I'm so sorry this happened to you! I went through something similar a few months ago - had $950 stolen from my EDD card. Here's what I learned that might help speed things up: 1. When you call Money Network, ask to speak to their "Fraud Resolution Department" specifically - don't just talk to regular customer service 2. Get reference numbers for EVERYTHING - every phone call, every form you submit 3. Follow up every 3-4 days with both Money Network and EDD - the squeaky wheel gets the grease 4. If you have any documentation of your financial hardship (rent due, etc.), mention that repeatedly Also, while you're waiting for resolution, see if your local food banks or community assistance programs can help with immediate needs. Many have emergency assistance for situations exactly like this. You shouldn't have to choose between rent and food while they sort this out. Hang in there - it's incredibly stressful but you WILL get your money back. The system is just painfully slow.

I'm dealing with EDD card fraud too and wanted to share something that helped me - if you're having trouble getting through to EDD by phone, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open. I set multiple alarms and called exactly at 8 and got through on my third try. Also, when you do get someone on the line, immediately ask them to put a "priority flag" on your case due to financial hardship. They can do this and it supposedly moves you up in the queue for resolution. Another thing - keep calling Money Network every few days for updates. I noticed they moved faster on my case when I was consistently following up. And definitely ask for supervisor if the regular rep can't give you a timeline. Don't let them brush you off with "we'll call you back" - they never do. Sending you good vibes that this gets resolved quickly! The whole system is broken but you will get your money back eventually.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been stuck for 6 days and it's so frustrating. I tried the password reset option multiple times but never get any emails. My question is - for those who got it resolved, did you lose your place in line for benefits or did EDD backdate everything to when you first applied? I'm worried that all this time waiting is going to mess up my claim dates and I'll lose weeks of benefits.

I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Been trying for 4 days straight with no luck. The most frustrating part is that you know your account exists somewhere in their system but you just can't access it. I tried creating a completely new email address like someone suggested but then got scared it might create duplicate claims or something. Has anyone had issues with EDD flagging multiple registration attempts? I'm terrified of making things worse by trying too many different approaches. Really hoping the technical support number mentioned by the claims specialist works - going to try calling first thing Monday morning!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Got my "payment issued" text 8 days ago and still waiting for the card. Reading through all these comments is super reassuring that this is totally normal. One thing I learned from calling EDD yesterday (after waiting 2 hours on hold) is that they've had some delays with Money Network card deliveries in March due to higher than usual volume of new claims. The agent said to expect up to 15 business days for first-time cards right now instead of the usual 7-10 days. Also, if anyone is wondering - you CAN check if your card has been mailed by calling Money Network at 866-320-8699 and following the prompts for "card status." You'll need your SSN and the phone number on your EDD account. They can tell you if it's been sent and give you a general timeframe for delivery. Hang in there @Nora Bennett - yours should definitely arrive soon!

I'm in a similar boat! Got my "payment issued" text 11 days ago and still no card. This thread is so helpful - I had no idea about the Money Network vs EDD separation or that the card comes in a plain envelope from Ohio. I've been checking my mailbox obsessively thinking I missed something! Quick question for those who've been through this - when the card finally arrives, how long does activation take? Can you access the money right away or is there another waiting period? My rent is due soon and I'm getting anxious about the timing. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences, it's really reassuring to know this delay is normal even though EDD doesn't explain it well at all.

Yes, in that specific situation - with his benefit year ending only 3 weeks after his job ends - it might be more advantageous to wait and file a new claim instead of reopening the old one. Here's why: 1. With only 3 weeks left on his old claim, he'd have to file a new claim very soon anyway 2. If his earnings were higher during this construction job, a new claim would likely give him a higher weekly benefit amount 3. Filing a new claim would give him a fresh 12-month benefit year However, there is a trade-off: waiting those extra 3 weeks means no benefits during that period. He needs to decide if potentially getting a higher weekly benefit amount for a full year is worth missing 3 weeks of payments now. One strategy could be to reopen his current claim for those 3 weeks, then immediately file a new claim when the benefit year ends. This way he doesn't miss any payments, though it does mean dealing with EDD twice in a short period.

Just wanted to add a quick tip based on my own experience - when your boyfriend reopens his claim, make sure he has his Social Security card and ID ready. Sometimes the system will ask him to verify his identity again, especially if it's been several months since he last certified. Also, if he changed his address or phone number while working, he should update that information in his profile BEFORE starting the reopening process. It can cause delays if there's conflicting contact info. Good luck to both of you!

Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I had this same issue a few months ago - if you're still having trouble after the 24-hour wait period, try using an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes your regular browser holds onto cached login data that can interfere with the unlock process. Also, make sure you're going directly to edd.ca.gov and not clicking on any saved bookmarks or links from emails, as those sometimes redirect to older versions of the login page that don't work properly. The EDD system is definitely frustrating but these little tricks can save you hours of headaches!

I had this same exact problem a couple weeks ago and was absolutely panicking because I was already cutting it close on my certification deadline! What ended up working for me was a combination of things - I waited about 18 hours, then cleared all my browser data (not just cache and cookies, but everything including saved passwords), restarted my computer completely, and then used a different internet connection (switched from WiFi to mobile hotspot). I know it sounds like overkill but I was desperate! Got right in after that. I think sometimes it's not just the account that's locked but your IP address or device gets flagged too. Also pro tip - once you do get back in, immediately write down your exact password character by character because EDD passwords are SO finicky with those similar-looking characters everyone mentioned. Hope this helps someone avoid the stress I went through!