hey OP, did u get ur SDI application submitted? My sister is going thru almost the same thing right now.

Great to hear you got your SDI application submitted! Just wanted to add that you should also start gathering documentation for your future UI claim while you're recovering. Keep records of your layoff date, any severance paperwork, and your doctor's return-to-work clearance. Having everything organized will make the transition from SDI to UI much smoother when you're ready to start job searching again. Hope you feel better soon!

Last year I had a NIGHTMARE scenario where my payments randomly changed from biweekly to these weird split payments where I'd get different amounts on different days. Called EDD and the rep had NO IDEA why it was happening. System is completely broken and nobody there knows how to fix anything!!! When you DO get paid, immediately transfer the money out of that card to your bank account!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this process. I certified for the first time about 3 weeks ago and my payment showed up exactly 48 hours later on my Money Network card. The key thing is to make sure you certify during the certification period (usually opens Sunday morning) and don't wait until the last minute. I set up both email and text notifications through UI Online and the Money Network app, which really helped me track when the payment was processed. The biweekly schedule is definitely correct for California - you certify every two weeks for the previous two-week period. One tip: take screenshots of your certification confirmation page in case you need proof later!

I went through something similar last year and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help. When you call Money Network, try calling early in the morning (around 8 AM) or later in the evening - I found the wait times were much shorter then. Also, if you have any old documentation from when you first received your EDD card (like the letter that came with it), keep that handy during the call as they sometimes ask for reference numbers from those documents. One more thing - once you get your replacement and switch to direct deposit like others suggested, keep in mind there's usually a processing period of 1-2 weeks before direct deposit kicks in, so you'll still need to use the card for your next payment or two. Hope this helps and glad to see you're getting it sorted out!

I just want to say this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's new to the EDD system, I had no idea about so many of these options - direct deposit, cardless ATM withdrawals, calling at specific times for shorter wait times, etc. It's really reassuring to see a community where people actually help each other navigate these bureaucratic nightmares. I'm bookmarking this post in case I ever run into similar issues. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and tips - it's clear that dealing with Money Network and EDD cards is unfortunately a common struggle, but at least we can help each other through it!

Reality check: EDD gets millions of calls but has maybe 500 agents total. The math will never work for everyone to get through manually. At some point you need alternative solutions to actually reach a live person.

I feel your pain so much! I'm in the exact same boat - been trying for weeks with my pending claim and getting nowhere with manual calling. After reading through all these comments, I think I need to seriously consider using one of those auto-dialer services. The math everyone's sharing really shows how broken the manual approach has become. Has anyone had success getting their pending claims resolved once they actually got through to an agent? I'm worried that even if I manage to connect, they still won't be able to fix my issue.

Congrats on getting approved so quickly! That's awesome news. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if your debit card doesn't arrive within the expected timeframe, you can call the Money Network customer service line directly (it's on the EDD website) rather than trying to get through to EDD. They can expedite a replacement card if needed. I had to do this when my card got lost in the mail and it saved me a lot of hassle compared to calling EDD directly.

Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone else going through this! I had my eligibility interview last week and got approved in 6 business days. The interviewer asked pretty standard questions - employment dates, reason for separation, and whether I was actively looking for work. One thing that helped was having my final paystub and layoff letter ready to reference if needed. The waiting period after the interview is definitely nerve-wracking, but try to stay patient. Also, make sure you keep certifying every two weeks even while your claim is pending - those payments will process once you're approved. Good luck to everyone still waiting!