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EDD debit card expired - can I transfer funds while waiting for replacement?

Realized my EDD Money Network card expired last week and I've still got $1,870 sitting on it. I requested a new card yesterday (took forever to get through to customer service!), but they said it'll take 7-10 business days to arrive. Has anyone been in this situation? Can I still transfer the money to my bank account through the Money Network app while I'm waiting for the new physical card to arrive? I've got rent due next week and really need to access those funds ASAP. Tried logging into the app but it's giving me some error about card verification.

when my husban card expired we couldn't do transfers online at all we had to wait for new card. so frustrating!!! but my neighbor said she could do it fine so maybe it depends on how ur account is setup?? wish they would make it more clear

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You're right - it does depend on account setup. If someone only ever used their card number/PIN to log in, they'll lose access when the card expires. But if they created a username/password in the Money Network system, they can still log in and transfer funds. This is why it's important to set up those separate login credentials as soon as you get your EDD card.

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For anyone else reading this with an active EDD card that hasn't expired yet: go set up your Money Network account with a username and password NOW, not just using your card details. This will save you from being locked out when your card eventually expires. Also, consider setting up direct deposit to your bank account rather than keeping large amounts on the EDD card - it's much more convenient and avoids exactly this kind of situation.

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Update: Called Money Network again and got a different rep who was more helpful. Since I couldn't verify with the expired card, they asked me security questions to verify my identity. They were able to help me set up a username/password and I just successfully transferred the funds to my bank account! Should have the money in 2-3 business days. So relieved!

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EDD denied my husband's claim for summer break at university - appeal options?

My husband has been working as a teaching assistant at State University for the past 2 years. When summer break started in June, he filed for unemployment since the university doesn't offer any summer positions for his department. Yesterday, we got a notice from EDD saying his claim was denied because he has "reasonable assurance of employment" when fall semester starts in September. This makes no sense to me! We still have bills to pay for July and August - rent alone is $2,300! How are we supposed to make it through the next 6-7 weeks with zero income? Has anyone else who works in education dealt with this? Can we appeal this decision? If so, what should we include in the appeal to have the best chance of getting it approved? We're getting desperate here.

My cousin had this exact problem with his community college job!! He appealed and won but it was because he could prove his hours weren't guaranteed to be the same. Took forever tho and we had to loan him money for rent while waiting :/

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That's good to know it's possible to win these appeals! We might need to borrow money too while waiting. How long did your cousin's appeal take from filing to decision?

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It was like 7 or 8 weeks I think? The worst part was not knowing if he'd win or not. But when he did win they paid all the back weeks at once so that helped catch up on bills.

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While you're waiting for the appeal process, check if your husband qualifies for any emergency assistance programs. Some options: - CalFresh (food assistance) - you may qualify even with income slightly above the normal limits due to having reduced income - Local rental assistance programs (many counties have emergency funds) - Utility payment assistance programs (LIHEAP or similar) - Credit union emergency loans (often have better terms than payday loans) Also, has your husband checked if the university offers any summer grants or hardship funds for staff? Some institutions have emergency funds for employees that most people don't know about.

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Thank you for these suggestions! We hadn't thought about CalFresh - I'll look into that right away. I'm not sure about university hardship funds, but that's a great idea to check on. Anything would help at this point while we navigate the appeal process.

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Paper checks vs Money Network cards for EDD payments - true delivery times?

Just switched my EDD payment method from direct deposit to paper checks after my bank account got hacked last month. The EDD website says checks take 7-10 business days, but I'm desperate for this money to hit ASAP to cover rent. Has anyone actually received their paper checks faster than the official timeline? Also, I was originally considering the Money Network card option but saw some concerning posts about fees and access issues. Would really appreciate hearing real experiences with both options - especially actual delivery times for paper checks vs the "official" timeline. Getting anxious watching my bank balance dwindle while waiting!

I know this is slightly off-topic but has anyone else noticed that EDD seems to be doing a lot more eligibility interviews lately? I just got a notice for one even though I've been on claim for 4 months with no issues. Wonder if this is related to the payment method stuff somehow?

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It's not related to payment methods. EDD typically conducts random eligibility interviews throughout your claim period, especially if there are changes in your certification answers or if you're approaching the end of your benefit year. They've increased these reviews since the widespread fraud during COVID.

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Since we're discussing EDD payment options, it's worth mentioning that returning to direct deposit might be a safer option than both paper checks and Money Network cards if your banking situation stabilizes. Direct deposit payments typically post within 1-2 business days after certification processes, making it the fastest method overall. You can update your payment preference at any time through your UI Online account. If you're concerned about security with direct deposit, consider opening a separate account specifically for EDD benefits that you transfer funds out of immediately. This provides both the speed of direct deposit and protection from potential account compromise.

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That's a smart idea about having a separate account just for EDD deposits. I might look into that once I get my banking situation sorted out. For now, I'm relieved to hear that paper checks should arrive faster than the official timeline suggests. Thanks for the advice!

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EDD eligibility interview scheduled but just received certification email - confused about my attendance termination case

I got fired from my restaurant job last month for missing too many shifts (had some family emergencies) and applied for unemployment. EDD scheduled an eligibility interview for this Thursday to discuss my termination circumstances, but just today I received an email telling me to certify for benefits? I'm confused - does getting the certification email mean they're okay with my situation and might cancel the interview? Also, I can't even log into UI Online to do the certification because my account number isn't working. The system says I opened a UI claim previously (I did back in 2021 briefly), so I can't use the new account number they gave me. How am I supposed to certify if I can't even log in? Anyone dealt with this before? Should I wait until after the interview or try to fix the login issue now?

For your interview, here's what to prepare: 1. Timeline of absences with reasons 2. Any documentation of emergencies (texts, emails, hospital paperwork if available) 3. Know your employer's attendance policy 4. Explain why you couldn't provide proper notice when required 5. Be ready to discuss any prior warnings Stay calm and factual during the interview. The EDD interviewer isn't looking to trick you - they're gathering information to determine if your separation from employment qualifies you for benefits. As for certifying, you should still do it if you can get your account issues resolved, but understand that you won't receive payments until after a favorable eligibility determination.

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Actually, I recommend certifying regardless of whether your interview has happened yet. If your eligibility is approved, EDD will process payments for the weeks you've certified. If you wait to certify until after approval, you'll have to wait even longer for payments. So fix your account issue asap and certify for any weeks you can. For your account issues, when you call EDD, specifically mention that you need to have your previous UI Online account linked to your new claim. This is a common issue they deal with all the time.

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Thanks for the advice! I'll try to get through to them tomorrow morning. Do you think it's better to call right when they open?

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In my experience, calling between 8:01-8:15am or after 1:30pm tends to have slightly better chances of getting through. But honestly, it's always a struggle. That's why some people use services to help them get through.

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Can I still collect EDD if accepting very limited part-time tour guide work ($120 bi-weekly)?

Hi everyone, I'm in a tricky situation and desperately need advice. I've been on unemployment for about 2 months now after losing my marketing job. I just got offered a part-time position giving night tours in my town. Here's the issue - they want me available Thursday through Sunday evenings, BUT they said it's their slow season and I'd likely only give 1 tour every week or even every other week. That's only about $120 per tour! I'm still aggressively searching for full-time work in my field, but I'm terrified that if I accept this tour guide position, EDD will completely cut off my benefits, leaving me with only $120 every 1-2 weeks. That won't even cover my groceries, let alone rent. Does anyone know if I can still collect partial unemployment if I report this minimal part-time income? I understand my weekly benefit amount would be reduced, but I'm absolutely panicking about losing ALL benefits just for accepting 4-8 hours of work per month. Any experience with this kind of situation would be really helpful!

My sister works for EDD (not saying this to brag just giving context lol) and she says one of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they can't work part-time while on unemployment. The system is actually designed to encourage you to take part-time work while searching for full-time jobs! You just need to be honest about your earnings. She also mentioned that tour guide work specifically wouldn't typically cause availability issues since it's outside normal business hours when most interviews and job opportunities would occur anyway. Anyway, take the tour guide job! Some income is better than none, and it won't harm your unemployment as long as you report accurately.

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Thank you - that's really reassuring to hear from someone with insider knowledge! I'll definitely take the tour guide position and make sure I report everything accurately. I appreciate everyone's help - feeling much less anxious about this decision now.

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