Hey Nia, I just went through something similar a few months back and wanted to share what worked for me. First off, definitely don't ignore those notices - that's the worst thing you can do. Here's what I learned: Start your appeal immediately but also try to get someone at EDD on the phone to clarify exactly what they're claiming. In my case, they said I had "insufficient work search" but when I finally got through to someone, they explained it was actually about not logging my job searches in their specific online portal (CalJOBS) rather than not doing enough searches. For the work search documentation issue - even if you didn't save confirmation emails, you can often go back to the company websites where you applied and screenshot your application history. Many job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. keep records of your applications. Also check your browser history for that time period - it can help reconstruct where you applied. The appeal process isn't as scary as it seems. I represented myself and just focused on being honest and organized. Gather whatever evidence you can find, write a clear timeline of what happened, and submit it with your appeal form. Even if your documentation isn't perfect, showing good faith effort goes a long way. You've got this! The system is overwhelming but lots of people successfully appeal these notices every day.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got my overpayment notice last week for $2,800 and I've been panicking ever since. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me so much hope though - it sounds like appealing is definitely the way to go. I made the same mistake you did with not keeping detailed records of my job searches. I was applying to jobs but didn't think to save every confirmation email or document everything properly. Now I'm scrambling to piece together what I can find. One thing that's helping me is going through my email trash folder - I found a few automated confirmation emails from job applications that I had deleted. Also checking my LinkedIn "Jobs you've applied for" section showed some applications from that time period. We can do this! From what everyone's saying, the key is just to respond and fight it rather than giving up. I'm going to start my appeal tomorrow and it sounds like you should too. At least we're not alone in dealing with this mess!

I had something similar happen last year with my bank (BofA). The first direct deposit took almost a week, but then it was pretty regular after that. My brother has a different bank (US Bank) and his always come faster than mine do. Definitely seems bank-dependent. The card is honestly easier in some ways but I like having everything in one account.

Update: The money finally hit my account this morning - took exactly 6 business days from when I certified. Thanks everyone for the info and reassurance. Going to stick with direct deposit for now since it sounds like future payments should be faster, but definitely good to know about the credit union option!

Honestly this whole thing just shows how broken the entire unemployment system is. They make people wait FOUR YEARS to get money they were entitled to during one of the worst economic crises ever, and we're supposed to be grateful? People lost homes, went into debt, and destroyed their credit while waiting for these payments that EDD was legally required to provide. And now they just drop money on you with no explanation or apology. The entire department needs to be investigated and overhauled.

This is actually really encouraging to hear! I filed for unemployment in September 2021 and got stuck in the dreaded "pending" status for what felt like forever. Eventually gave up after months of trying to get through to someone who could help. Never thought I'd see that money but now I'm wondering if I should check my UI Online account to see if anything similar happened with my claim. Did you have to do anything special to reactivate your account or was the payment activity just automatically showing up when you logged in?

btw if ur applying for unemployment make sure u mention the late final paycheck issue when they ask about why u left ur job... doesnt hurt ur case at all

I went through something very similar last year and definitely keep your wage claim active! Even though you got paid, the waiting time penalties can be substantial - in your case at $21/hour for 38 hours weekly, that's about $159/day in penalties for each day they were late (up to 30 days max). Also document everything about those unexplained deductions - employers can't just randomly deduct money from your final paycheck without proper authorization. The $180 "merchandise" deduction sounds questionable unless you signed something specifically agreeing to it. One tip: when you eventually get your settlement conference or hearing scheduled, bring printed copies of all your emails, texts, and records of when you visited the store trying to get your check. This documentation really helps your case. The whole process is worth it - I ended up getting almost $3,000 in penalties on top of my wages.

I just went through this exact situation last month! My card took 6 business days to arrive after approval, which was actually faster than I expected based on what I'd read online. A couple of things that helped me during the waiting period: - Like others mentioned, definitely check your UI Online account regularly - seeing that "Paid" status gave me peace of mind even before the card arrived - I called my landlord and explained the situation. Most are understanding about unemployment delays if you communicate early rather than waiting until the due date - The card really does come in a plain white envelope that looks like junk mail - I was checking my mailbox obsessively and almost missed it! Once you get it, activation is pretty straightforward through the Money Network website. You'll need your SSN and some personal info. The whole process took me maybe 10 minutes online. Fingers crossed yours arrives on the earlier side of that 7-10 day window! The waiting is definitely the worst part.

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Just got approved yesterday too and my rent is due in about 2 weeks. Reading through all these responses is making me feel a bit better - sounds like most people get theirs within that 7-10 day window. I'm going to follow the advice here and check my UI Online account daily to watch for that "Paid" status, and definitely going to be extra careful about checking all my mail. The fact that you already see a payment issued is a really good sign! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of us that our cards arrive closer to the 6-8 day mark rather than the 10+ day horror stories. This whole process is so stressful when you're cutting it close financially. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have been super helpful!