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Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this nightmare twice in the past year. The most important thing I learned is to be persistent but strategic about when you call. I kept a log of every call - time, wait time, outcome, and representative name if I got through. Money Network's system shows your call history, so if you reference previous conversations, they're more likely to help. Also, I discovered that their "emergency card replacement" option exists but they don't advertise it - you have to specifically ask for a supervisor and use the words "financial hardship due to delayed card delivery." It's a different process than regular expedited shipping and sometimes they waive the fee. One more tip: if you're on social media, posting about the delay on Money Network's Twitter/X account sometimes gets faster responses than calling. They hate public complaints. Stay strong everyone - this system is designed to wear you down but your benefits are YOUR money and you deserve access to it!
This is incredibly detailed and helpful advice! I love the idea of keeping a log of calls - that's so smart and organized. I'm definitely going to start doing that tomorrow. And I had no idea about the "emergency card replacement" option being different from regular expedited shipping. The specific wording about "financial hardship due to delayed card delivery" is really valuable to know. I'm also going to try the social media approach - sometimes public pressure really does work faster than endless phone calls. Thanks for sharing these strategic tips from someone who's actually been through this multiple times. It gives me hope that there are still some options I haven't tried yet!
I just went through this exact situation last month and it was absolutely horrible! The waiting is torture when you can see your money sitting there but can't access it. Here's what finally worked for me: I called Money Network at exactly 8 AM PST (as Paolo suggested) and got through in about 25 minutes instead of hours. When I got a rep, I specifically asked to speak with a supervisor about "emergency card replacement due to financial hardship" - those exact words that Paige mentioned are key! The supervisor was actually sympathetic and expedited my card for free (normally $15) because I explained I was about to be evicted. It arrived in 2 business days. Also, while waiting, I used the 211 helpline tip and got connected to a local food pantry that helped with groceries. Don't give up - be persistent with the calls and try multiple approaches. The system is broken but there are people who will help if you keep pushing. You've got this!
This is exactly the kind of success story I needed to hear right now! I'm so glad you were able to get your card expedited for free - that gives me hope that there are still compassionate people working there who understand how desperate these situations can be. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8 AM sharp tomorrow and use those exact words about "emergency card replacement due to financial hardship." The fact that you got it in just 2 business days is amazing. I'm also going to call 211 today to see what local resources might be available while I wait. Thank you so much for sharing your success story - sometimes when you're in the middle of this nightmare, it helps to know that other people actually made it through and got results. Really appreciate you taking the time to give us hope!
I'm new to this community and dealing with almost the identical situation! My husband just exhausted his regular UI benefits and we're seeing that same "not paid" status with the confusing message about waiting for a paper notice. Plus we have 2 weeks from January that are still stuck in pending status. Reading through all these responses has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think we'd done something wrong or that his claim was broken somehow. It's incredibly reassuring to learn that this mix of paid/pending/not paid statuses is actually normal during the transition to extensions, not some kind of system error. The consistent advice I'm seeing is really helpful: keep certifying every two weeks regardless of the status, get through to EDD specifically about those old pending weeks since they won't auto-resolve, and expect that paper notice within 1-2 weeks. Has anyone here dealt with pending weeks that were stuck for different reasons than work search issues? I'm trying to figure out what might have flagged our January weeks since my husband was definitely doing his work searches and reporting everything correctly. Either way, sounds like we need to bite the bullet and try to get through to an agent - maybe that Claimyr service others have mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences! This community is amazing for navigating EDD's confusing system.
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and going through something really similar. From what I've been reading in this thread, pending weeks can get stuck for various reasons beyond work search issues - @Miguel Castro mentioned his were flagged for an unreported work search activity, but I ve'seen other posts in this community mention things like identity verification holds, wage discrepancies, or even just random system glitches that require manual review. The frustrating part is that EDD doesn t'always tell you what caused the flag, so you re'left guessing until you actually get through to an agent. Your January weeks being stuck for this long definitely sounds like something that needs human intervention. The Claimyr service that @Javier Morales recommended seems to be getting good feedback from people here - might be worth trying since the regular phone lines are such a nightmare. Keep us posted on how it goes!
I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My husband's claim shows that same confusing mix - regular benefits exhausted, then one "not paid" week with the paper notice message, plus we have 3 weeks from February that are still pending. Before finding this thread I was convinced something was seriously broken with his claim. It's such a relief to read everyone's experiences and learn this is actually normal during benefit transitions! The consistent advice about continuing to certify while waiting and tackling those pending weeks separately makes total sense. We've been hesitant to keep certifying because we weren't sure if we should, but it sounds like that's exactly what we need to do. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got their pending weeks resolved, did you notice any pattern in how long they'd been stuck before you called? Ours have been pending for about 6 weeks now with zero communication from EDD about why. Based on what everyone's sharing here, it seems like these don't resolve on their own and really do need agent intervention. We're definitely going to try that Claimyr service people have mentioned since regular calling seems impossible. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is invaluable for navigating EDD's confusing system!
Welcome to the community! I'm also brand new here and dealing with an almost identical situation. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences, the length of time pending weeks have been stuck doesn't seem to follow a clear pattern - I've seen people mention anywhere from a few weeks to several months. @Miguel Castro had 4 weeks stuck for almost 3 months, while others got theirs resolved after just a few weeks of being pending. The key seems to be that none of them resolved automatically - they all required getting through to an actual EDD agent. Your 6 weeks of pending with no communication sounds frustrating but unfortunately pretty typical based on what people are sharing. The Claimyr service really does seem like the way to go since so many people here have had success with it. Definitely keep certifying those new weeks while you work on getting the old ones resolved!
I've been dealing with CalJOBS login issues on and off for months now! Reading through all these suggestions is so helpful - it's crazy how many different things can cause the same problem. What worked for me was actually a combination of several fixes: I had to use my original email (not the updated one), clear my browser data, disable my ad blocker, AND wait about an hour between attempts because of those session timeout issues someone mentioned. It took like 4 different tries over 2 days, but I finally got back in! One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're using a VPN, try turning it off. CalJOBS seems to get weird about IP addresses that don't match your registered location. Also, make sure your computer's date and time are correct - I know it sounds random, but I've had login issues with other government sites when my system clock was off by even a few minutes. Don't give up! This system is definitely broken in so many ways, but with patience and trying different combinations of these fixes, you'll eventually get through. The fact that so many people here have found solutions gives me hope that there's a way around every CalJOBS glitch! 💪
OMG thank you for mentioning the VPN thing! I've been using NordVPN this whole time and never thought it could be causing issues. The system clock tip is genius too - I would never have connected those dots. It's so frustrating that CalJOBS is this finicky about everything, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions. I'm going to try your combination approach: original email + clear data + disable extensions + turn off VPN + wait between attempts. Fingers crossed one of these combos finally works! This thread has been more helpful than any official CalJOBS support page I've found. 🤞
I've been lurking in this thread for a while and wanted to share what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration! I tried almost everything mentioned here (clearing cache, different browsers, original email, disabling extensions) but what ultimately solved it was creating a completely new CalJOBS account with a different email address. I know it sounds extreme, but I was able to transfer my job search history and saved applications by contacting CalJOBS support at (916) 654-7799 (thanks to whoever shared that number earlier!). They merged my old account data into the new one within a few business days. Sometimes the account just gets corrupted beyond repair and starting fresh is the only solution. Before you go nuclear like I did though, definitely try all the other suggestions first - especially the VPN/network issues, browser extensions, and session timeout fixes. But if you've exhausted all options and still can't get in after a week or more, don't be afraid to start over. It was actually less stressful than continuing to bang my head against the wall! Good luck everyone! 🙌
Hey Mason! I just wanted to chime in as someone who works at a benefits advocacy organization - you've gotten some really solid advice here already. Your situation is exactly what the "good cause quit" provision was designed for. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you're gathering your documentation, also try to get something in writing from your new employer acknowledging the delay if possible. Even just a brief email confirming "Yes, your start date has been moved from September 6 to October 24 due to project delays" can be really helpful. Sometimes having the employer confirm the timeline change directly makes the case even stronger. Also, don't be discouraged if your initial application gets flagged for review - that's totally normal for voluntary quit cases. The system is designed to catch these situations and route them to human reviewers who can evaluate the specific circumstances. You're being really proactive by applying right away and gathering all this documentation. Most people in your situation do get approved, it just takes some patience with the process. Wishing you the best of luck!
This is really great advice about getting written confirmation from the new employer! I hadn't thought about asking them to formally acknowledge the delay in writing, but that makes perfect sense. I'll reach out to my new manager today and ask for a brief email confirming the timeline change from September 6 to October 24. Having that direct confirmation from them should definitely strengthen my case. Thanks for the reassurance that flagged applications are normal for voluntary quit cases too - that helps set proper expectations for the process. I really appreciate all the support and advice from everyone here! It's been incredibly helpful to hear from people who've been through similar situations.
Mason, I just wanted to add one more consideration that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the "able and available" requirement while you're receiving benefits. This means that technically, if another suitable job opportunity came up before October 24th, you'd be expected to consider it rather than just waiting for your delayed position. That said, "suitable work" has specific definitions - it generally needs to match your skills, pay reasonably compared to your previous job, and be within a reasonable commuting distance. You wouldn't be required to take just any minimum wage job, for example. But it's worth understanding this requirement going in, especially since you'll need to do work search activities while collecting benefits. Also, when you do your weekly certifications, you'll be asked if you turned down any work - just be honest and document everything. If you do get other opportunities that you decline because you're waiting for your October start date, make sure you can justify why based on the "suitable work" criteria. Your case still sounds very strong for approval, just wanted you to be aware of all the requirements so there are no surprises later on!
This is such an important point that I'm glad you brought up! I hadn't really thought about the "able and available" requirement and what that might mean for my situation. Since I'm essentially waiting for a specific job to start, I want to make sure I handle this correctly. Do you know if there's any flexibility in the "suitable work" definition when you have a confirmed job starting in a few weeks? Like, would I be expected to take a temporary position that might conflict with my October 24th start date? I definitely want to be compliant with all the requirements, but I also don't want to jeopardize the position I already have lined up. I'll make sure to be completely honest on the weekly certifications and document any opportunities that come up. Thanks for thinking ahead about this - it's exactly the kind of detail I need to be prepared for!
Great question about the "suitable work" flexibility! From what I understand, EDD does consider your specific circumstances when evaluating job refusals. Since you have a confirmed position starting October 24th, you likely wouldn't be required to accept a permanent full-time job that would conflict with that start date. However, you might still be expected to consider temporary or contract work that could end before October 24th. The key is being able to demonstrate that refusing other work is reasonable given your confirmed employment. Having that written confirmation from your new employer about the October 24th start date will be crucial if you need to justify turning down other opportunities. EDD generally understands that people need to honor existing commitments. Just make sure to document your reasoning for any job refusals - something like "declined due to conflict with confirmed employment starting October 24th" should be sufficient. The work search requirement is more about showing you're genuinely engaged in the labor market, not about forcing you to take positions that would sabotage your confirmed employment.
Nia Thompson
I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! Filed my first certification about a week ago and it's been stuck on pending ever since. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's reassuring to know that 6-10 days seems to be pretty normal for first-time certifications. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're used to regular paychecks and have bills due, but it sounds like patience is key with EDD's system. I'm going to hold off on calling until I hit that 10-14 day mark that several people mentioned. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice - this community is a lifesaver for navigating the EDD maze!
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Jackson Carter
•I'm so glad this thread exists too! I just went through the same thing last month and the uncertainty was the worst part. One thing that helped me stay sane during the wait was setting up a routine to only check the portal once in the morning instead of obsessively refreshing throughout the day. Also, if it helps ease your mind, I'd recommend double-checking that all your personal info matches exactly between your UI Online account and your ID documents - sometimes tiny discrepancies can cause additional review delays. You're definitely on the right track waiting until the 10-14 day mark before calling. Fingers crossed your status updates soon!
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Brandon Parker
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just submitted my first certification 4 days ago and seeing "pending" every time I log in is making me so anxious. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - it sounds like 6-10 days is totally normal for first-time payments. I had no idea about the additional verification process they do for new claims, which explains the delay. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't explain this upfront on their website! I'm going to try to be patient and wait until the 10-day mark before attempting to call. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice - knowing I'm not alone in this waiting game definitely helps with the stress!
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StarStrider
•I totally get that anxiety! I'm actually on day 3 of waiting for my first certification to process and have been checking the portal way too often. It's so helpful to read everyone's experiences here - I had no idea that first payments typically take longer due to verification checks. The lack of clear communication from EDD about expected timelines really adds unnecessary stress to an already difficult situation. I'm trying to follow the advice about only checking once a day instead of constantly refreshing. Hopefully we'll both see our statuses change soon! This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding what's actually normal vs. what might be a real problem.
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