I've started calling from work during my lunch break but can only try for 30 minutes. Never enough time to actually get through. Might need to take a personal day just for EDD calls.

Bottom line: if you're going to call manually, block out an entire day, have your phone charger ready, and prepare to be frustrated. Or save yourself the headache and pay someone else to deal with it.

UPDATE: I just checked my UI Online account and my status changed to "paid"! They must have processed it faster than the 7-10 days they quoted. So relieved! Now just waiting for that Money Network card to arrive. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Congrats on getting approved! That's such a relief when you see that status change to "paid." For anyone else still waiting - I had a similar experience where they quoted 7-10 days but it actually took 12 business days. The key thing I learned is that weekends and holidays don't count as "business days" so make sure you're calculating correctly. Also, once your status changes to "paid," the Money Network card usually arrives within 5-7 business days via regular mail. If you're in a rush, you can call Money Network directly to see if they offer expedited shipping for a fee.

Congratulations on getting your interview done and claim approved! This is such a perfect example of why it's important not to panic when EDD runs behind schedule. I went through this same situation last year - they called me 3 hours late and I was convinced my claim was going to be denied. It's frustrating that they don't give any updates during the waiting period, but at least now other people reading this thread will know that late calls are totally normal. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

So glad to see this thread with a happy ending! I've been following along because I have my interview scheduled for next week and was already getting anxious about it. Reading everyone's experiences - especially how both Savanna and Juan got their calls hours late but everything worked out - really helps calm my nerves. It's good to know that EDD running behind schedule is normal and doesn't mean your claim will be denied. I'll definitely keep my phone charged and close by for the entire day (and maybe the next day too based on what others shared). Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating the EDD process!

When my husband got laid off last month, his card came EXACTLY 12 business days after approval. Not 11, not 13. I think they have some kind of policy where they won't even consider it "late" until after 12 business days. Such a stupid system when people are desperate for their benefits! Why can't they just email us a temporary virtual card or something while we wait for the physical one??

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now - approved 10 days ago and still checking my mailbox obsessively every day! Reading through these comments gives me hope that it's normal but also frustrating that this is such a common issue. The fact that we have to rely on third-party services just to get basic help from our own state agency is honestly ridiculous. I'm going to try that Claimyr service mentioned above since I've had zero luck getting through on the regular lines. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we're not alone in this mess!

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. I started a "data entry" job that turned out to require advanced Excel macros and SQL queries - skills nowhere in the original job posting. After 4 days of being completely overwhelmed, I had the conversation with my manager about the skill mismatch. She basically said "figure it out or find another job." I documented that conversation and quit the next day. When I certified, I reported my hours worked honestly and selected "quit" as the reason. My payments went to pending immediately, and I got scheduled for an eligibility interview about 3 weeks later. The EDD representative was actually pretty understanding when I explained that the job required technical skills I don't have and that weren't mentioned in the hiring process. I provided the original job posting and my notes from the conversation with my manager. They ruled that I had good cause to quit due to substantial differences between the advertised position and actual job duties. All my pending payments were released, and I continued receiving benefits while job searching. The key was being completely honest about everything and having documentation. Your situation sounds like it has even stronger documentation potential with the anxiety/health impact. Just make sure to have that conversation with your supervisor first - EDD definitely asks if you tried to resolve the situation before quitting.

I understand you're in a really stressful situation, and it's clear you're trying to handle this responsibly. Based on what you've described, you may have a strong case for "good cause" to quit if the job duties are substantially different from what was presented during hiring. Here's what I'd suggest: First, definitely resolve that held week issue - call EDD first thing tomorrow to understand why it's pending. Sometimes it's just a routine verification that's easily resolved. Second, document everything about the skill mismatch. If you can find the original job posting online, screenshot it. Write down specific examples of tasks they're expecting you to do that weren't mentioned in the interview. Most importantly, have that conversation with your supervisor about the mismatch between your skills and their expectations. Ask if training is available or if there's a better role fit. Even if they say no, this shows EDD you tried to resolve the situation before quitting. Send a follow-up email afterward summarizing what was discussed to create a paper trail. When you do certify, be completely honest about your work hours and reason for leaving. Yes, your payments will likely go to pending during the eligibility review, but if you have good documentation and legitimate reasons, EDD does approve these cases. The anxiety and health impact you're experiencing can also support your case, especially with doctor's documentation. You've got 25+ years of work history and have rarely needed unemployment - that works in your favor. Stay calm, document everything, and follow the proper steps. You've got this!