Adding cash to EDD Money Network card - Bank deposit possible?
I just started getting my unemployment benefits on the EDD Money Network debit card, but I'm working a few hours at a side gig where I get cash tips. Can I deposit this cash directly onto my EDD card somehow? I know I can withdraw from ATMs, but wasn't sure if I could do the reverse and make a cash deposit. Would I need to go to a specific bank or can I use any ATM that accepts deposits? Really need to consolidate all my money in one place right now.
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Sophia Long
No, you cannot make cash deposits directly onto your EDD Money Network debit card. The card is designed to receive payments from EDD only. If you want to deposit cash, you'll need to open a regular bank account and then transfer money from that account to your EDD card using the Money Network mobile app or website.
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Carter Holmes
•Seriously? That's so inconvenient! Does anybody know if opening a regular bank account would affect my unemployment benefits at all? I'm reporting all my side income properly on my certifications.
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Angelica Smith
The previous commenter is correct. EDD debit cards are not designed to accept cash deposits. These cards are only meant to receive your benefit payments. For your side hustle cash, you'd need to deposit it into a regular bank account first, then you could transfer funds to your EDD card if you wanted to consolidate. Having a bank account won't affect your unemployment eligibility as long as you're correctly reporting all income on your bi-weekly certifications.
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Logan Greenburg
•ya i had the same problem last yr... ended up just opening a checking acct at wells fargo. much easier than trying 2 use the EDD card for everything. EDD cards have weird fees anyway
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Charlotte Jones
I actually tried to do this exact thing last month at my local Bank of America thinking I could deposit cash onto my EDD card. The teller looked at me like I was from Mars!! She explained that the Money Network cards ONLY receive funds from EDD and cannot accept external deposits. You're better off opening a basic checking account (try a credit union for lower fees) and transferring between accounts as needed. Just make sure you're reporting that side income when you certify!!
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Lucas Bey
•This is why the EDD system is so FRUSTRATING. They make everything so complicated! Why can't they just use normal bank accounts instead of these stupid special cards with all these limitations?? Just another way to make life difficult for people who are already struggling!
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Harper Thompson
If you're having trouble getting information directly from EDD about your card options, I'd recommend using Claimyr to connect with an EDD representative quickly. I was confused about my card limitations too and spent days trying to reach someone. Claimyr got me through to an actual person who explained everything. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. They saved me hours of frustration trying to get basic information about my benefits.
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Logan Greenburg
•does this actually work? i hate waiting on hold forever just to get disconnected
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Harper Thompson
•It definitely worked for me. I got through in about 25 minutes instead of spending days redialing. The representative explained all the card limitations and transfer options.
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Caleb Stark
heres what i do - i take my cash to walmart and buy a money order (small fee like $1) then mobile deposit that to my regular bank account. then i can transfer to my edd card if i want but usually i just keep money separate. makes it easier for taxes anyway since i gotta report the side hustle income
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Carter Holmes
•That's actually really smart! I hadn't thought about the money order approach. And good point about keeping things separate for tax purposes. I'll probably try doing it this way, thanks!
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Sophia Long
One important thing to remember: make sure you're correctly reporting ALL income from your cash tips on your bi-weekly EDD certifications. Even if you keep the money separate, you still need to report that income for the week you earned it. Failure to report income properly can result in overpayment notices and potential penalties down the road.
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Carter Holmes
•Don't worry, I'm definitely reporting everything correctly. Just wanted an easier way to manage my money. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!
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Michael Adams
Another option to consider is getting a reloadable prepaid card like Green Dot or Netspend that allows cash deposits at participating retailers. You can load your cash tips onto those cards at places like CVS, Walgreens, or 7-Eleven (usually a small fee around $3-5). Then you can use that card for purchases or transfer the money to a regular bank account later. It's not as convenient as being able to deposit directly to your EDD card, but it gives you more flexibility than having to deal with money orders every time you get cash tips.
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Chloe Martin
•That's a really good suggestion! I didn't even think about reloadable prepaid cards. The fees are pretty reasonable too compared to some other options. Do you know if those cards work well with mobile banking apps for transfers? I'm trying to avoid having to go to physical locations all the time since my work schedule is pretty unpredictable.
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Sofia Perez
•Yeah, most of the major reloadable cards like Green Dot and Netspend have pretty decent mobile apps these days. You can usually set up transfers to your bank account right from the app once you link them together. Just make sure to check the transfer fees - some are free but might take a few days, while instant transfers usually cost a couple dollars. Also heads up that you'll need to verify your identity when you first set up the card, but after that it's pretty smooth for loading cash and moving money around.
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Chloe Delgado
I'm in a similar situation with cash tips from my part-time job! What I ended up doing was opening a free checking account at a local credit union specifically for my side income. Credit unions usually have lower fees than big banks, and many offer completely free checking with no minimum balance. I deposit my cash there, then use their mobile app to transfer money to my main account when needed. It also makes it super easy to track my side income separately for when I file taxes next year. Plus having that separate account gives me a clear record of exactly how much I earned from tips each week when I do my EDD certifications.
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Jay Lincoln
•That's exactly what I was thinking about doing! I've been looking at a few local credit unions and they definitely seem way better than the big banks for fees. Did you have any issues when you opened the account? Like did they ask a lot of questions about why you needed it or anything? I'm just worried about making things complicated with my unemployment situation, even though I know having a bank account shouldn't affect anything as long as I'm reporting my income correctly.
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