it comes in a plain white envelope with a return address from Money Network in south dakota i think. looks kinda like junk mail tbh so watch out for it

Just wanted to add that if you're still worried about the legitimacy of any EDD communications, you can always log into UI Online directly (by typing the URL yourself, not clicking links) and check your inbox there. That's the official way EDD communicates important updates about your claim. Also, if you need to verify what stage your payments are at, look for the "Payment History" section - it will show you if any payments have been issued, which means your card should be on the way. Stay vigilant about these scams - they're unfortunately very common right now with so many people filing claims.

my cousin works for EDD and says school employees somtimes have special rules??? something about school breaks not counting??? not sure if that applys to security or just teachers tho

I'm in a similar boat right now! I work part-time at a retail store and my hours got slashed from 30+ per week to maybe 12-15. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - I had no idea you could get partial unemployment for reduced hours. One question for everyone who's been through this: how long did it take from application to actually receiving your first payment? I'm trying to figure out if I should look for a second job in the meantime or if the benefits will come through quickly enough to help with next month's rent. My manager keeps saying "hours will pick up soon" but that's what they said 6 weeks ago! Also @Kelsey Hawkins - definitely apply today like everyone's saying. I wish I had known about this option when my hours first got cut back in January!

Update us on what happens when you call Money Network. If they confirm it was sent but you never received it, ask them about the status tracking. Sometimes they can see if it was returned to them. If you get nowhere with Money Network's regular customer service, ask to speak with a supervisor - they have more authority to help with unusual situations.

So glad you were able to get this resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people to call Money Network directly instead of trying to go through EDD first. The lack of communication between these agencies is ridiculous - they should automatically notify you if there's a verification hold or any issue preventing your card from being sent. Hope your landlord understands the delay and you can get caught up on everything once the card arrives Wednesday!

One more thing to consider: if you do quit and file for UI, be prepared for a potentially long wait while EDD investigates. Your employer will be asked to provide their side of the story, and then EDD will schedule an eligibility interview with you (which can take weeks to get). During this time, you won't receive any benefits. If you're eventually approved, you'll get backpay, but you need to be able to financially sustain yourself during the investigation period. And regardless of what happens, continue to certify for benefits every two weeks while your claim is pending. If you don't certify and later get approved, you won't receive payments for weeks you didn't certify.

I went through a similar situation last year and want to share what worked for me. I was dealing with a verbally abusive supervisor who was creating an impossible work environment. Here's what I did: 1. Started documenting everything immediately - dates, times, witnesses, exactly what was said/done 2. Got my doctor involved early - they documented my anxiety and stress symptoms as work-related 3. Filed a complaint with HR first (even though I knew they wouldn't help much) 4. When HR didn't address it properly, I requested FMLA leave for stress/anxiety 5. Used that time to job hunt intensively When my leave was up and nothing had changed, I quit with a resignation letter that clearly outlined why (referencing my previous complaints and medical documentation). I filed for UI immediately and got approved after the eligibility interview because I had a paper trail showing I tried to resolve things through proper channels first. The key is building your case BEFORE you quit. Don't just walk out - that makes it much harder to win an appeal. Take Quinn's advice seriously about the accommodation request - it shows good faith effort to stay employed. Also, start applying for jobs NOW while you're still employed. Even if this workplace is toxic, having income while job searching gives you so much more leverage and peace of mind.

One last thing to consider: while waiting until July 1st will likely increase your weekly benefit amount (WBA), be aware that your claim effective date will determine your benefit year. So if your claim is effective July 1, 2025, your benefit year ends June 30, 2026. Make sure you have a clear understanding of how much higher your WBA will be to determine if the wait is worth it. You can use the EDD benefit calculator on their website with both sets of quarters to compare.

That $130/week difference definitely makes waiting worth it! Just wanted to add one more consideration - since you're waiting until July 1st anyway, might be worth using this time to get all your documentation organized. Have your W-2s, pay stubs, and severance paperwork ready to go. Also, create your EDD online account ahead of time if you haven't already - you can do that without filing a claim. That way on July 1st you're just logging in and filing rather than dealing with account setup too. The smoother your application process, the faster you'll get through their system.