I'm so glad to see this thread because I was literally having the same panic yesterday! I've been on unemployment for about 4 months and you'd think I'd have learned by now, but holidays still catch me off guard. What really helped me was someone on this subreddit who mentioned that you can actually look up the Federal Reserve holiday calendar online to know exactly which days will cause delays. I bookmarked it and now I check it whenever my payment date is coming up. It's saved me so much stress! For anyone new to this - the pattern is super consistent: if UI Online shows "paid" and it's a federal holiday, expect your Money Network deposit the next business day, usually by late afternoon. The banking system delay is completely separate from EDD's processing, which is why your account status updates but the money doesn't transfer immediately.

As someone who just went through my first holiday payment delay last week, I wanted to share what I learned for other newcomers who might be panicking like I was! The biggest thing that helped calm my nerves was understanding that there are actually TWO separate processes happening: 1) EDD processing your certification (which shows as "paid" in UI Online), and 2) the banking system transferring the money (which gets delayed by federal holidays). Once I realized these were separate, it made so much more sense why my account could show "paid" but my Money Network card was still empty. I also started using a simple trick - whenever my payment date falls on or near a federal holiday, I just automatically add one business day to my expected deposit date. Takes all the guesswork and stress out of it! Really wish EDD would explain this distinction better on their website, but this community has been a lifesaver for figuring out how everything actually works.

I went through this exact same frustrating situation about 6 weeks ago! After reading all the great advice in this thread, I wanted to add one more tip that really helped me when I was stuck in the Money Network system: If you call the 1-888-323-7735 number and they tell you your card was "mailed" but you never received it, ask them to check if it was **returned to sender**. A lot of cards get sent back to Money Network due to address issues (like mailbox full, incorrect apartment format, etc.) but the reps don't always volunteer this information unless you specifically ask. In my case, my card had been returned to sender twice because my apartment mailbox was broken and mail was getting sent back. Once I explained this to the card fulfillment specialist, they were able to put a note on my account and send the replacement to my workplace address instead. Also, if you're really desperate for funds while waiting, some **food banks and local churches** are aware of the EDD card delays right now and offer emergency grocery assistance. It's not ideal but can help bridge the gap while you sort out the card situation. The key is definitely calling early morning (7:30-7:45am) and asking immediately for a "card fulfillment specialist" like everyone else mentioned. Regular customer service reps just can't access the detailed tracking info you need. Don't give up - your money is safe and you WILL get access to it! The system is just painfully slow but totally fixable once you reach the right person. 🙏

I'm going through the exact same situation right now - week 2.5 of waiting for my Money Network card and getting really stressed about upcoming bills! This thread has been absolutely incredible - way more helpful than anything I could find on the official EDD or Money Network websites. I wanted to thank everyone who shared such detailed strategies, especially the early morning calling approach (7:30-7:45am) and asking specifically for a "card fulfillment specialist." I had no idea there was a difference between general customer service and specialists who can actually track your card through their internal systems! The address formatting issues that multiple people mentioned really resonates with me - I'm in an apartment complex and I bet there's some tiny difference between how EDD has my address versus what Money Network expects. It's so frustrating that something like "Apt 3C" vs "#3C" can hold up someone's rent money for weeks! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow morning at 7:30am sharp and use the exact approach everyone outlined. Also going to check that Money Network portal (mynycb.com/moneynetworkedd) to see my card status, and start setting up direct deposit as backup right now. Reading all these success stories gives me so much hope that this is totally solvable once you reach the right person. Will definitely update with how my call goes! Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support means everything when you're dealing with EDD stress! 🙏

I'm going through this exact same issue right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My Cal Jobs 2FA emails aren't coming through either, and I've got less than a week before my deadline. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the new Gmail account approach has the highest success rate. I'm definitely going to try that first thing tomorrow morning. The fact that @Freya Christensen got it working immediately with a fresh Gmail account gives me hope! I also had no idea about the registration bypass code that @Anastasia Kozlov mentioned - that's such valuable insider knowledge. And the Claimyr service sounds like a game-changer for actually reaching EDD without the endless "maximum callers" message. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops for what should be basic functionality, but I'm grateful this community exists to help each other navigate these broken systems. Will definitely update with my results in case it helps others dealing with this nightmare!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this Cal Jobs 2FA nightmare! I tried the Gmail approach that worked for so many people here, but in my case it was actually my email provider (Outlook) that was the problem. What finally solved it for me was contacting my ISP directly - turns out they had automatically enabled some new "enhanced security" feature that was blocking authentication emails from government domains. Once they whitelisted *.ca.gov for my account, the 2FA codes started coming through immediately. So if the Gmail trick doesn't work for anyone, it might be worth checking with your internet/email provider about any recent security updates or blocks. The support rep told me this has been happening more frequently with government emails lately. Also seconding everyone's praise for this thread - you all probably saved hundreds of people's benefits with these solutions! The fact that we have to crowdsource fixes for broken government systems is frustrating but I'm so grateful this community exists.

I've been dealing with this exact same E318 error for the past two weeks and I'm at my wit's end! Reading through all these solutions has given me so much hope though. I've tried a few individual fixes but clearly need to go with the "nuclear option" approach that @Ava Harris mentioned. Going to try the VPN + incognito + early morning combo tomorrow. Quick question for everyone who's had success - did you notice if the day of the week matters? I've been trying mostly on weekends thinking it would be less busy, but maybe weekdays are actually better? Also, for those using free VPNs, are there any specific ones you'd recommend that worked well with the EDD site? Thanks to everyone for turning this into such a helpful troubleshooting community - it's wild that we have to do this but at least we're not suffering alone! 🤝

I've been lurking here for days watching everyone's troubleshooting journey and finally decided to jump in! Just wanted to say thank you to this incredible community - you've all basically created the unofficial EDD E318 error survival guide that should honestly be pinned somewhere. I'm dealing with the same nightmare and have been taking notes on all the successful combinations people have shared. Planning to try the full "nuclear option" approach tomorrow morning: VPN (thinking ProtonVPN to LA), Edge incognito, disable security software temporarily, early morning timing (5:30 AM), minimal required fields only, and login through CA.gov first. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a 10-step battle plan just to file a basic disability claim, but seeing so many success stories here gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Will report back with my results to add to the collective knowledge base. Seriously though, this thread should be required reading for anyone dealing with EDD technical issues - you've all done the work that their IT department should have done! 🙌

This thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm a UX designer who's been on UI for 2 months and just got offered a 5-week contract. I was literally about to turn it down because I thought it would mess up my claim, but reading everyone's experiences here has completely changed my perspective. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated temporary work while on UI without major issues is really encouraging. I especially appreciate the practical tips about reporting gross earnings before expenses and emphasizing that freelance work keeps you active in your profession. It's amazing how much anxiety gets created by not understanding the process, when it's actually pretty straightforward - just keep certifying biweekly and be honest about your earnings. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of community knowledge that makes all the difference when you're trying to make these decisions!

As someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times, I wanted to add one more reassuring voice to this thread! I'm a freelance marketing consultant who's navigated several temporary contracts while on UI over the past couple years. The process really is as straightforward as everyone's describing - just keep certifying every two weeks and report your earnings honestly. One thing I'd emphasize that hasn't been mentioned much: don't be surprised if your UI Online account shows $0 payments for the weeks you're working full-time hours. This is totally normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your claim! Your benefit amount will automatically resume once you report lower or no earnings again. Also, since you're in design, definitely keep track of any new skills or software you learn during the freelance gig - this can actually strengthen your job search narrative when you're back to looking for permanent work. The freelance experience shows you're staying current and adaptable in your field. You're making the right call taking this opportunity. Temporary work while on UI is much more common than people realize, and the system is designed to handle it smoothly. Best of luck with your project!