I'm about 8 weeks out from my balance hitting zero and this entire thread has been absolutely life-changing in terms of information I never knew existed! I've been job hunting in graphic design for 5 months and the creative industry has been especially brutal lately. Reading everyone's experiences has completely shifted my perspective on what options are actually available. The California Training Benefits program could be perfect since I've been wanting to learn UX/UI design and motion graphics to expand my skill set. If CTB covers those certifications, this could actually turn into an opportunity to level up professionally while keeping some income flowing. I'm 28 and have been really stubborn about avoiding retail or service work because I thought it would somehow hurt my creative portfolio or professional reputation. But hearing from so many experienced professionals across different industries who've successfully navigated this has opened my eyes. The networking stories are especially encouraging - you really never know where connections might come from. Planning to start backup applications at Target, local coffee shops, and maybe explore freelance design work on Fiverr this week while continuing my full-time design job search. Also definitely calling my workforce center and researching CTB options for creative skills training. Thanks to everyone for being so brutally honest about your situations. It's scary as hell but knowing there's an entire community of professionals going through this together and that there are actual resources available makes it feel so much more manageable. This thread has given me hope and a real action plan instead of just panic!

I'm about 5 weeks out from my balance hitting zero and honestly, finding this thread feels like discovering a goldmine of information that EDD should have provided from day one! I've been job hunting in content marketing for 4 months and the market feels impossibly competitive right now. Reading everyone's experiences has completely changed my approach. I had no clue about the California Training Benefits program - that could be huge since I've been wanting to get certified in SEO and content strategy tools like SEMrush. If CTB covers those kinds of certifications, this could actually be an opportunity to make myself more competitive while keeping some income coming in. I'm 31 and have been way too proud to consider retail work, thinking it would somehow look bad to future marketing employers. But you're all absolutely right - paying rent trumps ego every single time. The stories about unexpected networking through temporary jobs are genuinely inspiring and something I never would have considered. Starting my backup applications at Target and Starbucks this week, and maybe exploring some freelance content writing on Upwork while I continue my full-time job search. Also definitely calling my local workforce center tomorrow - can't believe I didn't know that resource existed! Thanks to everyone for sharing so openly about your situations. It's terrifying but also oddly comforting to know so many experienced professionals are navigating this same struggle. This community has given me actual hope and a real plan instead of just watching my balance countdown in complete panic mode. We've got this!

I've been on Money Network for about a month now and can confirm what everyone's saying about the slower timeline. My pattern has been: certify Sunday morning around 7am → UI Online shows "paid" Monday afternoon → Money Network deposit hits Tuesday morning around 9-10am. It's definitely an adjustment from BOA's same-day deposits, but the consistency helps once you plan for it. One thing I learned that might help others - if you're really tight on timing for bills, you can actually check your UI Online account Monday evening to see if it shows "paid" status. Once you see that, you know the Money Network deposit will hit within 24 hours max. It gives you a bit more certainty for planning purposes even though you still have to wait for the actual funds. Also wanted to mention that I tried calling Money Network customer service once about the timing and they explained that they process unemployment deposits in overnight batches Monday night into Tuesday morning, which is why we see such consistent Tuesday morning timing. It's just how their system is designed compared to BOA's more continuous processing. The slower timeline is frustrating but at least it's predictable - just have to budget knowing Tuesday is your new "payday" instead of Sunday night!

I've been on the Money Network card for about 10 days now and this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what to expect! I just went through my second certification cycle and can confirm the Tuesday morning timeline everyone's describing. I certify Sunday around 8am, see "paid" status in UI Online by Monday evening, and got my deposit this morning (Tuesday) at 9:47am. So almost exactly 49 hours from certification to funds. Coming from hearing about BOA's same-day deposits, I was definitely worried about the slower timeline, but reading everyone's experiences here helped me adjust my expectations and plan accordingly. I set up the push notifications through the Money Network app like several people recommended, and it's really helpful to get that immediate alert when the deposit hits rather than constantly checking my balance. For other newcomers like me - the key really is treating Tuesday morning as your new "payday" and adjusting your budget timeline accordingly. I moved my rent payment from Tuesday to Friday and it's removed all the stress about timing. The system is definitely slower than BOA was, but it's very predictable once you understand the pattern!

Thanks everyone for the help! I finally figured it out. For anyone else with the same question: 1. I had to log into my SDI Online account (completely separate from UI Online) 2. Under "Form 1099" in the menu there were links to both my disability AND PFL tax forms 3. They're both 1099-NEC forms but separate documents for each claim 4. The forms just became available yesterday Hopefully this helps someone else! Now I can finally finish my taxes.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble accessing your SDI Online account like I did last month, you can also request paper copies of your 1099-NEC forms by calling the SDI customer service line. They can mail them to your address on file, which might be faster than trying to unlock your online account if it's been inactive. The rep I spoke with said it usually takes 5-7 business days to receive them by mail. Super helpful for those of us who need to file early!

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.

Wow, this thread is like a goldmine of information! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now - my claim has been stuck on "review required" for about 10 days and I was starting to panic. I got laid off in February and received both severance and accrued sick leave, which I carefully reported on my initial application. But then when I did my first certification, I saw those payments in my bank account and thought "well, this is income I received during this period" so I reported them again. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm now 99% sure that's what triggered my review flag. It's honestly infuriating that EDD's system is set up this way! The certification form literally asks about "all income received" during the period with no mention of exceptions for payments already reported elsewhere. How are people supposed to know not to report income twice when the system makes it seem like you should report everything? But I'm so grateful for all the detailed advice here. I was hesitant to call because I've heard such horror stories about EDD phone wait times, but seeing how quickly everyone got their issues resolved once they reached the right person gives me hope. Planning to start calling tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp with the main number and will be very specific about the potential double-reporting issue from the get-go. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences so thoroughly! I'll definitely come back and update once I get this mess sorted out.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I can't believe how many of us have fallen into the exact same severance pay double-reporting trap! I'm currently on day 8 of the dreaded "review required" status and was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my claim. Like so many others here, I received severance pay when I was laid off last month, dutifully reported it on my initial application, then made the fatal mistake of reporting it AGAIN during my first certification because that's when it actually hit my bank account. The EDD certification form really does make it seem like you should report ALL income received during that period - there's absolutely no indication that payments already on your initial claim should be excluded! Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has given me so much confidence to finally pick up the phone and call. I was honestly dreading it because of all the horror stories about EDD wait times, but seeing how quickly people got their issues resolved once they reached a knowledgeable rep is really encouraging. Planning to start my calling marathon tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp with the 1-800-300-5616 number. I'll be super specific about the potential severance double-reporting issue right from the start and cross my fingers for that callback option everyone raves about. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share such detailed updates - this thread is going to save so many people from weeks of unnecessary stress! Will definitely come back with my own resolution story once I get through.