Direct deposit delay vs EDD debit card - which is actually faster for payment?
I certified for my UI benefits on Sunday morning and still haven't received my payment via direct deposit. When I first applied in January, I chose direct deposit because the EDD website said it was faster than the Money Network debit card, but now I'm questioning that decision. My bank usually deposits my paychecks 2 days early when employers send direct deposits, so I assumed EDD would be similar. Back in 2020 when my roommate was on unemployment with the debit card, her money was always there Monday morning after Sunday certification. It's now Tuesday afternoon and still nothing in my account. Is direct deposit actually slower? Should I switch to the debit card or keep waiting? At what point should I call EDD to check if something's wrong with my claim?
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AstroExplorer
From my experience, the Money Network card IS faster. I switched from direct deposit to the card after waiting 3-4 days every time for my bank to process the EDD deposits. With the card, the money usually shows up within 24 hours after certification. If your payment status shows "paid" in UI Online but the money isn't in your account yet, that's your bank being slow, not EDD.
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Amara Nwosu
•Thanks for the info! Where exactly do I check if my payment shows as "paid" in UI Online? I'm still learning to navigate the system.
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Giovanni Moretti
Check your UI Online homepage under "Payment Activity" - it should show the status as either pending or paid. Direct deposit typically takes 24-48 BUSINESS hours after showing as paid in the system. Since you certified Sunday, and Monday was a business day, you should see it by end of day Wednesday at the latest. Bank processing times vary wildly. If it shows as 'paid' in UI Online but hasn't hit your account by Thursday, then call your bank first before EDD.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•THIS! So many ppl dont realize the status updates b4 calling edd!! And btw u should defintely check if u have a "pending" certifcation b/c that means u need 2 fix something first!!
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Dylan Cooper
my money always came quicker on the card then when I switched to direct deposit it started taking foreeeever. like 3-4 days every time. went back to the card and problem solved!
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Amara Nwosu
•Really? That's frustrating. Did you have to wait for a new card to be sent when you switched back or did your old one still work?
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Sofia Perez
Let me clarify how the timing actually works for both payment methods: 1. Direct Deposit: Once EDD shows "paid" in the system, it typically takes 1-2 business days for ACH processing to your bank. Then your bank might hold it another 0-2 business days depending on their policies. 2. Money Network Card: Funds appear on the card typically within 24-48 hours after showing as "paid" in the system, sometimes faster because it's EDD's contracted payment provider. Before you switch payment methods, check your UI Online account under Payment Activity to see if your payment status is actually "paid" yet or still "pending." If it's still pending, the delay isn't about your payment method - there might be an eligibility issue the EDD is reviewing.
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Amara Nwosu
•I just checked and it shows "paid" as of yesterday afternoon. I guess my bank is just taking its time even though they're usually quick with other deposits. Thanks for the detailed explanation!
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Dmitry Smirnov
I've tried calling EDD about payment delays SO MANY TIMES and it's just busy signals or the "too many callers" message EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! Been trying for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT!!! HOW is anyone supposed to get help??? This system is DESIGNED to make us fail!!
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ElectricDreamer
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It got me through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or see their demo video https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km - definitely worth it when you're dealing with payment issues or need to talk to someone about your claim status. The rep I spoke with fixed my payment issue immediately once I actually reached someone.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
i had direct deposit the whole time last year and it was always in my account by Tuesday morning after sunday certification!! never had issues but i think it depends on your bank too? some banks r faster than others with processing
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AstroExplorer
•This is a really good point. Different banks definitely process ACH transfers at different speeds. Credit unions can sometimes be slower than big banks in my experience.
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Dylan Cooper
wait do u need a seperate elegiblity interview? thats why my payment was pending last month they scheduled me for an interview but never called!!
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Giovanni Moretti
•No, eligibility interviews are only required if there's a specific issue with your claim. The system would clearly show a scheduled interview date in your UI Online portal if that was the case. What OP is describing sounds like a standard bank processing delay for direct deposit, not an eligibility issue.
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Amara Nwosu
Update: My payment FINALLY hit my account this morning (Wednesday). So that's about 3 full days after certification. I'm going to stick with direct deposit for now, but if I have issues again, I might try switching to the Money Network card. Thanks everyone for your help and sharing your experiences!
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Sofia Perez
•Glad to hear it came through! That timeline is actually pretty normal for direct deposit. Just remember that bank holidays can add extra days to processing time too.
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