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Oscar O'Neil

EDD Direct Deposit option changed to Money Network card - how long for delivery?

Is anyone else confused about the payment method? I swear I selected direct deposit when I filed my claim last week, but when I checked my EDD account today, it says my benefits will be paid through the Money Network card! I never selected this option and now I'm stressing about how long I'll have to wait for this card to arrive. My rent is due next week and I was counting on getting my UI payment directly to my bank account. Has this happened to anyone else? How long did it take for your card to arrive after your claim was approved? This is so frustrating!

This is actually pretty common. The system sometimes defaults to the Money Network card even if you select direct deposit. In my experience, the card usually arrives within 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed. If you need it faster, you can call EDD and ask them to expedite the card delivery, though that's hit or miss if they'll actually do it.

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Oscar O'Neil

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Omg 7-10 BUSINESS days?? That's like two whole weeks! I don't understand why they'd just ignore my direct deposit selection. Do you know if there's any way to switch it back before they send the payment?

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got mine in 6 days but my cousin waited 3 weeks lol. totally random i think. you can call them to check the status but good luck getting thru

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Liv Park

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My roommate got hers in 4 days but I had to wait 12 days for mine. EDD is so random with their timing!

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If you need to actually speak with an EDD representative about changing your payment method back to direct deposit or tracking your card, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in the exact same situation last month and couldn't get through the phone lines for days. Claimyr got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with explained that even if you select direct deposit initially, the first payment often comes on the card while they verify your bank information. After that, you can call and have them switch future payments to direct deposit.

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Oscar O'Neil

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Thanks for the suggestion! I might try this if I can't get through tomorrow. Did they let you switch to direct deposit for future payments after you got the card?

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Ryder Greene

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THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!!! its like they WANT to make everything take longer. my card took 8 days to arrive and then i had to activate it and set a pin and all that bs. so annoying when they could just deposit the $$ directly!!!!!

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Actually, once you have the card, you can transfer the funds to your bank account through the Money Network mobile app or website. It's not as convenient as direct deposit, but it does save you from having to use the card for everything. The transfer usually takes 1-3 business days depending on your bank.

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This is a very common issue with EDD's system. Here's what's happening: When you first file a claim, you do select direct deposit, but EDD still sends the first payment(s) via the Money Network card while they verify your banking information. This is actually a security measure to prevent fraud. Timeframes for receiving the card vary: - Standard delivery: 7-10 business days - Expedited delivery (if requested): 3-5 business days Once you receive the card, you have three options: 1. Use the card as-is (it works anywhere Visa is accepted) 2. Transfer funds from the card to your bank account using the Money Network mobile app 3. Call EDD to confirm your direct deposit information is on file for future payments If you need your payment urgently, call the EDD card customer service at 1-866-692-9374 (not the regular EDD line) and request expedited delivery of your card.

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Oscar O'Neil

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Thank you so much for explaining this! I had no idea it was a security measure. I'll call that card number you provided to see if I can get expedited delivery.

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AaliyahAli

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i remember when i got laid off back in 2023 this happened to me too so dont worry its normal. card came in like 9 days for me but my friend got hers in a week. anyway EDD always says one thing and does another lol welcome to the club

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Liv Park

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While we're waiting for your card to arrive, have you certified for benefits yet? Sometimes people focus so much on the payment method they forget to certify and then wonder why no money is being sent at all! Just a friendly reminder!

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Oscar O'Neil

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Yes, I certified on Sunday! Thanks for checking though - there are so many steps to keep track of in this process.

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I'd like to clarify something important: The Money Network card is actually the default payment method for all new EDD claims in 2025. Even if you selected direct deposit during your application, your first payment will always come on the card. After you receive the card, you can call EDD to switch to direct deposit for future payments, but that first payment will always be card-based. This is part of EDD's fraud prevention measures. As for timing, the official timeframe is 7-10 business days from the date your first payment is processed (not from when you filed or were approved). If your payment was just processed yesterday, for example, the earliest you'd likely see the card is next Wednesday. One tip: When the card arrives, you can download the Money Network mobile app and transfer the funds directly to your bank account instead of waiting to switch to direct deposit for future payments.

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Oscar O'Neil

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Thank you for explaining this! My first payment was processed on Monday, so I guess I should expect the card sometime late next week. I'll definitely download that app once I get the card so I can transfer the funds quickly.

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One important thing to know: once your card arrives, make sure you activate it immediately and set up your online account. Even if you plan to switch to direct deposit later, you need to activate the card to access any funds that have already been issued to it. Many people make the mistake of ignoring the card if they want direct deposit, but then they can't access their initial payment(s). Also, check your mail carefully every day. The card comes in a plain white envelope that can look like junk mail. Many people accidentally throw it away and then have to request a replacement, which takes even longer.

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Ryder Greene

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OMG THIS!!! my card looked EXACTLY like junk mail and i almost threw it out!! why cant they make it more obvious?? so stupid

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Daniela Rossi

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Hey Oscar! I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago. I was so confused when I saw the Money Network card option selected instead of direct deposit. What helped me was calling the EDD card services line at 1-866-692-9374 and asking them to track my card shipment. They were able to give me a better timeline than the general EDD line. My card took exactly 8 business days to arrive, and I was able to transfer the funds to my bank account the same day using their mobile app. The transfer took about 2 business days to show up in my account. Since your rent is due next week, I'd definitely recommend calling that number to see if you can get expedited shipping or at least track when it was sent out. Good luck!

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Nalani Liu

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Thank you so much Daniela! This is really helpful to know. I'm definitely going to call that card services number first thing tomorrow morning to see if I can get expedited shipping or at least track where my card is. Two business days for the transfer sounds way better than waiting another week or two to get direct deposit set up. I really appreciate you sharing your timeline - 8 business days gives me a better idea of what to expect!

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Zara Mirza

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Just wanted to add my experience - I had the exact same thing happen last month! I was so sure I selected direct deposit, but then saw the Money Network card option was selected instead. It's definitely frustrating when you're counting on that money for bills. My card took 9 business days to arrive, but once I got it, I was able to use the Money Network app to transfer funds to my bank account within minutes. The actual bank transfer took 2 business days to clear. One thing that helped was setting up text alerts through the Money Network website so I got notified as soon as funds were loaded onto the card. That way I could transfer them right away instead of waiting to physically check the card balance. Hang in there - it's annoying but you'll get through it!

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Thank you Zara! The text alert setup is such a great tip - I hadn't thought of that. It would definitely help me move the money faster once it hits the card. I'm feeling a bit better knowing that so many people have gone through this same confusion and it worked out. It's just scary when rent is due and you're not sure when your money will actually be accessible! I'll definitely set up those alerts once I get the card.

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Dylan Cooper

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I totally feel your frustration! The same thing happened to me when I first applied - I was absolutely certain I selected direct deposit but somehow ended up with the Money Network card selected. It's like the system has a mind of its own sometimes! From what I've learned, this is actually super common and happens to most people on their first claim. The card typically arrives within 7-10 business days from when your payment is processed, not from when you filed. Since you mentioned your payment was just processed, you're probably looking at late next week. A few things that might help while you wait: - Call 1-866-692-9374 (the card services line) to see if you can get expedited delivery - Once the card arrives, download the Money Network app immediately - you can transfer funds to your bank account the same day - Set up text alerts so you know the moment funds hit the card I know it's stressful with rent due, but hang in there! Most people in this thread seem to have gotten their cards within that 7-10 day window. The system is frustrating but it does work eventually.

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Thanks Dylan! It's so reassuring to hear from everyone that this is normal - I was starting to think I was going crazy or that I somehow messed up my application. I'm definitely going to call that card services number tomorrow morning and try to get expedited delivery. The text alerts tip is brilliant too - I had no idea that was even an option! It's frustrating that EDD doesn't explain any of this upfront, but at least now I know what to expect. Fingers crossed my card comes on the earlier side of that 7-10 day window!

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I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my claim two weeks ago, definitely selected direct deposit, but when I check my account it shows Money Network card. I called the regular EDD line three times and couldn't get through, but after reading all these comments I'm going to try that card services number tomorrow. It's such a relief to know this is normal and not some kind of error on my part. The stress of waiting for money when you have bills due is real! Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and tips - especially the Money Network app transfer option. I had no idea you could move the funds that quickly once the card arrives. Definitely going to set up those text alerts too!

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JaylinCharles

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I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in the exact same boat - filed three weeks ago, definitely remember selecting direct deposit, but my account shows the Money Network card option. I've been stressing about it thinking I made some mistake during the application process. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief! I had no idea this was the default for new claims or that it's part of their fraud prevention system. I'm definitely calling that card services number (1-866-692-9374) tomorrow morning to check on my card status and see about expedited delivery. The Money Network app transfer tip is a game changer - I was dreading having to use a debit card for everything, but being able to move the funds to my bank account right away makes this so much more manageable. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and advice!

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Molly Chambers

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Just went through this same exact situation last month! I was absolutely certain I had selected direct deposit during my application, but when I logged into my EDD account, there it was - Money Network card selected. I thought I was losing my mind! Turns out this is completely normal and happens to almost everyone. The first payment always goes to the card regardless of what you initially selected - it's part of their verification process. My card took exactly 9 business days to arrive after my payment was processed. Here's what I wish someone had told me: Once you get the card, don't panic about being stuck with it forever. You can immediately transfer the funds to your bank account using the Money Network mobile app - it literally takes like 2 minutes and the transfer shows up in your bank within 1-3 business days. Way faster than waiting to get direct deposit set up for future payments. Also, definitely call 1-866-692-9374 (the card services line, not the main EDD number) to check if you can get expedited shipping. They were actually helpful when I called, unlike the main EDD line. Since your rent is due next week, it's worth asking! The card comes in a plain white envelope that looks like junk mail, so check your mailbox carefully. You got this - the waiting is the worst part but it does work out!

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Ethan Clark

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Thank you so much Molly! Your experience sounds exactly like mine - I was definitely questioning my sanity thinking I somehow missed selecting the card option. It's such a relief to know this is just how EDD operates and not some mistake on my part. I'm definitely going to call that card services number first thing tomorrow morning to see about expedited shipping. The Money Network app transfer tip is a lifesaver too - I was dreading being stuck with a debit card for weeks, but knowing I can move the funds to my bank account in just a few minutes makes this whole situation so much more manageable. Thanks for the heads up about the plain white envelope too - I would have probably tossed it thinking it was junk mail! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your timeline and all the helpful details.

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