One more thing to be aware of - when your Money Network card arrives, you MUST activate it through their specific activation process (phone or website). Even if you plan to switch to direct deposit later, you should still activate the card as soon as it arrives. If the card doesn't arrive within 10-12 business days after your first payment is processed, that's when you should contact EDD to check on its status. Sometimes the cards get lost in the mail or sent to old addresses.

Just wanted to add that if you're really anxious about when your card will arrive, you can check your payment status on UI Online. Once it shows "Paid" (not just "Pending"), that's when the 7-10 business day countdown starts for the Money Network card to arrive in the mail. I was in the same situation last year - kept refreshing the website obsessively waiting for that first payment to process! The waiting week thing is confusing at first but totally normal. Hang in there, the card will come automatically once everything processes properly.

I think what you might be referring to is the old Fed-Ed extension which required filing before a certain week to qualify. That program ended years ago. Currently for 2025, there are NO extensions beyond the regular 26 weeks of UI. The most important thing to watch is your BENEFIT YEAR END date. This is 12 months from when you first filed. Your claim remains active until this date as long as you have a balance and continue to certify. If you exhaust your benefits before 26 weeks, that means your claim balance wasn't enough to provide 26 full weeks at your weekly benefit amount. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to increase this amount once your claim is established. Don't panic! Just focus on work search and keep certifying.

Hey Aria! I just went through this exact same worry a few months ago when I was around week 12. I found some old forum posts from 2020-2021 talking about extensions and got totally freaked out thinking I'd miss some deadline. Turns out everyone here is right - there's NO action needed at week 13 for regular unemployment benefits. The confusion comes from the pandemic-era programs (PEUC, PUA, Fed-Ed) that had specific timing requirements, but those are all gone now. The current system is much simpler: you get up to 26 weeks OR until your claim balance runs out, whichever comes first. Just keep certifying every two weeks and doing your work search activities. One thing that helped my anxiety was logging into UI Online and taking a screenshot of my "Claim Summary" page showing my remaining balance and benefit year end date. Having that info written down made me feel more in control of the situation. You and your husband are doing everything right - don't let the stress of job searching be made worse by worrying about non-existent deadlines!

Just as an update in case anyone finds this thread later - I spoke with an EDD rep and confirmed that settlement/severance is reported in the week you RECEIVE it, not when it's dated or earned. So the original advice I gave was correct. Also, keep the envelope it came in as proof of when you received it in case EDD questions the timing.

I'm glad to see this got resolved! For anyone else reading this thread, it's worth noting that the EDD has specific forms (like DE 4581) that employers are supposed to use when reporting severance/settlement payments, which can help clarify the timing issues. If you ever receive a large settlement that might affect multiple benefit periods, you can also ask EDD about potentially spreading it out over the period it represents - though this isn't always approved. The key is always being upfront about any income and keeping good documentation of when you actually received payments versus when they were dated.

OMG I'm so glad you asked this question bc I literally had the same exact confusion yesterday!!! The EDD website is seriously from like 1995 or something lol

I had this exact same panic attack during my first certification! The wording is so confusing. Just to add to what others have said - if you ever DO have supplemental unemployment benefits (like from a union or employer fund), they'll usually give you specific paperwork that clearly states it's "SUB pay" or "supplemental unemployment benefits." You'd definitely know if you had it because it would be a separate payment from a different source than EDD. Since you only got the one regular UI payment from EDD, you're definitely good to answer NO. The system really should explain these terms better instead of making us all stress out about it!

I work as a volunteer advocate helping people navigate EDD issues, and I want to add a few important points to what's already been shared: First, don't give up hope entirely. While 16 months is definitely challenging, I've seen cases where people got partial backdating for severe medical situations. The key is focusing on the period where you have the strongest documentation. Second, when you submit your DE 1181 form, write a detailed timeline explaining exactly how your medical condition prevented you from filing. Don't just say "I was sick" - explain specifically how pregnancy complications affected your ability to complete the application process (hospitalization dates, bed rest periods, etc.). Third, if your initial backdating request gets denied, you have appeal rights. Many people don't know this, but you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge who may be more sympathetic to your circumstances than the initial reviewer. Finally, even if you only get 2-3 months backdated, that's still significant money that can help with your medical bills. Stay persistent but realistic about expectations. Good luck!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from my own backdating experience earlier this year. I was able to get 10 weeks backdated due to documented mental health crisis following a family tragedy, but it took 3 months of persistent follow-up. A few tips that helped me: 1) When you call EDD, ask specifically for the "backdating department" - don't just accept talking to the first agent. 2) Keep detailed records of every phone call (date, time, agent name if they give it, what was discussed). 3) Submit your DE 1181 form through multiple channels - online, fax, AND certified mail to create a paper trail. Also, pregnancy complications are considered a legitimate medical reason for backdating, especially if you have documentation of severe symptoms like hyperemesis gravidarum or hospitalization. Focus on the months where you have the strongest medical evidence rather than trying for the full 16 months. One last thing - if you get approved for any backdating, make sure to ask about getting your waiting week waived too. Many people forget about this and miss out on that extra week of benefits. Stay strong and don't give up!