I've been using Money Network for my EDD payments for about 4 months now and can confirm everything everyone's said here. The 2-3 business day transfer time to Chase is pretty much guaranteed in my experience - I've never had it take longer than 3 days. One thing I'd add that might help with your timing stress: Money Network actually sends you email notifications when your transfer status changes. So you'll get an email when it goes from "pending" to "processing" and another when it's "completed" and the funds are on their way to Chase. It's really helpful for tracking progress without having to constantly check the app. Also, since this is your first time doing this, just a heads up that Chase might put a brief hold on the incoming transfer (like 24 hours max) if it's a larger amount, but that's pretty rare and usually only for amounts over $1,000. Your first EDD payment probably won't trigger that. The ATM backup plan is definitely the way to go for peace of mind. I always tell people to think of the $3-6 in fees as "stress insurance" - totally worth it when rent is on the line! Sounds like you've got a solid plan figured out. The Money Network system is actually pretty reliable once you get used to it, way better than the old Bank of America setup they used to have.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been dealing with Money Network transfers for a while now! Everyone's given you great advice here - the 2-3 business day timeline is definitely accurate in my experience. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that if you're really stressed about the timing, you can also check with your landlord about paying rent with a money order. You can get a money order at most grocery stores or post offices using cash from your ATM withdrawal, and many landlords accept them just like checks. It might be faster than waiting for the electronic transfer if you're cutting it really close! Also, pro tip for future payments - I always initiate my Money Network transfer the same day I get the payment notification email. That way I never have to worry about timing again. The automatic transfer feature others mentioned is also a lifesaver once you get it set up. You're handling this really well for your first time navigating the system. The combination of electronic transfer + ATM backup is exactly what I'd recommend. Good luck with everything!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through as someone in the exact same situation! I just graduated last Friday and my campus job at the student success center ended because it was restricted to enrolled students only. Reading through all these detailed experiences and success stories has completely changed my perspective from "I probably won't qualify" to "I need to apply ASAP." My situation mirrors so many others here: worked there for 1.5 years, about 15-20 hours during school and 25-30 during breaks, roughly 65% university-funded and 35% work-study. I have CA SDI deductions on all my pay stubs and my termination letter says "position ended due to completion of academic program" - which based on everyone's advice seems like perfect language. The consistency of advice throughout this thread is so helpful: - Frame it as "position ended" not "had to leave because graduated" - Emphasize you're actively seeking immediate employment - Apply even if unsure about eligibility - worst case is denial - Keep detailed job search records - Continue certifying even during appeals if needed Special thanks to @Emma Wilson, @Noah Lee, @Alejandro Castro and others who shared their successful outcomes - hearing that people with similar situations actually got approved (even if just for the university-funded portion) makes this feel achievable rather than hopeless. Planning to apply online tomorrow morning and will definitely update this thread with my experience. This community support has been amazing and I hope my results can help other graduating students too!

I'm currently in this exact situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just graduated this past weekend and my campus job at the tutoring center ended because it was only available to enrolled students. I've been so anxious about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits, but reading through everyone's experiences - especially the success stories from Emma, Noah, Alejandro, and others - has given me the confidence to actually apply. My situation: worked there for 2 years, about 18-20 hours during school terms and 35+ hours during breaks. About 70% university-funded and 30% work-study. I have CA SDI deductions on all my pay stubs and my separation notice says "employment terminated upon degree completion" - which sounds like the kind of language that has worked well for others here. The consistent advice throughout this thread about framing it as an involuntary separation ("position ended") rather than a voluntary quit ("had to leave because I graduated") seems crucial. I'm also documenting all my job search activities and am genuinely available for immediate full-time work while I look for positions in my field. Planning to apply online this week. Even if I get initially denied, the appeal success stories here show it's definitely worth pursuing. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should honestly be a pinned resource for graduating students navigating this process! I'll update with my results to hopefully help others in similar situations.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly valuable! Just got my letter yesterday about losing Medi-Cal due to unemployment putting me over the income threshold. Reading everyone's experiences has transformed my panic into actual hope. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed advice about Enhanced Silver plans and the tip about getting 90-day prescription refills while Medi-Cal is still active. I had no idea there were subsidized options specifically designed for people in our income bracket - the $28-67/month premiums people mentioned are so much more manageable than I expected. Planning to start my application online tonight and call first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM. It's amazing how much less overwhelming this feels when you understand the actual process and timeline. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you're literally helping people navigate one of the most stressful situations unemployment can throw at you!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and this thread has been such a lifesaver! Just got my Covered California letter on Tuesday saying my unemployment benefits put me over the Medi-Cal income limit. Reading everyone's success stories with the Enhanced Silver plans has completely changed my perspective - I went from total panic to actually feeling optimistic about finding affordable coverage. The fact that so many people ended up with monthly premiums under $50 and low copays is incredible. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about starting my application online tonight and calling at 8 AM sharp tomorrow. The tip about having my EDD payment documentation ready is so helpful - I would have been scrambling to find that during the call. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with how the Silver plans compare to Medi-Cal for things like urgent care visits or emergency room coverage? I tend to get respiratory infections that sometimes need urgent care, and I want to make sure I understand what my out-of-pocket costs might look like. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping people navigate these confusing transitions!

This is absolutely incredible news and honestly the first time I've seen someone actually get compensated for BOA's ridiculous delays! I've been following this community for a while now and it's usually just horror story after horror story, so reading about your success literally made my day. I'm currently 6 months into fighting BOA over $1,150 in fraudulent charges on my EDD card. They initially denied my claim saying the PIN was used (even though I never gave it to anyone), but I appealed and now I'm stuck in the endless "under investigation" loop that everyone here knows so well. What really gives me hope is that you didn't even have to file CFPB complaints or escalate aggressively - they eventually came through on their own. The 50% compensation is amazing and makes me wonder if they're finally feeling enough legal pressure to start doing the right thing proactively. Reading through all the advice in these comments about Regulation E and CFPB complaints has been so educational. I had no idea these protections existed! I've clearly been too passive in my approach, just calling monthly to "check status" and accepting their vague responses. Your story is giving me the motivation to keep fighting instead of just accepting the loss. I'm definitely filing a CFPB complaint this week and being more persistent with my follow-ups. Thank you so much for sharing this victory - this community desperately needs more success stories like yours to keep people from giving up entirely! 🙌

This is absolutely amazing and gives me so much hope! I've been dealing with EDD debit card fraud for 3 months now - had $967 stolen from my card in December 2024. BOA initially told me the transactions were "authorized" even though they happened at ATMs I've never used in cities 200+ miles away from where I live. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about CFPB complaints or Regulation E protections! The fact that you received 50% compensation for the delay is absolutely mind-blowing. I genuinely didn't think BOA was capable of doing anything that reasonable. What really gives me hope is that you didn't have to wage some massive legal battle to get results. Your persistence over 2+ years finally paid off, and that 50% compensation suggests they might finally be acknowledging how badly they've been handling these cases. I'm definitely going to be more proactive based on all the advice I've read here. Filing a CFPB complaint this week and demanding specific timelines instead of accepting vague "under investigation" responses. Your success story proves that justice is actually possible even when it seems hopeless. Thank you so much for sharing this victory - after reading months of horror stories in this community, it's incredible to finally see that persistence can actually pay off! This gives all of us the motivation to keep fighting for what's rightfully ours. 🙏

I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my extension approval and wanted to share a few things I learned that might help others. First, I discovered that the EDD website actually has a "case status" page that's separate from your main account dashboard - you can find it under "Contact EDD" then "Check Status." It gives more detailed info about where your application stands. Also, I started keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking all my interactions (dates, reference numbers, etc.) which has been super helpful. One more tip - if you have to upload documents, make sure they're under 5MB and in PDF format, otherwise they might not go through properly. The waiting is definitely stressful but reading everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring. Hang in there everyone - we've got this! 💪

I'm also going through the extension process right now and this whole thread has been incredibly valuable! One thing I wanted to add that helped me - if you're having trouble accessing your account or the site keeps timing out, try logging in during off-peak hours like early morning (6-7 AM) or late evening (after 9 PM). The system seems way less glitchy then. Also, I've found it helpful to have a dedicated folder on my computer with all my EDD documents so I can quickly access anything they might ask for. The process is definitely stressful but seeing all these success stories and practical tips gives me so much hope. Thanks Lucas for starting this discussion - it's exactly what so many of us needed! Wishing everyone patience and quick approvals! 🙏