EDD Money Network Card not received after first certification - do they automatically mail it?
Hi everyone, I'm super confused about the EDD payment card situation. I just certified for my first two weeks of unemployment yesterday and got confirmation that it was processed. But I realized I have no idea how I'm actually going to get the money? I haven't received any card in the mail yet. I know EDD doesn't use Bank of America anymore - do they automatically send their own Money Network card now? Should I have applied for it separately somewhere? How long does it usually take to arrive? Really need this money soon and don't want to miss anything important. Thanks!
24 comments


Paolo Conti
Yes, EDD automatically sends out the Money Network debit card after your first payment is approved. You don't need to request it separately. They usually mail it out within 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed. The card comes in a plain white envelope that's easy to miss, so keep an eye on your mail carefully. Once you have the card, you'll need to activate it by calling the number on the sticker or visiting the Money Network website. You can also set up direct deposit to your bank account through the Money Network portal after you get your card if you prefer that over using the card.
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Keisha Robinson
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. I was freaking out thinking I might have missed an important step somewhere. Do you know if there's any way to track if the card has been sent yet? Or do I just wait and hope it shows up?
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Amina Sow
they snet mine like 2 weeks after i got approved. check ur mail everyday cuz the envelope looks like junk mail!! almost threw mine away lol
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Keisha Robinson
•Oh yikes, I'll definitely watch for it! Thanks for the heads up that it might look like junk mail. I would totally throw it away by accident!
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GalaxyGazer
THEY ARE THE WORST!!! I waited THREE WEEKS for my card while my bills piled up. Called EDD a dozen times and they kept saying "it's coming, be patient" but couldn't tell me when! This is how they treat people who are already struggling financially?? And good luck trying to reach anyone who can actually help - their phone system is a complete joke. I spent HOURS hitting redial just trying to get through. If you need money urgently, you're pretty much screwed. The whole system is designed to make you suffer.
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Paolo Conti
•I understand your frustration. The wait time can definitely be stressful when you're counting on that money. One tip if you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone - I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a rep quickly. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. Saved me hours of redial frustration when I needed to check on my card status.
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Oliver Wagner
The Money Network card replaced the Bank of America cards last year. Here's what you need to know: 1. EDD will automatically mail the card after your first payment is processed 2. Regular processing time is 5-7 business days but can take up to 10 3. The envelope is plain white with an Indianapolis, IN return address 4. Your funds are already loaded even before the card arrives 5. You can call Money Network customer service at 1-888-397-4780 to check if your card has been mailed If it's been more than 10 business days since your payment was issued, you should contact Money Network to request a replacement. Also, make sure your mailing address is correct in your UI Online account.
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Keisha Robinson
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'll wait another week since it's only been a couple days since my certification was processed. Good to know I can call that number to check the status. Definitely going to double-check my address is correct in the system too.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
Same thing happened to me last month! I was so confused because I thought the money would just go to my bank account automatically. Had no idea I needed to wait for a special card. The waiting is the worst part!
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Keisha Robinson
•Right? I wish they explained this stuff more clearly! Did your card show up eventually? How long did you end up waiting?
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Took about 9 days for mine to arrive. Then I set up direct deposit through the Money Network website so future payments go straight to my bank account. Much easier that way!
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Javier Mendoza
I went through this exact situation back in January. Applied for benefits, certified for two weeks, and then realized I had no idea how to actually get the money. Nobody tells you anything! Just to add to what others have said - once you DO get the Money Network card, make sure you also download their app. It's way easier to manage everything through there, and you can see when new payments post. You can also transfer money directly to your bank account through the app without having to call anyone. Another tip: keep the envelope the card comes in! It has some information you might need later, including the customer service number specific to EDD cardholders (different from the regular Money Network customer service).
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Keisha Robinson
•That's super helpful about keeping the envelope - I definitely would have thrown it away! And good to know about the app too. I'll download it as soon as I get the card. This whole process has so many little details they don't tell you upfront.
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Amina Sow
wait does anyone kno if u can pick up the card somewhere instead of waiting for mail?? need $ now cant wait!!!
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Oliver Wagner
•No, unfortunately there's no option to pick up the card in person. It can only be mailed to the address on your EDD account. The only way to potentially speed things up is to request expedited shipping if you call Money Network, but they'll only do that for replacement cards, not first-time cards. They may charge a fee for expedited shipping too.
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Emma Thompson
When I did unemployment last year my landlord accidentally threw away my card thinking it was junk mail!!! I had to call and wait FOREVER to get a replacement. My suggestion is to sign up for USPS informed delivery - it's free and shows you images of mail coming to your address each day so you know when to expect it.
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Keisha Robinson
•Oh that's a brilliant idea about the informed delivery! I'm going to sign up for that right now. So sorry your landlord threw yours away - that must have been incredibly frustrating!
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Oliver Wagner
Just a quick update based on some of the comments - the current processing time for new Money Network cards has increased slightly according to the EDD website. They're now saying 7-10 business days for initial cards. This is likely due to higher claim volume in 2025. Also, as of last month, all new Money Network cards come with an info packet explaining how to set up direct deposit for future payments, which is definitely the most convenient option once you've received and activated your card.
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Keisha Robinson
•Thanks for the update! That's good to know about the slightly longer processing time. I'll definitely be setting up direct deposit as soon as I can - seems like that's the way to go for future payments.
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Zara Ahmed
Hey Keisha! I just went through this exact same thing a few months ago and I totally get the confusion. Everyone here has given you great advice already, but I wanted to add one more thing - if you're really worried about missing the card or need to track it, you can actually create an account on the Money Network website (moneynetwork.com) using your Social Security number even before you receive the physical card. It won't let you access your funds obviously, but you can at least verify that your account exists and sometimes see if a card has been issued to your address. Also, once you do get the card, activate it immediately! I made the mistake of waiting a few days and then had issues with my next payment posting. The whole EDD system is definitely not user-friendly, but you're on the right track - just be patient and keep checking your mail every day like others said!
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Amina Diallo
•Wow, thank you so much Zara! That's such a helpful tip about creating the Money Network account early - I had no idea you could do that. I'm definitely going to try that today just to see if my account shows up in their system. And good point about activating it right away once it arrives. I'm feeling much more confident about this whole process now thanks to everyone's advice. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
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Malik Thompson
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just certified for my first two weeks yesterday and had that same panic moment of "wait, how do I actually get my money??" Thank you all for the detailed responses - this is so helpful. I had no idea about the plain white envelope looking like junk mail, definitely would have tossed it. Going to sign up for that USPS informed delivery service right now and also try creating the Money Network account early like Zara suggested. It's crazy how they don't explain any of this upfront when you're already stressed about being unemployed. Really glad I found this thread!
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Yara Assad
•Right there with you Malik! I'm also a newcomer to this whole process and finding this thread has been a lifesaver. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD doesn't provide a clear step-by-step guide about how payments actually work when you first apply. Like, they make you jump through all these hoops to prove you're eligible, but then leave you completely in the dark about the most basic question - how do I get my money? I'm definitely following everyone's advice here about watching for that plain envelope and signing up for informed delivery. At least we're not alone in being confused about this!
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Rosie Harper
I'm in the exact same boat as you! Just certified my first two weeks three days ago and have been anxiously checking the mail every day wondering where my payment is. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - I had no idea about the Money Network card system or that it takes up to 10 business days. I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong during certification. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. Going to set up that USPS informed delivery today and try creating the Money Network account early like Zara mentioned. It's wild that EDD doesn't send some kind of "here's what happens next" email after your first certification gets approved. At least now I know to look for that plain white envelope from Indianapolis!
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