I had this exact same issue last year! The trick that finally worked for me was using the EDD website during off-peak hours - try logging in really early in the morning (like 5-6 AM) or late at night (after 10 PM). The system seems to work better when there's less traffic. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the site. I had to disable my ad blocker and password manager to get it to work properly. If you're still stuck after a few more days, another option is to contact your local assembly member's office - they often have staff who can help navigate EDD issues and sometimes get faster responses than calling directly.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Got my customer account number three days ago and it's still not working. Reading through these responses, it sounds like the processing delay is real even though the letter doesn't mention it anywhere. That's so misleading! I'm going to try Oliver's suggestion about using the site during off-peak hours while I wait for the processing period to finish. Has anyone had success with contacting their assembly member's office? That sounds like it might be worth trying if the phone lines stay jammed. This whole system really needs to be redesigned - it's causing so much unnecessary stress when people are already dealing with job loss.

I'm in a similar situation right now - my payment just switched to "Paid" status three days ago and I'm anxiously waiting for the card too! Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful. It sounds like 7-10 business days is pretty standard, which puts me right around the same timeline as you Diego. I'm also planning to call Money Network tomorrow morning early like Zainab suggested. Has anyone had luck with asking EDD directly if they can note your account for urgent delivery? I'm wondering if that actually speeds things up or if it's just something they say to get you off the phone. Either way, it's good to know we're not alone in this waiting game!

I went through this exact same stress last year! My card took 9 business days to arrive in Pomona, so being in San Bernardino you should expect similar timing. One thing that really helped me was setting up a Money Network account online as soon as my payment hit "Paid" status - you can actually check if your funds are available even before the physical card arrives (just use your SSN and the info from your EDD account). This won't speed up delivery but at least you'll know your money is safely loaded and waiting for you. Also, don't be afraid to explain the situation to your landlord - most understand unemployment payment delays and may work with you on timing. The waiting is absolutely the worst part, but you're almost there! Once you get it, definitely set up direct deposit immediately so you never have to go through this card waiting anxiety again.

I'm new here but dealing with a similar situation right now! I was on SDI for 6 weeks earlier this year after a work injury, then returned to my job for about 3 months before getting laid off due to budget cuts. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I was also confused about whether to include those disability payments as wages. It sounds like the consensus is clear: only include actual employment wages, not benefit payments. The distinction between "earned income" vs "replacement income" that someone mentioned really clicked for me. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who found the EDD application confusing on this point.

I just went through this same situation last month! I was on PFL for 6 weeks after having my baby, then returned to work for about 2 months before getting laid off in a company restructuring. I was so confused about the wages section too - the EDD application really isn't clear about what they consider "wages." After reading through all the responses here and calling EDD (finally got through after using one of those callback services), I can confirm what everyone is saying: DO NOT include PFL or SDI payments as wages. Only report your actual employment earnings - basically what you'd see on your W-2 from your employer. The EDD rep told me they already have all your wage history from employers, so including benefit payments could actually flag your application and cause delays. I only included my actual paychecks from when I was working and my claim went through smoothly. There are other sections in the application where you can mention if you received PFL/SDI benefits, which is important for them to know, but it shouldn't go in the wages section. Hope this helps and good luck with your application!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I'm feeling much better about my situation now. I'm going to: 1) Report the one day worked when I certify, 2) Gather documentation about my medical needs, 3) Write down a detailed timeline of events, and 4) Prepare for a possible eligibility interview. I'll update this thread after I certify to let you know what happens in case anyone else faces a similar situation in the future.

Just wanted to add - if you do end up needing to talk to EDD about this, don't volunteer too much information upfront. Answer their questions directly but don't over-explain unless they ask for details. Sometimes giving too much context can actually work against you because they might focus on the wrong parts of your story. Also, if they do put your claim on hold for review, that's actually pretty normal for situations like this. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong - they just need to verify that you had good cause for leaving. The medical necessity for health benefits is definitely a legitimate reason, especially since you weren't told about the lack of coverage during the hiring process. One more tip: if you get an interview scheduled, write down your key points beforehand so you don't forget anything important when you're on the call. These interviews can be nerve-wracking and it's easy to forget details when you're stressed. You're handling this the right way by being proactive and honest about it!

This is really concerning and unfortunately more common than it should be with small employers. I went through something similar where my boss would shift my hours between pay periods to avoid certain thresholds. A few additional things to consider: - Document not just when you work, but also any verbal instructions from your boss about how he's handling the pay periods. If possible, get these instructions in writing (email, text, etc.) - Check if your state has a wage theft hotline - California has pretty strong worker protections - When you do file for UI (if needed), mention this issue upfront during your initial claim. Being proactive about explaining discrepancies looks better than having EDD discover them later Also, keep in mind that even if this creates some initial delays with your claim, EDD has to pay you retroactively for any weeks you were eligible once the issue gets resolved. The most important thing is having your documentation ready. Your employer's behavior is sketchy at best and potentially illegal. You're smart to be thinking ahead about this!

You can find California's wage theft resources on the Department of Industrial Relations website at dir.ca.gov - they have a dedicated wage theft section with complaint forms and contact information. The Labor Commissioner's Office handles these cases and they're pretty responsive to wage manipulation issues. Getting those instructions in writing via text is brilliant - courts and agencies love that kind of documentation because it's timestamped and shows the employer's intent. Even something like "Hey, just to confirm - you want me to add Monday's hours to last week's timesheet instead of this week's?" can be powerful evidence. One more thing - if your employer is doing this to you, they're probably doing it to other employees too. Sometimes filing a complaint can help protect your coworkers as well. The Labor Commissioner can investigate patterns of wage manipulation across multiple employees, which strengthens everyone's case. Stay strong and keep documenting everything!