I'm so sorry this happened to you! It's really frustrating how common identity theft has become with unemployment benefits. I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out quickly by following the advice here. For anyone else reading this thread who might face a similar situation, it's worth noting that you should also check your EDD online account (if you have one) to see if there are any claims filed that you didn't submit. Sometimes fraudsters will file claims but the victims don't realize it until they get a card or notice in the mail. Also, definitely keep all the documentation from this process - case numbers, reference numbers, etc. You might need them later if any issues come up. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out!

I'm really glad you were able to get this resolved quickly! This thread is such a perfect example of why community support is so valuable - you got expert advice from multiple people who had dealt with similar situations. One thing I wanted to add for future readers: if you do end up needing legitimate unemployment benefits down the road, having this fraud incident properly documented and resolved will actually work in your favor. EDD will have a record that you proactively reported fraudulent activity, which shows you're not trying to game the system. Also, for anyone who might be hesitant about using services like Claimyr that charge a fee - sometimes it really is worth it when you're dealing with potential identity theft. The cost of a few hours of professional help can save you weeks or months of headaches trying to clear up fraud on your own. Thanks for keeping us updated throughout the process. It's really helpful to see how these situations actually get resolved rather than just hearing about the initial problem!

I’m having another issue, I have been going back and forward between BOA and EDD customer service and neither seems to know what’s going on, BOA told me to call EDD I called EDD and was told they do not see any funds on their end I called BOA back and they told me as of 07/28/25 the funds were unloaded/taken back by the EDD but this is all after I have called and went thru the process of having the check sent to me, how can this happen if I was told the processing was successful for me to receive my check I’m extremely frustrated does anyone have any information

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! My BofA card got deactivated about a week ago with no warning, and I've been certifying but my payments are showing as "outstanding" instead of going to the card. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring - I was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong with my claim. It sounds like the consensus is about 5-7 business days from when it shows "outstanding" to when the paper check actually arrives in the mail. I'm going to sign up for that USPS Informed Delivery service that several people mentioned - that seems like such a smart way to track when it's coming without just anxiously checking the mailbox every day. I'm also planning to set up direct deposit immediately once this check arrives. It's frustrating that EDD didn't communicate this BofA to Money Network transition better, but at least now I understand what's happening. Has anyone had success reaching EDD by phone to confirm when their check was actually mailed? I've tried calling but keep getting the high call volume message and then disconnected.

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.

This thread is incredibly valuable! I'm dealing with the exact same Cal Jobs 2FA issue and have been pulling my hair out for the past week. My registration deadline is in 3 days and I was starting to panic thinking I'd lose my benefits over their broken system. Reading through everyone's solutions has given me a clear action plan: 1. Try the new Gmail account method first (seems to work for most people) 2. Contact my ISP about any government domain blocks (great insight @Eli Butler!) 3. Use Claimyr if I need to reach EDD for the bypass code 4. Document everything with screenshots It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to crowdsource solutions for basic government website functionality, but I'm so grateful this community exists. The fact that there are actual workarounds and people ARE getting through this successfully is keeping me from completely losing hope. @Freya Christensen thanks for starting this discussion - you probably saved dozens of people's benefits! Will definitely report back with my results in case it helps others. 🤞

UPDATE: I found my old tax records and located my 1099-G from 2021! My weekly benefit amount was $372. I was able to log in successfully. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone with the same issue in the future, definitely check your tax documents first.

So glad you figured it out! This is such a common issue and your post will definitely help others who run into the same problem. The 1099-G tip is golden - I wish EDD would make it more obvious that's where people should look first instead of making us guess our benefit amounts. Hope your new claim goes smoothly and you get approved quickly!

I just went through this exact same issue a few weeks ago! The frustration is real when you can see the money but can't touch it. Here's what finally worked for me: Since you already confirmed with Money Network that no card was issued, you're ahead of where I was. I also switched to paper checks using the DE 5800 form and it was the right call. My first check arrived exactly 9 days after EDD updated my payment preference. A couple things that helped me: - When you call EDD (or use Claimyr), ask them to check for any "payment holds" or "address verification flags" on your account. Sometimes there are hidden issues blocking the payment setup - Request they send you the confirmation letter about your payment preference change via both mail AND email if possible - Get a reference number for the call and ask them to put detailed notes about what they changed The paper check system is honestly more reliable than the debit card mess. You can always switch back to the card later once you know everything is working properly. Don't feel bad about using a paid service to get through - I wasted weeks trying the free route and wish I'd just paid to talk to someone sooner. You're so close to getting this resolved! Keep us posted on how the Claimyr call goes.

Wow, reading through all these responses is both helpful and infuriating - it's clear this payment preference issue is a widespread problem with EDD's system! I'm dealing with something similar right now where my claim shows approved but I've been waiting 3 weeks for any kind of payment method to be set up. Isabella, your situation sounds exactly like what happened to my sister earlier this year. She also had the automated system showing thousands available but no actual way to access it. The advice about calling Money Network directly at 1-866-320-8699 is golden - I had no idea you could do that to check if a card was actually issued. Based on everyone's experiences here, it seems like going with paper checks is definitely the way to go for now. The debit card system sounds like a nightmare with all the third-party confusion between EDD and Money Network. At least with checks you know exactly when they're sent and when to expect them. I'm also really interested in hearing how the Claimyr service works out for you. The regular EDD phone lines are absolutely useless - I've been trying for weeks with no luck. If a small fee can actually get me connected to someone who can fix this mess, it seems worth it at this point. Keep us posted on your progress! This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what's actually going wrong with these payment systems.