I went through a similar situation last year with an "able and available" overpayment for caregiving. The good news is that temporary family caregiving can qualify for exceptions, especially if you properly disclosed it during certification. When you appeal, emphasize that you were transparent about your situation and had every intention of returning to work once your mom recovered. I also recommend calling your local Assembly member's office - they often have caseworkers who can help expedite EDD issues. Mine helped me get my appeal resolved in 6 weeks instead of months. Document everything and don't let them intimidate you into paying without fighting it first!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I know exactly how overwhelming it feels! I had a similar overpayment notice for $4,200 last year and was terrified. The most important thing is DON'T PANIC and don't ignore it. Since you were caring for your mom and reported it during certification, you actually have a strong case for appeal. The "able and available" requirement has specific exceptions for temporary family caregiving situations. When I appealed mine, I gathered all my certification records showing I was honest about my situation, medical documentation for my family member, and a detailed timeline of events. I also filed for the overpayment waiver (DE 1446W form) at the same time, documenting my financial hardship. The whole process took about 3 months, but I ended up getting 80% of the overpayment waived. During the appeal process, they can't garnish your wages or take collection action, which gives you breathing room. Stay strong - you reported everything honestly and that matters a lot in these cases!

This entire thread should be required reading for anyone starting an EDD claim! I just went through the approval process last month and wish I had found this information earlier. What really stands out to me is how the community here provided clearer, more actionable guidance than any official EDD resource I could find. The key takeaway seems to be: set up direct deposit IMMEDIATELY after approval (within 24-48 hours) and verify it shows as "verified" not "pending" in your UI Online account. The success stories from @Ava Garcia and @Diego Fisher prove the updated system actually works when you get the timing right. For anyone still reading this thread who's waiting for their claim approval - screenshot these timeline details because they're gold!

This thread has been such a game-changer for understanding the EDD payment process! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, I finally had to jump in and say thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences. I'm currently in week 3 of waiting for my claim approval, and reading through all the success stories here - especially from @Ava Garcia, @Diego Fisher, and seeing @Libby Hassan's optimistic setup - has given me so much hope. The timing breakdown everyone provided is incredibly valuable: get direct deposit set up within 24-48 hours of approval, make sure it shows "verified" status, and you have a great chance of getting that first payment deposited directly instead of waiting weeks for cards or checks. This is exactly the kind of practical, community-driven information that makes all the difference when you're stressed about paying bills. Definitely saving this thread as my action plan for when (hopefully!) my approval comes through!

This entire thread is a masterclass in community support! I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue right now - Money Network card declining everywhere for the past 5 days, customer service keeps saying "no restrictions" while I'm sitting here with $2,100 I can't touch. Reading through everyone's solutions, I'm blown away by how helpful you all are. Grace, your detailed follow-up about the "secondary identity verification hold" is pure gold - I never would have known to ask EDD about that specific issue. I'm definitely trying the Claimyr service tomorrow morning and will use those magic phrases about "identity verification status" and "backend security flags" that everyone mentioned. It's absolutely criminal that we have to become system experts just to access our own benefits, but thank you all for sharing your hard-fought knowledge. This thread should be pinned at the top of the community - it's going to save so many people from weeks of frustration!

Wow, this thread is incredibly detailed and helpful! I'm currently experiencing the exact same issue - my Money Network card has been declining for the past week even though my balance shows over $1,400. After reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that this "secondary identity verification hold" problem is way more widespread than it should be. I had no idea that Money Network reps literally can't see EDD-side security flags, which explains why I kept getting the "no restrictions on your account" runaround. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service to get through to EDD and use those specific phrases about "identity verification status" and "backend security flags" that multiple people mentioned. Grace, thank you so much for following up with your solution - without this thread I would have wasted weeks calling Money Network over and over. It's ridiculous that we have to become technical experts on their broken systems just to access our own benefits, but this community knowledge is absolutely invaluable. I'll report back once I try these methods!

I'm new here but had to chime in because I went through something very similar! EDD sent me an overpayment notice 7 months after my benefits ended - turned out my employer had contested my claim months after I'd already been approved and receiving benefits. The whole process was incredibly stressful, especially since I'd already moved on and was working again. What really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - every phone call, every piece of mail, every document I submitted. I also learned that EDD has specific timelines they have to follow for processing appeals, so don't let them drag their feet if you don't hear back within reasonable timeframes. Your roommate is lucky to have you helping her through this - having someone to organize paperwork and research the process makes a huge difference when you're already stressed about money.

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful for your roommate's situation. When EDD sends overpayment notices this late, it's often because they're conducting what's called a "cross-match" review where they compare employer records with benefit claims. Since her former employer is now claiming misconduct instead of layoff, this sounds like a classic case where the employer initially didn't contest the claim (maybe they were disorganized or understaffed) and then later decided to challenge it, possibly to reduce their unemployment insurance taxes. The good news is that if she has that layoff letter mentioning department restructuring, she's in a strong position. I'd also suggest she request her complete claim file from EDD - sometimes there are notes or communications in there that can help her case. You can request this by calling or writing to EDD, and it's free. Having the full picture of what was originally reported vs. what the employer is now claiming can really help strengthen her appeal.

Another tip for anyone dealing with utility shutoffs - most utility companies are required to offer payment plans even if you don't qualify for assistance programs. I was behind on my gas bill by $600 and PG&E let me set up a 6-month payment plan with no down payment required. They can't shut you off while you're on an active payment plan as long as you keep up with the monthly amount. Just call their customer service and ask about payment arrangements. It bought me time to get my EDD verification sorted out and apply for the discount programs.

For anyone still struggling with this - I just went through the same process last month. The EDD Verification of Benefits letter from UI Online worked perfectly for my SDG&E CARE application. One thing I learned is that if you're also applying for other assistance programs (like food stamps or rental assistance), you can use the same letter for multiple applications. Just make sure to save/download multiple copies since some programs want you to upload it to their portal while others want you to email or mail it. Also, if your weekly benefit amount changed recently due to a new job or reduced hours, double-check that the letter shows your current benefit amount - mine was showing an old amount from before my hours got cut and I had to wait a few days for it to update in the system.