I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my first unemployment claim about 10 days ago and certified this past Sunday. My payment has been stuck on pending for 3 days now and I was starting to get really worried, especially since I've never been on unemployment before and didn't know what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like the 7-10 business day wait for first payments is completely normal due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. I had no idea they had to verify identity, check with employers, and do all these additional reviews for the initial payment. It's frustrating when you're already stressed about finances, but at least now I know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Going to try to be patient and wait the full 10 business days before panicking. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it really helps to know what's normal!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Just submitted my first certification 4 days ago and my payment is still pending. I've been checking the portal obsessively which is probably making my anxiety worse. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea that first payments take so much longer due to all the verification steps EDD has to do. It makes total sense that they need to verify identity, check with previous employers, and review everything before releasing that initial payment. The 7-10 business day timeline that everyone mentions gives me hope that mine should come through soon. It's definitely nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about finances, but knowing this is completely normal helps a lot. Thanks for posting this question - I was wondering the same thing and was starting to panic!

I had this exact problem in 2024!! They ended up taking 25% of each payment but I called (took FOREVER to get through) and explained my situation with rent and kids and stuff and they reduced it to 15% for 6 months. So it's worth trying to negotiate but prepare for hell getting through to someone who can actually help. Make sure you have all your financial documents ready to prove hardship when you call.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your overpayment has any appeal rights still available. Sometimes people don't realize they can still challenge the original overpayment determination even if it's old. I had a friend who successfully appealed a 2022 overpayment in 2024 and got it reduced significantly. The appeal process is separate from the waiver process, so it's worth looking into both options. You can find appeal forms on the EDD website under the "Forms" section. Even if the deadline has passed, you might be able to file for "good cause" to extend the appeal period if you have a valid reason for the delay.

Based on everything shared here, I'd recommend you: 1. Apply for the DE 1446W waiver or reduction right away - don't wait for them to start collecting 2. Be prepared for some amount of offset (25% for non-fraud is typical) 3. Contact your local EDD office directly if possible - sometimes in-person visits can get faster results than phone calls 4. Look into local rental assistance programs as a backup plan for your upcoming rent The good news is that they can't take 100% of your benefits unless it was a fraud determination, so you will receive at least some money while this gets sorted out.

I went through something similar last year and want to share what I learned. The offset usually starts with your second or third payment, not the first one, so you might get one full payment before they start taking the deduction. Also, if you're really struggling financially, you can ask for a temporary suspension of collections for up to 60 days while you get back on your feet. You'll need to provide proof of financial hardship (like eviction notice, past due utility bills, etc.) but it can give you some breathing room. The key is to be proactive and contact them BEFORE they start taking money out, not after. Good luck!

Just to update on my experience - after switching from the Money Network card to paper checks last year, it took about 10 business days for the change to take effect. The EDD rep told me any payments issued during that processing period would still go to the card. So if you do end up with a card temporarily, just know it might take a week or two before the checks start coming.

Hey Javier, I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! I also specifically requested paper checks on my initial application but was worried they'd send the card anyway. Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (seemed to have better luck mid-week) and got through after about 45 minutes of waiting. The key was asking them to check if a "payment instrument" had been issued yet - that's their internal term for the Money Network card. In my case, they caught it just in time and were able to confirm my paper check preference was active. The rep also gave me a confirmation number for the payment method change, which I wrote down just in case. My first check arrived about 7-10 business days after my payment showed as "paid" in UI Online. Good luck - definitely call ASAP since timing is everything with this!

This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're going through this! The fact that Money Network initially told you they "can't reverse the transaction" is complete BS - they absolutely can and are required to investigate under federal banking regulations. I went through something similar last year (though not as much money) and had to really push back hard on their customer service reps who kept giving me the runaround. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every single phone call - date, time, rep name, reference numbers, and exactly what they told me. When I escalated to a supervisor and showed them the inconsistencies in what different reps had told me, they suddenly became much more cooperative. Also, if you haven't already, send them a written dispute letter via certified mail in addition to calling. Sometimes the written paper trail gets routed to a different department that's more responsive than the phone reps. Make sure to include phrases like "unauthorized electronic fund transfer" and reference Regulation E - that usually gets their attention. Really hoping you get this resolved quickly, especially with rent due. This kind of fraud is becoming way too common and it's unacceptable that legitimate claimants have to fight so hard to get their own money back.

This is absolutely terrifying! I've been on EDD for about 6 months now and always assumed the Money Network card was safe since it's the "official" method. Reading your story and all these comments has me checking my account obsessively now. I had no idea that fraudsters could somehow bypass the UI Online system and make changes directly through Money Network - that seems like a massive security flaw! The fact that your UI Online still shows the correct payment method but Money Network sent your funds elsewhere is so concerning. Thank you for sharing this even though you're going through such a stressful situation. I'm definitely going to enable all those email notifications and change my passwords tonight. Also bookmarking that EDD fraud number (1-800-229-6297) just in case. Really hope you get your $1,200 back before rent is due. Keep us updated on how the investigation goes - it sounds like you're doing everything right by being so persistent and documenting everything. This community has given you some amazing advice and it's clear you're not alone in dealing with this type of fraud.