I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago! Got my first payment as a paper check even though the interviewer told me it would be on a card. I was panicking thinking something went wrong with my claim, but it turns out this is totally normal. The Money Network card arrived about 8 days later in a plain white envelope (almost threw it away thinking it was junk mail!). Once I activated the card, all my subsequent payments went straight to it. Definitely cash that check - it's real money and you've earned it. The system is just designed this way to get you paid faster while they process the card.

I'm a new claimant and this thread is so reassuring! I just finished my eligibility interview yesterday and the rep told me the same thing about getting a Money Network card, so I was expecting that in the mail. Now I know to look for both a check first and then the card separately. It's really helpful to see so many people confirming this is the normal process. One quick question - when you all got your checks, did they come in a regular EDD envelope or was it in some special packaging? Just want to make sure I don't miss it when it arrives!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Both my Money Network card phone access and UI Online have been locked since this morning. It's so frustrating that there's no clear communication about system maintenance or security lockouts. I've been reading through all these responses and it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty common. I'm going to try the ATM balance check first since I need to know how much I have available, then work through the other suggestions - calling from a different phone, trying incognito mode, and that direct Money Network number someone mentioned. If those don't work, I might have to bite the bullet and use Claimyr since I can't afford to wait days to get through. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - it's really helpful to know what's worked for others and that this usually does resolve itself eventually. The EDD system definitely needs better communication though!

I’m having this issue too !!

To all those having trouble reaching a human at California Unemployment. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/Ize0EkN4HDI

I'm dealing with a similar situation - got hit with false statement penalties and it's been a nightmare trying to get answers from EDD. From what I've researched, you can appeal the penalty decision, but you need to act fast. There's usually a 30-day window from when you receive the penalty notice to file an appeal. You'll need to gather any documentation that proves you didn't intentionally provide false information. Has anyone here successfully appealed one of these penalties? Would love to hear about the process and what evidence worked best.

I work in IT (not for FPL tho). Sometimes clearing your browser cache and cookies can help with account issues. Might be worth a try before you spend hours on the phone.

I had the exact same issue a few months ago! What finally worked for me was calling the 1-866 number first thing Monday morning at exactly 8:00 AM. I literally set an alarm and called right when they opened. Got through on the second try and they unlocked my account within 10 minutes once I had a real person on the line. The rep told me that Monday mornings are actually their least busy time because most people assume it'll be swamped. Also, make sure you have your ID ready to verify your identity - they'll ask for your SSN, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your bank account on file. Hope this helps and you get it sorted soon! 🤞

So glad you found it in the spam folder! This is such a common issue - EDD emails get filtered out by spam filters all the time. For anyone else reading this thread, it's worth setting up a filter or rule in your email to automatically move emails from @edd.ca.gov to your main inbox. Also, if you're still having trouble finding your EDDCAN, try looking at any correspondence about overpayments, disqualifications, or appeals - those letters almost always include it since they need to reference your specific account. The number format is usually something like 1234567890 (10 digits) and might be labeled as "EDD Customer Account Number," "EDDCAN," or sometimes just "Account Number" depending on which form you're looking at.

This is such a great success story! I'm so happy you found the EDDCAN in the spam folder - that's honestly the first place I tell people to check now when they have EDD issues. I went through something similar last year and it's amazing how much stress one missing number can cause. For future reference, you can also find your EDDCAN on the EDD debit card letter they send (if you opted for the card instead of direct deposit). It's usually printed right below your name on that correspondence. Hope his payments clear quickly now that you've got everything sorted out!