Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion! You're good with the card you have - no need to worry about another one coming. I made the mistake of calling EDD three times asking about this because I was so paranoid about missing payments. The customer service rep finally explained that they use the same Money Network card for your entire claim period unless you specifically request a replacement or it gets lost/stolen. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can set up text alerts through the Money Network app to get notified immediately when funds are deposited. Really helps with the anxiety of wondering if your payment went through!

Hey Arjun! I went through this exact same worry when I first got on unemployment benefits. You're absolutely fine with the card you just activated - that's the one and only card you'll need for your entire claim period. EDD doesn't send different cards for waiting periods vs regular benefits, they just load everything onto the same Money Network card once it's active. When you certify on the 10th and get approved, those funds will show up on the card you already have within 1-2 business days. Pro tip: download the Money Network mobile app if you haven't already - it makes checking your balance and transaction history so much easier than calling that annoying automated phone line!

I'm in a similar situation - got approved 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my card! Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying lol. The USPS Informed Delivery tip is genius, definitely signing up for that today. Has anyone tried contacting their local EDD office directly about card delays, or is Bank of America the only option once the payment is issued? Really hoping mine shows up soon because like the OP, I've got bills piling up!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got approved about 9 days ago and have been obsessively checking my mailbox every day. It's such a stressful waiting game when you really need the money. Reading through all these experiences is actually really helpful - sounds like 7-10 business days is pretty normal, so I'm trying to stay patient. The USPS Informed Delivery suggestion is brilliant, definitely signing up for that right now! Also good to know about the BofA app for managing the card once it arrives. Hopefully both our cards show up soon - this whole process has been way more complicated than I expected for something so essential!

This happened to me too! I got certification links 4 days after my appeal hearing and was so confused because my account still showed disqualified. Turns out I won! The official letter came about 10 days later. What really helped me was calling the 1-833-978-2511 number around 8:02 AM (right after they open) to get confirmation. The rep was able to tell me that my appeal decision had been entered as "favorable" even though the letter hadn't been mailed yet. Definitely certify for all those weeks - EDD won't send certification links unless they're planning to pay you. Just make sure you answer all the questions accurately since you're certifying for such a long period. Take your time with each week and don't rush through it. The backpay processing took about 3 weeks after I certified, but when it hit, it was life-changing. Sounds like you're looking at a substantial amount given that timeframe. Fingers crossed for you!

I'm going through something similar right now! Had my appeal hearing 3 weeks ago and just got certification links yesterday for about 8 months of back weeks. My UI Online still shows the old status too, so I totally understand the confusion and anxiety you're feeling. From everything I've read here and in other forums, it really does seem like a positive sign when they send those certification links. I've been hesitant to get my hopes up, but seeing all these success stories from people who went through the exact same sequence of events is really encouraging. I started certifying yesterday and took everyone's advice about screenshots - definitely recommend doing that for your peace of mind. I'm also planning to call that number someone mentioned to see if I can get any confirmation about my appeal status. The waiting game is absolutely brutal, but it sounds like we're both probably looking at good news based on everyone's experiences here. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us! Please update us when you get your official decision - I'll do the same. It's so helpful to have this community to share these experiences with since the whole process is so stressful and confusing.

I'm in a similar boat right now - exhausted my benefits in January but my benefit year runs until August. It's such a confusing and stressful situation! From what I've learned lurking in this community, once your balance hits zero, that's really it until your benefit year ends. The hardest part is that EDD's website makes it look like your claim is still "active" when really there's nothing left to collect. I kept logging in expecting to see something change or get some kind of notification, but nope - just that depressing $0 balance staring back at me. I finally bit the bullet and called last week. Took forever to get through (surprise, surprise) but the agent confirmed what everyone here is saying - no more money gets added to your existing claim once it's exhausted, even if your benefit year isn't over. She did mention looking into CalFresh and other assistance programs while I wait for my benefit year to end. Hang in there - at least we're not alone in dealing with this mess of a system!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago and it's incredibly frustrating! Like everyone else has mentioned, once your claim balance hits $0, EDD doesn't automatically add more money even though your benefit year is still active. It's such a misleading system because they keep showing your claim as "active" when there's really nothing left. I made the mistake of waiting weeks thinking something would happen automatically, but nothing did. When I finally called (after many, many attempts to get through), the agent confirmed that I had to wait until my benefit year ended to file a new claim - assuming I had enough qualifying wages from any work I did during the current benefit year. One thing that helped me during the gap was applying for CalFresh (food stamps) and looking into local food banks and assistance programs. It's not much, but every little bit helps when you're struggling financially. Also, make sure to keep documenting your job search activities because you'll need that when you're eligible to file your new claim. The whole system is designed to be confusing and it feels like they're hoping people will just give up. Don't let them discourage you - call to confirm your specific situation and explore all available resources while you wait for your benefit year to end. You've got this!

One more tip about Money Network cards that might help others: once you receive your card, download their mobile app and set up account alerts. You'll get notifications whenever a payment is deposited. You can also set up transfers to your bank account through the app, which is much easier than trying to withdraw cash from ATMs (which often have fees unless you use specific in-network ATMs).

Just wanted to follow up on this thread since I went through something similar last month. For anyone else dealing with this issue, I found that the Money Network customer service is actually way more helpful than trying to reach EDD directly. They can tell you immediately if you have a card, what address it was sent to, and can expedite a replacement. I also discovered that you can actually access your money online through their website once you get your card info, so you don't have to wait for the physical card to arrive if you're in a real emergency situation. The website is moneyneworks.com and you can create an account if you have your card number. Might save someone a few days of waiting!