This whole thread is such a lifesaver! I'm bookmarking it because I know I'll probably run into this issue again. The EDD website seems to break in new and creative ways every few months. One thing I wanted to add - if you're still having trouble after trying all these solutions, don't forget that you can also visit a local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) office if there's one near you. They have computers and staff who can help you log in and certify in person. I had to do this once when their system was down for days and I was about to miss my certification window. Not the most convenient option, but it's there as a last resort. Really appreciate everyone sharing their workarounds - this community is way more helpful than EDD's actual tech support!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to log in for the past two days and it just sits on that loading screen forever. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, restarting my computer, even tried on my phone with mobile data. Nothing works! My certification deadline is this weekend and I'm starting to panic. Thank you everyone for sharing all these solutions - I'm going to try the early morning approach and incognito mode first thing tomorrow. It's so frustrating that we have to become IT experts just to access our benefits. Really appreciate this community for actually providing helpful solutions when EDD's own support is useless!

After reading through all the advice here, I think the key points for your situation are: 1. Be honest but focus on your current availability for work 2. Prepare for an eligibility interview where you'll need to explain your situation in detail 3. Start documenting your work search activities immediately 4. Have a financial backup plan for possible payment delays And remember that EDD decisions can be appealed if needed. Many people initially get denied but are approved on appeal once they have a chance to fully explain their circumstances. Good luck with your claim!

Just wanted to add that timing can be really important here. Make sure you apply for UI as soon as your PFL claim ends - don't wait weeks thinking about it because there could be gaps in coverage that affect your benefit year. Also, when they ask about your work search during certification, make sure you can show you've been actively looking since you became available again (not while you were still on PFL obviously). I've seen people get tripped up because they waited too long to transition between programs or couldn't prove they were genuinely available for work immediately after their caregiving responsibilities ended. Document everything and keep records of when your dad's new care arrangements started - that date is crucial for showing when you became available for employment again.

I actually tried the multiple ATM approach when I was in a similar bind a few months ago. I was able to get $1000 from a Bank of America ATM around 2pm, then went to a Wells Fargo ATM around 6pm the same day and got another $500 (not the full $1000 though). I think it might have worked because they're on different networks, but honestly I'm not 100% sure if it was just luck or if there's actually a strategy there. The limits seem pretty inconsistent overall. If you're really tight on time and need the full $1800 fast, you might want to try hitting 2-3 different bank ATMs throughout the day and see what happens. Just make sure to space them out by a few hours. But definitely still set up that bank transfer as your backup plan since that's the most reliable long-term solution!

I've been dealing with Money Network cards for over a year now and wanted to share what I've learned about maximizing your withdrawal options when you need larger amounts quickly. The key thing to understand is that different ATM networks often have different daily limit tracking systems. I've successfully withdrawn $1000 from a Chase ATM in the morning, then another $800-900 from a credit union ATM later the same day. The trick is to avoid ATMs from the same bank/network and space them out by at least 4-6 hours. Also, if you're really in a pinch, some grocery stores like Safeway or Kroger will let you get cash back up to $200-300 with a small purchase, and this doesn't always count against your ATM withdrawal limit since it's processed as a purchase transaction. Between ATM withdrawals and cash back options, I've managed to get around $1500 in cash in a single day when I absolutely had to. Just make sure to keep your receipts and track everything so you know how much you've accessed!

I've been dealing with similar Money Network access issues for months now and want to add one more solution that's worked for me multiple times. If you're still getting the "service not available" error after trying all the browser fixes, check if your computer's DNS settings are using your ISP's default servers. I switched to using Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare's (1.1.1.1) and that resolved the issue immediately. Apparently some ISP DNS servers get flagged by Money Network's overly paranoid security system. You can change this in your network adapter settings or router configuration. Also, I've noticed that if you get locked out, waiting exactly 24 hours before trying again seems to work better than repeatedly attempting to log in. Their system appears to have some kind of "cooldown period" that gets extended if you keep trying too soon. It's absolutely insane that we need to become network engineers just to access our unemployment benefits, but hopefully this helps someone avoid the panic and frustration I went through! Keep that backup phone number handy (1-866-320-8699) - it's been a lifesaver when all else fails.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just got locked out this morning with that frustrating "service not available" message. This thread is incredibly helpful - way more useful than Money Network's customer service has ever been. I'm going to work through these solutions systematically, starting with the browser switch (Firefox instead of Chrome) that worked for @Natasha Romanova, then try the wired connection approach if needed. The DNS server tip from @Daniel White is really interesting - I never would have thought that ISP DNS could trigger their security system, but given how broken Money Network's fraud detection seems to be, it makes perfect sense. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a community troubleshooting guide just to access our own benefits! I've been putting off switching to direct deposit but after reading about all these ongoing issues, I think it's time to make the change through UI Online. Thanks everyone for sharing actual working solutions instead of the generic "technical difficulties" responses we get from official support. Bookmarking this thread and that backup phone number (1-866-320-8699) for future reference! 🙏

I'm dealing with something similar - used a callback service about a week ago and still waiting. The anxiety is real! One thing I've learned from reading these threads is that these services can take longer than expected, especially during peak times. I'm giving mine until the end of this week before I consider disputing the charge. In the meantime, I've been documenting everything - screenshots of the payment, confirmation emails, etc. It's frustrating because we're already dealing with EDD stress and then have to worry about whether these paid services even work. Solidarity to everyone going through this nightmare! 💪

Same boat here! Used a callback service 5 days ago and still waiting. The worst part is not knowing if it's even working or if I just threw my money away. I've been refreshing my email and checking my phone obsessively. Has anyone tried contacting the callback service directly to ask for updates? I'm wondering if they at least give you some kind of status update or if you're just supposed to wait blindly. This whole EDD situation is such a nightmare - we shouldn't have to pay third parties just to access basic government services! 😤