I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My dad's benefits are also running out soon and we just mailed his DE2525XX form last week. Reading about the 4-6 week processing times is really stressing me out, especially with all the bills coming due. One thing I wanted to ask - has anyone had success with faxing the extension form instead of mailing it? I found an EDD fax number online but I'm not sure if they accept the DE2525XX form that way. It seems like it might be faster than mail but I don't want to mess up the process by using the wrong submission method. Also, for those who've gotten through to EDD by phone - what's the best time of day to call? I've been trying in the afternoons but maybe mornings are better? The idea of spending hours on hold is daunting but getting confirmation they received the form would give us so much peace of mind. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's really helping those of us just starting this nerve-wracking process!

I'm going through this exact same situation with my mom! We submitted her DE2525XX extension form by mail about 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. Reading through all these responses is both terrifying and helpful - I had no idea the mail processing could take 6+ weeks. One thing I learned when I finally got through to EDD last week (after calling for 2 hours straight) is that they're currently processing extension forms in the order they were physically received at their processing center, not necessarily when they were mailed. So even though we mailed ours 3 weeks ago, it might have sat in their mailroom for days before actually entering the processing queue. The rep I spoke with also mentioned that they're seeing a huge surge in extension requests right now, which is contributing to the delays. She couldn't give me a specific timeline but confirmed they received mom's form and said to keep certifying every two weeks no matter what. For anyone still waiting like us - hang in there. The uncertainty is brutal but it sounds like most people do eventually get approved. Just make sure to keep detailed records of when you submitted everything in case you need to reference it later!

Am I the only one who thinks it's RIDICULOUS that we even need third-party services just to reach a government agency that WE PAY FOR with our taxes?!! The whole system is broken by design. I've had nothing but problems with EDD since day one. Their website has more bugs than a roach motel. Sorry for the rant but this kind of stuff makes my blood boil.

UPDATE: Solution found! I tried the browser switching trick and it didn't work, BUT entering "N/A" in all the military fields as someone suggested above DID work! I was able to complete my application and got confirmation that it was submitted successfully. Thanks everyone for your help! To anyone else having this issue, try the N/A trick!

I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago! Got my first payment as a paper check even though the interviewer told me it would be on a card. I was panicking thinking something went wrong with my claim, but it turns out this is totally normal. The Money Network card arrived about 8 days later in a plain white envelope (almost threw it away thinking it was junk mail!). Once I activated the card, all my subsequent payments went straight to it. Definitely cash that check - it's real money and you've earned it. The system is just designed this way to get you paid faster while they process the card.

I'm a new claimant and this thread is so reassuring! I just finished my eligibility interview yesterday and the rep told me the same thing about getting a Money Network card, so I was expecting that in the mail. Now I know to look for both a check first and then the card separately. It's really helpful to see so many people confirming this is the normal process. One quick question - when you all got your checks, did they come in a regular EDD envelope or was it in some special packaging? Just want to make sure I don't miss it when it arrives!

Hey there! I just went through this whole ordeal a couple months back when my company "restructured" (aka fired half of us). The stress is totally understandable, but honestly the online filing is WAY easier than dealing with their phone system. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you're filling out the online application, take screenshots of each page as you go! I had a browser crash halfway through my application and had to start over because I didn't save my progress. Super frustrating. Also, make sure you're filing in the right week. You want to file your claim during the week you actually became unemployed, not before. I made that mistake initially and it caused some confusion with my claim dates. The whole process took me about 30 minutes online once I had all my info together. Much better than the horror stories I was hearing about people spending entire days trying to get through on the phone. You'll get through this - unemployment benefits are there for exactly this kind of situation!

I feel for you - getting laid off is stressful enough without having to navigate the EDD maze! I went through this exact situation about a year ago. Here's my experience: The online filing is definitely your best bet. I spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone (literally redailing hundreds of times) before I just gave up and did it online. Took me maybe 45 minutes total once I sat down with all my paperwork. Pro tip: Have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. They'll ask for it during the application and it's way faster than waiting for the debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, don't panic if they ask you to verify your identity later - that's super common now. They'll send you instructions by mail if needed. The whole "we're processing your claim" phase feels like forever but they're usually pretty good about the timeline they give you. One more thing - start doing your weekly certifications immediately once your claim is approved, even if you're actively job hunting. You have to certify that you're looking for work to keep getting benefits. Set a phone reminder because it's easy to forget when you're stressed about everything else. Hang in there! The first few weeks are the worst part, but it does get easier once everything is set up.

This thread is so helpful! I literally just experienced this exact same thing yesterday - logged in expecting my normal bi-weekly certification and saw the weekly prompt instead. My immediate thought was "oh no, they're cutting me off!" even though I still have over $6,000 left on my claim and have only been collecting since late January. Reading everyone's experiences here is such a relief. It sounds like this is just one of those random EDD system adjustments that happens periodically, probably related to holidays or system maintenance. The fact that multiple people have gone through this and it resolved itself within a few weeks is really reassuring. I agree with everyone saying EDD really needs to communicate these changes better. A simple notification explaining it's temporary would prevent so much unnecessary stress and panic. For those of us new to the unemployment system, every little change feels like a potential disaster! Thanks to the original poster for asking this question and to everyone who shared their experiences. I'll just keep certifying weekly until it switches back and try not to overthink it. At least the weekly payments might help with budgeting in the short term!

I just went through this exact same thing about a month ago! Woke up to see weekly certification instead of my usual bi-weekly and immediately thought "this is it, my benefits are done for." But after going through 4 weeks of weekly certifications, it automatically switched back to bi-weekly without any issues. What I learned from the experience: - The weekly amount was exactly half of my normal bi-weekly payment - I actually got my money faster since I was certifying more frequently - My claim balance decreased at the same rate as before, just in smaller weekly chunks - No impact whatsoever on my total benefit duration or remaining weeks The most frustrating part is that EDD gives zero explanation when this happens. I spent hours on forums like this one trying to figure out if I was about to lose my benefits! With $8,400 still on your claim, you're definitely not anywhere close to exhausting your 26 weeks. This is just their system doing its weird EDD thing. Just keep certifying weekly as prompted and don't stress about it - it'll go back to normal on its own. And honestly, the weekly payments weren't terrible for budgeting!