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Just wanted to add my recent experience to this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation - had an old EDD card from early 2021 that I thought might still work when I got approved for a new claim in late 2024. The good news: if your card hasn't expired, they'll absolutely use it! Mine worked perfectly and I saw my first payment within 24 hours of certifying, which was way faster than I remembered from 2021. The not-so-good news: like others mentioned, you'll probably need to reset your automatic transfer settings. Mine were completely gone after the long gap. But honestly, setting them back up in the Money Network app took maybe 5 minutes tops. One thing I wish someone had told me - even if your transfer settings need to be reset, you can still access your money immediately through ATMs or by using the card for purchases. I was stressed about rent too, but I just used the card directly at my bank's ATM to get cash. No fees and no waiting around for transfers to process. Also definitely call the number on your card first to make sure it's active - that tip from others here is gold. My card was valid but needed to be reactivated after sitting unused for so long. Quick 5-minute call saved me days of worry!
This is so helpful to read everyone's recent experiences! I'm feeling much more confident now that multiple people have confirmed their old cards worked. The tip about calling to reactivate is definitely something I'm going to do first thing. It's also reassuring to know that even if I need to reset transfer settings, I can still access the money right away through ATMs or purchases. Thanks for sharing such detailed info - this whole thread has been a lifesaver for easing my stress about the timing with bills coming up!
Just wanted to jump in here since I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! My EDD card from 2021 was still good (expires 2027) and they definitely used the same one for my new claim. The Money Network system has gotten SO much better since 2021 - payments now show up within 1-2 days instead of the 3-5 days it used to take. My auto-transfer settings were still there and working, which surprised me since I'd heard mixed reports about that. One thing that might help with your rent timing - if you're really worried about access to funds, you can always do a quick balance transfer to a friend or family member through the Money Network app (if they also have a Money Network card) or use Zelle/Venmo once the money hits your card. That way you're not dependent on ACH transfers to your bank if timing is tight. Sounds like you're in good shape though if your card is still valid and you can log into the account! The whole process is much smoother now than it was during the pandemic chaos.
That's really encouraging to hear that your auto-transfer settings were still working after such a long gap! I was preparing myself to have to set everything up again based on other comments, so that gives me some hope mine might still be active too. The Zelle/Venmo backup plan is brilliant - I hadn't thought about using those as intermediary options if the direct transfer takes too long. Thanks for sharing that the whole system is more streamlined now, it definitely sounds like they've made some real improvements since the pandemic days!
Thanks for sharing this! I was able to get through this morning using the 8:01 AM trick you suggested. They rescheduled my interview for next week and added a note to my file about the notification issue. The rep also recommended I opt into text notifications once the new system is implemented. Appreciate everyone's help here!
That's amazing news that you got through and resolved it! For anyone else dealing with this same issue, I'd also recommend keeping screenshots of your UI Online account showing no interview notifications and saving any confirmation emails you get about the rescheduled interview. EDD's system has been known to have recurring glitches, so having that documentation could save you time if this happens again. Really glad this community was able to help you navigate such a frustrating situation!
This is such great advice! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and just reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful. @b10ddae3f4e8 so glad you got it resolved! I'm going to try the 8:01 AM calling strategy tomorrow and definitely plan to take screenshots of everything. It's frustrating that we have to become detectives just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but at least this community shares the real solutions that actually work. Thank you everyone for the detailed tips!
Just a quick update for everyone - I checked the EDD website and they've posted a notice saying that payments will be processed as normal but banking transfers will be delayed by one business day due to the federal holiday. So if you normally get paid Monday, expect Tuesday. If you normally get Tuesday, expect Wednesday, etc. You can always check your UI Online account to see if the payment shows as "paid" which means it's been approved and is just waiting for the bank transfer.
I've been through this situation multiple times and here's what I've learned: MLK Day is a federal holiday so banking systems are closed, which means any EDD payments that would normally deposit on Monday will be delayed until Tuesday. The good news is that EDD still processes your certification on Sunday night as usual - it's just the actual money transfer that gets pushed back a day. I always plan for this during holiday weeks and let my landlord know ahead of time. Better to give them a heads up than deal with late fees!
This is such helpful advice! I'm new to dealing with EDD and holiday schedules, so I really appreciate you sharing your experience. The tip about giving landlords a heads up is smart - I'd rather be proactive than deal with late fees too. It's good to know that the certification still processes normally on Sunday, that takes away some of the worry about whether everything is working properly on EDD's end.
I've been dealing with EDD for about 8 months now and holiday delays are definitely one of those things you learn to expect. For future reference, here's a quick list of federal holidays that will delay your payments: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I keep these dates in my calendar now so I can plan my budget accordingly. Also, if you ever need to contact EDD about payment issues, calling right when they open (8 AM) usually gives you the best chance of getting through without waiting hours.
This is super helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to save this list of federal holidays. As someone new to unemployment benefits, I had no idea how many holidays could affect payments throughout the year. The 8 AM call tip is great too - I'll remember that if I ever need to reach them directly.
Andre Moreau
I reapplied last week and got approved in 3 days! Maybe they've finally fixed the backlog? 🤞
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Zoe Christodoulou
•Lucky you! I've been stuck on pending for weeks. Guess I struck out this time 😅
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Olivia Evans
Just wanted to add that if you're reapplying after your benefit year ended, make sure you check if you have any remaining balance from your previous claim first. Sometimes you can just reopen your existing claim instead of filing a brand new one, which is usually faster. I learned this the hard way after waiting weeks for a new claim when I could have just reopened! Also, keep copies of everything you submit - I mean EVERYTHING. Screenshots, confirmation emails, the works. The system can be glitchy and you'll want proof if something goes wrong.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•This is such valuable advice! I wish I had known about the difference between reopening vs filing new. Question - how do you check if you have a remaining balance from a previous claim? Is that something you can see in your online account?
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