wait i'm confused... if you were paid from UK, wouldn't you need to file for unemployment in the UK not in california?? just wondering.

One more thing to consider - make sure you have documentation of your immigration/work status since this involves a foreign employer. EDD might request this information even if you're a US citizen/resident. Also, when you file, use the employer's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) if you have it - this helps EDD match your claim to the correct employer. If you don't have it, use the California office's information and explain the situation in any text fields available during the application.

I just checked my Money Network card and my payment FINALLY showed up this morning!!! Check yours - maybe the overnight processing thing worked!

Glad to hear your funds arrived! For anyone else reading this thread in the future, here's how to set up direct deposit to avoid Money Network delays: 1. Log into UI Online 2. Go to "Profile" then "Payment Method" 3. Select "Direct Deposit" option 4. Enter your bank routing and account numbers 5. Allow 3-5 business days for verification before your first direct deposit Direct deposit is much more reliable than the card system, especially during this transition period.

WHATEVER YOU DO, don't spend that money!!!! When they finally do their investigation, they WILL make you pay back every penny if your pension disqualifies you. My neighbor went through this and ended up with a $12,000 overpayment that he couldn't afford to pay back. They can garnish your wages and tax returns if you don't pay it back!!!

After reading through the comments, I think you should take two immediate actions: 1. Try to reach a Tier 2 specialist who can check on your specific investigation 2. Start preparing financially for a likely overpayment notice based on the pension offset rules For what it's worth, you can request a waiver of overpayment if repayment would cause extraordinary hardship AND you reported everything truthfully from the beginning (which it sounds like you did). The form is called DE 1446W. It's not guaranteed to be approved, but it's an option if you truly can't afford to repay.

I've been on unemployment three times in the past five years and let me tell you, the whole system is designed to be frustrating. My brother works for the state (not EDD) and says they're chronically understaffed. Like 50% of the people they need. So everything takes forever. And their computer system was built in the stone age. Last time my payment was pending, I just waited it out and it switched to paid after 4 days with no explanation. But I get being nervous about rent - my landlord doesn't exactly accept "EDD is slow" as an excuse lol

UPDATE: Good news! I called first thing this morning (took about 15 attempts to get through) and spoke with a rep. She said there was indeed a random quarterly review flag on my account that was holding up payment. She was able to clear it while I was on the phone, and my status just changed from pending to paid! She said I should receive the deposit by tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your advice and support!

Trying to reach EDD can be incredibly frustrating. I struggled with the same issue until I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an EDD representative in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km But to answer your question directly: Yes, you should activate your Money Network card immediately and certify for all available weeks before your interview. The interview determines your ongoing eligibility, but having weeks already certified means you'll get paid faster if approved.

To answer your follow-up question about direct deposit - yes, you can switch to direct deposit instead of using the Money Network card. After you've activated your account, log into UI Online, go to "Profile" and then "Payment Preference" to set up direct deposit with your bank account information. However, any payments that have already been issued to the card will remain there, so you'll need to withdraw those funds separately.