I went through this exact same thing! I'm a freelance videographer and had a client fly me to Portland for a 3-day shoot last year. I was so confused about the out-of-state question too. I ended up calling EDD (took forever to get through) and the rep told me the same thing everyone here is saying - it's about where your wages are reported, not where you physically worked. Since my client was based in LA and sent me a 1099 from California, I answered "No" to the out-of-state work question and had zero issues with my claim. The physical location of temporary work assignments doesn't matter as long as the employer/client is reporting your wages to California. You're overthinking it - just answer "No" and you'll be fine!

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in tech and travels frequently for client meetings. I've had similar confusion with EDD questions in the past. The key thing that helped me understand it was thinking about it from the tax perspective - if your employer is withholding California state taxes from your paycheck and reporting your wages to California, then as far as unemployment is concerned, you "worked in California" even if you were physically somewhere else. It's kind of like how remote workers who live in one state but work for a company in another state - what matters for UI purposes is where the employer is based and reporting wages, not where you're sitting at your computer. Hope that helps clarify things from another angle!

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 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!

Just wanted to follow up - it's now Friday. Has your payment status changed? If it's still pending and you need immediate assistance, calling EDD directly is your best option. The technical support line (833-978-2511) often has shorter wait times than the regular line and they can transfer you to a claim specialist if needed. If your payment doesn't process by Monday, it might indicate there's an underlying issue with your claim that needs addressing.

That's awesome news! I'm so glad it worked out for you. This is a perfect example of why it's important for people to know that first payments really do take longer - it would save so much stress if EDD just communicated this clearly upfront. Thanks for updating the thread, it'll definitely help other first-time claimants who find this post when they're in the same situation!