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Just wanted to follow up - it's now Friday. Has your payment status changed? If it's still pending and you need immediate assistance, calling EDD directly is your best option. The technical support line (833-978-2511) often has shorter wait times than the regular line and they can transfer you to a claim specialist if needed. If your payment doesn't process by Monday, it might indicate there's an underlying issue with your claim that needs addressing.
That's awesome news! I'm so glad it worked out for you. This is a perfect example of why it's important for people to know that first payments really do take longer - it would save so much stress if EDD just communicated this clearly upfront. Thanks for updating the thread, it'll definitely help other first-time claimants who find this post when they're in the same situation!
So relieved to hear it worked out! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - certified on Tuesday and it's still pending. This thread has been incredibly helpful in managing my anxiety about it. It's crazy how EDD doesn't explain the first payment timeline anywhere obvious. You'd think they'd want to reduce the number of panic calls they get!
I just wanted to share that I went through this exact same situation about a year ago. My termination paperwork said "business needs" which is just as vague as your "change in relationship" wording. I was also really anxious about the EDD interview, but it ended up being much more straightforward than I expected. The interviewer asked me basic questions like when I started working there, what my job duties were, my last day of work, and why I was separated from employment. When I said it was due to "business needs" as stated on my paperwork and that I wasn't given any specific performance-related reasons, they just made a note of it and moved on. They didn't press me for more details or act suspicious about the vague wording. The whole interview took maybe 15 minutes, and I was approved for benefits about 3 days later. The key is just being honest and consistent - don't try to speculate about what your employer's real reasons might have been, just stick to what you know for sure. One small tip: have your Social Security number, employer's contact info, and employment start/end dates written down in front of you during the call. It helps you sound more prepared and confident when you can quickly reference the exact information they're asking for.
@Sean O'Donnell This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It's really reassuring to know that the interviewer didn't push for more details when you had similarly vague termination wording. I've been overthinking this so much, but your description of a straightforward 15-minute call makes it sound much less intimidating. I'll definitely have all my information written down like you suggested - that's a great tip about sounding more prepared and confident. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this!
I've been through this process twice in different states, and your situation actually sounds pretty ideal from an unemployment perspective. "Change in relationship" is corporate speak for "we're letting you go but it's not your fault" - which is exactly what you want on your paperwork for UI benefits. During my interviews, the EDD representatives were very matter-of-fact. They're not trying to catch you in a lie, they just need to establish the basic facts: were you fired for misconduct (no), did you quit voluntarily (no), are you able and available to work (yes). Your clean performance record and the vague, non-misconduct language on your termination papers check all the right boxes. One thing that really helped me during my interview was writing out a simple timeline beforehand: hire date, job duties, any promotions/raises, last day worked, and the reason given for termination. Having it in front of me made me feel more confident and kept my answers concise and factual. You've got this - try not to stress too much about it. The hard part (losing your job) is already behind you.
@Keisha Williams Thank you so much for this perspective! Writing out a timeline beforehand is such a smart idea - I m'definitely going to do that. You re'right that the vague wording actually works in my favor rather than against me. I keep reminding myself that they terminated me without cause, so there s'really nothing for me to be defensive about. It helps to hear from someone who s'been through this process multiple times that the interviewers are just gathering facts, not trying to trip people up. I really appreciate everyone s'advice here - this community has been amazing!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed about 10 days ago and still waiting. Reading through all these comments is actually making me feel a bit better - at least I know I'm not alone in this. The uncertainty is definitely stressful, especially when you're counting on that money to pay bills. I've been checking my account obsessively but trying to stay patient. Thanks for posting this question OP, it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences!
I'm right there with you! Filed about 2.5 weeks ago and finally got my eligibility determination yesterday - I was approved! The waiting was absolutely nerve-wracking, but it sounds like your timeline is pretty normal. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through the EDD portal so I'd get notified immediately of any updates instead of constantly checking. Also make sure you're certifying every two weeks even without approval - that way when you do get approved, you won't have missed any benefit periods. The backpay comes through pretty quickly once you're in the system. Stay strong, you're almost there! 💪
just wondering hav u looked into if ur kid qualifies for SSI? my friends baby has special needs and gets SSI payments every month. might help with some of the bills even if EDD doesn't work out
Liam Duke
I went through this exact same thing about 3 months ago! My bank (Navy Federal) rejected my EDD deposit because I had recently moved and apparently there was a mismatch between my address on file with EDD and my bank account. It was super stressful because I needed that money for rent. The payment did automatically go to my Money Network card, but it took 6 business days which felt like forever when you're waiting for it. What I learned from calling both EDD and my bank is that you should definitely try to figure out why it was rejected so it doesn't happen again. In my case, I just had to update my address with EDD through UI Online. One thing that helped me while waiting was setting up text alerts on the Money Network card so I got notified the moment the payment hit. You can do this through their mobile app or website. Also, don't panic if it takes the full week - the system works, it's just slow! Once you get this resolved, I'd recommend doing a test with a small direct deposit first (if your bank allows it) to make sure everything works before your next unemployment payment. Good luck!
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Sean O'Connor
•That's really smart advice about doing a test deposit first! I never would have thought of that. I'm in a similar boat right now - my payment was rejected 4 days ago and I'm anxiously checking my Money Network card balance every few hours. Setting up the text alerts is a great tip too, I'm going to do that right now so I don't have to keep obsessively checking. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money! Did you end up sticking with direct deposit after you fixed the address issue, or did you switch to just using the card?
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•I actually went back to direct deposit after fixing the address issue and it's been working fine ever since! Navy Federal processed all my subsequent EDD payments without any problems once the addresses matched up. The test deposit idea came from a friend who works in banking - she said a lot of people don't realize you can often do a small test transfer to verify everything is set up correctly before the important payments come through. For the text alerts, make sure you verify your phone number in the Money Network system first, otherwise the alerts won't work. Hang in there, your payment should hit the card any day now based on the timeline everyone else has shared!
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Omar Hassan
I'm currently dealing with this exact situation right now! My EDD payment was rejected by my bank 2 days ago and I've been really stressed about it. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like this is way more common than I thought. I called my bank (US Bank) and they told me the rejection was due to their "enhanced fraud protection" flagging the EDD deposit as suspicious since I don't usually receive government payments. They said they could remove the flag for future deposits, but the current payment is already on its way back to EDD. Based on what everyone is saying about the 4-7 day timeline, I should see it on my Money Network card in the next few days. I'm definitely going to set up those text alerts that someone mentioned and try to get this bank issue resolved so my next payment goes through smoothly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know this gets resolved automatically even though the wait is nerve-wracking when you need the money!
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