what to expect. One question for everyone - has anyone had success calling EDD directly to ask about expediting the card delivery, or is that pretty much impossible to get through? I'm wondering if it's worth trying the phone lines or if services like Claimyr are really the only way to actually talk to someone these days. Thanks for posting this question Sienna, and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! It's such a relief to know this confusion is normal and not just me being clueless about the system.
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just got laid off from my software company last Friday and they cut off my email access immediately - naturally that's what I used for my EDD account back in 2020. I've been stressing about this all weekend thinking I'd have to start over completely. This thread is absolutely incredible - the amount of practical, real-world advice here is amazing! I had no idea there was a separate tech support line (1-833-978-2511) specifically for account recovery issues. I've been trying the main EDD number for three days straight with no luck. I'm going to try the Saturday morning strategy this weekend - calling right at 8:00 AM with all my old paperwork ready. I actually found some EDD correspondence from my 2020 claim in my tax files that has reference numbers on it, and I'm digging through my old text messages tonight to see if I have any confirmation codes saved. The tip about writing everything down beforehand is so smart - SSN, addresses, claim dates, etc. I can definitely see how you'd get flustered trying to remember everything when you finally get through after waiting. It's honestly ridiculous that losing work email creates this whole obstacle course, especially when companies immediately cutting access after layoffs is basically standard practice now. But seeing all these success stories gives me real confidence that this is actually solvable with the right approach. Thanks to everyone who shared what genuinely worked - this community knowledge beats any official website guidance by miles!
Oliver, you're absolutely right that this community has way better practical advice than any official source! I'm new here too and just went through the same work email lockout nightmare when I got laid off from my consulting firm two weeks ago. The fact that you found old EDD correspondence with reference numbers in your tax files is perfect - that's exactly the kind of documentation that seems to speed up the verification process based on everyone's experiences here. And definitely check those old texts! I was amazed at what I found when I scrolled back through my messages from 2020. Your Saturday 8 AM plan sounds solid. One additional tip I picked up from reading through this thread - some people mentioned having backup email addresses ready when you talk to the agent, since they'll want to update your contact info right away. Make sure it's a personal email that won't get shut down if you change jobs again! It really is insane how standard it's become for companies to immediately cut email access without considering all the government accounts people have tied to those addresses. But the success rate in this thread is really encouraging - seems like once you get through to the tech support line, the agents are understanding about this situation since it happens so frequently now. Good luck with your call this weekend! Definitely update us on how it goes - us newcomers need to stick together and share what works!
I'm in the exact same boat right now! Just got laid off from my marketing agency yesterday and they immediately shut down my work email - which of course is what I used to set up my EDD account back in 2020. I've been panicking all day thinking I'd have to start completely over. This thread is absolutely amazing though - I had no idea there was a dedicated tech support line for account recovery issues! I've been banging my head against the wall trying the main EDD number with zero success. The 1-833-978-2511 number is going straight into my contacts. All the timing strategies people have shared are pure gold - calling right at 8 AM on Saturday, having all your old paperwork organized, checking for old text messages with reference numbers. I'm going to spend tonight digging through my files and phone to gather everything before I try calling this weekend. It's honestly insane that something as predictable as companies cutting email access after layoffs creates this whole bureaucratic nightmare. But reading all these success stories gives me real hope that persistence actually pays off. Thank you to everyone who shared what genuinely worked - this community knowledge is way more valuable than anything I could find on the official EDD website!
Alice Coleman
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My employer filed my termination date wrong and it's been such a headache. I've been trying to get through to someone for over a week now. Reading all these responses is really helpful - I didn't realize I needed to gather so much documentation. Going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning with all my paperwork ready. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess! 🤞
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Emma Johnson
•You've got this! I'm dealing with something similar and it's been such a stressful process. One thing I learned from reading through all these comments is to call right when they open and have everything documented. The waiting game is the worst part, but sounds like most people eventually get it sorted out. Fingers crossed for both of us! 🤞
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NebulaNomad
I had to deal with this exact issue about 6 months ago! The process was definitely frustrating but manageable once I figured out the right approach. Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8 AM when they opened and had ALL my documents ready - final paystub, termination notice, and even emails from my supervisor about my last day. The rep was able to see the discrepancy immediately when I explained the situation. The whole call took about an hour including hold time, but they fixed it that same day! One heads up though - they put a temporary hold on my account while they processed the change, so I missed one payment cycle. Definitely have some backup funds ready just in case. Also, get a confirmation number for the change and keep notes about who you talked to. Hope this helps and good luck getting it sorted out! 💪
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Andre Rousseau
•This is exactly the kind of detailed breakdown I was hoping to find! The timeline info is super helpful - knowing that it might take a full hour including hold time helps me plan better. The tip about getting a confirmation number is clutch too, I probably would have forgotten to ask for that. Really appreciate you mentioning the temporary hold situation, that's definitely something I need to prepare for. Did they give you any heads up about how long the hold would last, or did you just have to wait and see?
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