This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm about to start my unemployment claim and had no idea this tax withholding checkbox even existed, let alone how confusing it would be. Reading everyone's experiences really shows how widespread this problem is - it's clearly a design issue, not user error. The mental frameworks people have shared are brilliant: thinking of it as an "opt out" checkbox or a "No Thank You" button for tax withholding makes the confusing wording finally make sense. I'm definitely going to remember that if I want taxes taken out (which I do!), I need to leave it UNCHECKED. It's frustrating that EDD hasn't fixed such obvious confusing language after so many people make this expensive mistake. A simple rewording like "Check here if you want 10% federal taxes withheld from your benefits" would eliminate all this confusion instantly. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and solutions - you're potentially saving newcomers like me thousands of dollars in unexpected tax bills! I'm bookmarking this thread for reference and will be extra careful when I get to that certification form.

This thread is a perfect example of why user experience design matters so much, especially for government services! I'm a UX designer and reading through everyone's experiences with that checkbox makes me want to cry - this is such a textbook case of how poor interface design can cause real financial harm to people. The double negative wording ("Do NOT withhold...") is essentially asking users to solve a logic puzzle when they're already stressed about their financial situation. In UX, we have a principle called "don't make me think" - interfaces should be intuitive, not require mental gymnastics to understand. A better design would be something like: "Federal Tax Withholding: ○ Yes, withhold 10% for federal taxes (recommended) ○ No, I'll handle taxes myself" Simple, clear, no room for confusion. The fact that this same issue comes up repeatedly shows EDD really needs to invest in user testing and plain language design. Until then, threads like this are literally saving people thousands of dollars! For anyone still confused: UNCHECKED box = taxes withheld. That's it. Don't overthink it!

I've been collecting UI for about 10 months now and wanted to share what I've learned about EDD payment timing since you're still figuring out the pattern. Once your status shows "paid" in UI Online, it's typically 2-3 business days for direct deposit, but the exact timing depends on your bank's processing schedule. Since you certified Sunday and it already shows paid on Tuesday, that's actually pretty fast processing on EDD's end. For Wells Fargo specifically, I've noticed they usually process EDD deposits in the early morning hours (around 3-5 AM) on weekdays. Given that your status changed to paid yesterday evening, I'd expect to see it in your account Thursday morning. One thing that really helped me was setting up account alerts through Wells Fargo's mobile app - you'll get notified the moment any deposit hits, so you don't have to keep checking manually. Also keep in mind that while weekends don't technically count as processing days, I've occasionally seen deposits hit on Saturday mornings if everything aligns just right. The key is that once you see "paid" status, the money is definitely on its way!

I've been on UI for about 3 months now and use Bank of America for direct deposit. In my experience, once your status changes to "paid" in UI Online, it typically takes 1-2 business days to show up in my account. Bank of America seems to be pretty quick with EDD deposits compared to some other banks I've heard about. Since you certified Sunday and it's already showing paid on Tuesday, I'd expect to see it in your account by Wednesday night or Thursday morning at the latest. One thing I noticed is that BoA usually processes these deposits in the evening/overnight, so I typically see the money when I check in the morning. The timing has been very consistent for me - rarely takes more than 48 hours once it shows paid status. Just make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your UI Online account under the payment settings!

I'm also filing for unemployment for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen asked yet - when you set up direct deposit during the initial application, do you need to provide any additional verification like a voided check, or is just entering the routing and account numbers sufficient? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I sit down to file. Also, does anyone know if EDD sends any kind of confirmation that your direct deposit is set up correctly, or do you just have to wait until your first payment to know if it worked?

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's helped several family members through the EDD process over the past couple years. Direct deposit is absolutely the way to go, but I'd recommend setting up a dedicated checking account just for your unemployment benefits if possible. This makes it SO much easier to track your payments and manage your budget while you're job hunting. Plus, if there are ever any issues with EDD needing to recover overpayments or anything like that, it won't affect your main banking account where you might have automatic bill payments set up. I use a free checking account at my credit union specifically for government benefits, and it gives me great peace of mind. The direct deposit works exactly the same way, but everything stays organized and separate from my regular finances.

Just wanted to follow up and see if you've had any luck getting your payments processed? Did you end up calling EDD? Sometimes after the interview, they're waiting for employer verification which can cause delays but they don't always tell you that's what they're waiting for.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always tell people not to wait too long after an interview if payments stay pending. Employer disputes are super common and can hold up everything, but EDD rarely proactively tells you that's what's happening. Your story will definitely help others in similar situations - calling really does make a difference even though it's a pain to get through. Congrats on getting your payments released!

So glad you got your payment in time for rent! This is really helpful for others to see the actual timeline. I'm dealing with a similar situation - certified yesterday and still showing pending. Your timeline gives me hope that I should see the status change to paid by tonight or tomorrow morning. The stress of waiting for that first payment is unreal when you're counting every dollar!

Really appreciate you sharing your complete timeline and updates throughout the process! This is exactly the kind of real-world info that helps so much when you're in that anxious waiting period. Your 2.5 day timeline from certification to money on card seems pretty typical for first payments. It's such a relief when that status finally flips to "paid" and you know the money is actually coming. Hope this thread helps other people going through the same stress of waiting for their first EDD payment!