Reality check: I called the EDD phone number 500+ times over 2 weeks and only got through twice. Both times the call dropped after 90+ minutes on hold. Sometimes you need to try alternatives.

Just want to confirm what everyone's saying - 800-300-5616 is the correct EDD phone number for unemployment. I finally got through last week after 3 days of trying. My strategy was calling right at 8:00am sharp and having my finger ready to speed through the menu (1-wait-1-1-***). Still took 45 attempts but I got on hold and actually spoke to someone after waiting about 2 hours. The lunch break thing is real too - complete waste of time calling between 12-1:30pm. If you're getting desperate, the callback services people mention might be worth it, but the free route does work if you're persistent enough.

I had a similar issue last month. Turned out my claim had been flagged for review for some reason. Had to wait for them to sort it out on their end. Might be worth checking if there's any messages or alerts on your account page.

I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago! Super frustrating. What worked for me was disabling my browser extensions temporarily (especially ad blockers) and making sure JavaScript was enabled. The EDD website can be really picky about browser settings. Also, if you're using Chrome, try switching to Firefox or vice versa - sometimes one browser just works better with their system. Good luck and don't give up! 🙏

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.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - been waiting 2.5 weeks for my card and getting really anxious! Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring because it sounds like this happens more often than I thought. I'm definitely going to try the Money Network website first to see if I can create an account and check the status, then call them early morning like Mei Lin suggested. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't make it clearer that Money Network handles the cards separately - I've been calling EDD this whole time thinking they could help! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions.

I'm new to the unemployment system and reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and concerning! It sounds like the Money Network card delays are unfortunately pretty common. For those who have dealt with this - once you finally get your card and access your funds, how long does it typically take to switch over to direct deposit? I'm wondering if I should just set up direct deposit from the beginning when I file my claim next week, or if there are any advantages to having the card option as a backup. Also, does anyone know if you can have both payment methods set up simultaneously, or do you have to choose one or the other?