UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that I got the claim reopened! After clicking on the certify button like suggested, I did get the reopen option. Filled everything out yesterday, and today I was able to certify for last week. It shows my payment as pending, but at least the process is moving forward. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This thread is such a perfect example of how confusing EDD can be for situations like this. Your experience will definitely help other people who find themselves in the same boat - having an old claim that looks "active" but hasn't been used in months. It's really not intuitive that you need to click "Certify for Benefits" first to get the reopen option to appear. Hope your payment comes through quickly!

Btw does anybody know if we're supposed to be getting a different card soon? My friend said Money Network is being replaced with some other provider but I can't find any info about this on the EDD website??

Same thing happened to me! My payment usually hits around 5:30 AM but nothing today. I was panicking because I have rent due tomorrow. The holiday explanation makes total sense though - I completely forgot today was a federal holiday. At least now I know to expect delays whenever there's a banking holiday. Thanks for posting this, saved me from calling EDD and waiting on hold for hours!

I went through penalty weeks about 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - no backpay for those weeks, but payments do start automatically once you've served them all. The key thing is to keep certifying every two weeks even though you're getting $0. Don't skip certifications thinking "what's the point" because that can mess up your claim. One thing I wish someone had told me: if you do get that job, make sure to report your work status properly when you certify. The last thing you want is MORE penalty weeks down the road! Good luck with the interview - fingers crossed you won't have to worry about the remaining penalty weeks at all.

I'm going through something similar right now - just started my penalty weeks last month for not reporting some freelance work properly. It's definitely a tough lesson but reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful. One thing I've learned from talking to others who've been through this: make sure you keep all your certification records during the penalty period. Even though you're getting $0, those certifications are still important for maintaining your claim status. Also, if you do get that job (fingers crossed!), remember that you can always come back to this community if you have questions about properly reporting work income in the future. Better to ask here first than deal with more penalty weeks later! Wishing you the best with the interview - sounds like you've got a good attitude about learning from this experience.

Just want to add my experience - I was in a similar situation where I delayed filing for about 6 weeks after my layoff due to family circumstances. When I finally filed, the EDD rep asked about the gap during my phone interview but it was no big deal once I explained the situation. One thing that really helped was having my severance paperwork ready that showed my exact last day of work. They cross-referenced that with when I filed and just made a note in my file about the reason for the delay. Also, make sure you understand that once you do file and start your claim, you'll need to certify every two weeks consistently. Missing certifications can cause your claim to go inactive, which creates more paperwork headaches later. Since you're planning to be available and looking for work starting in May, the timing sounds perfect for your situation.

I went through something very similar when my mom got sick overseas and I had to delay filing. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you do file in May, make sure you have your employment history from the past 18 months ready to go. EDD will ask for employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for each job during your base period. Since you've been at the same company for 23 years, this should be straightforward for you, but it's good to have your final paystub, any severance documentation, and your employer's contact info organized beforehand. The online application can time out if you're searching for information, and having to start over is frustrating. Also, don't stress about the gap - family medical emergencies are completely understandable reasons for delaying. Just be honest when they ask. Hope everything goes well with your parents! 🙏

Glad you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for anyone else dealing with this - when you get your replacement card, make sure to update any automatic payments or subscriptions that were linked to your old card number. I forgot to do this after my fraud incident and had a few payments bounce before I realized. Also, keep that paper check in a safe place until your new card arrives and is working properly, just in case there are any issues with the replacement card activation.

Just want to emphasize what others have said about being proactive with fraud protection going forward. I work in banking and see this stuff daily - EDD cards are unfortunately prime targets because scammers know they have guaranteed monthly deposits. A few tips: never use your card at standalone ATMs (especially at gas stations or convenience stores), cover your PIN when entering it, and check your balance frequently through the app or by calling the automated line. If you notice ANY transaction you don't recognize, even small ones like $1-2, report it immediately - fraudsters often test cards with tiny amounts first before draining the account. Stay vigilant!