EDD Money Network card confusion - will I get another card after waiting period?
So I just navigated the whole EDD card situation and I'm a bit confused about what happens next. My original Money Network card expired last month, so I requested a replacement. The new card arrived yesterday and I got it activated right away (took forever on their automated system!). Here's what I'm wondering - my first certification was just for the waiting period week, and I'm scheduled to certify again on the 10th for my actual benefits. Will EDD automatically send me ANOTHER new card once real payments start coming through? Or do they just use this same replacement card I just activated for all future payments? The EDD website isn't clear about this at all and the last thing I need is to miss payments because they're going to some phantom card I never received.
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Raúl Mora
You're all set with the card you have now. They won't send another one. The same Money Network card is used for the entire benefit year once it's activated. All future payments after your waiting period will be loaded onto that same card. Just make sure your address is current in case they need to send any correspondence.
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Arjun Kurti
•Oh that's a relief! I was worried I'd have to watch for another card in the mail. So when I certify on the 10th, assuming everything's approved, the funds will just show up on this same card?
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Margot Quinn
they wont send u another card u use the same one for ALL ur payments. I got confused by this 2 when i first started gettin benefits
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Evelyn Kim
•Just to add - make sure you write down your card number somewhere safe! If you ever need to report it lost/stolen, having that info ready will make the replacement process MUCH faster. I learned that the hard way after my wallet got stolen last year and I had to wait 3 WEEKS for a new card because I didn't have the info they needed. 😠
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Diego Fisher
They should send you a new card because the waiting period is different from regular benefits. That's what happened with my nephew last month. He got one card for the waiting period then a completely different card when his actual benefits started.
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Henrietta Beasley
•This is incorrect information. The Money Network debit card system doesn't issue separate cards for waiting periods vs. regular benefits. All unemployment benefits for your entire claim period are deposited to the same card. Your nephew likely received a replacement card for other reasons (perhaps the first was lost in mail or deactivated). The EDD uses one card per benefit year unless you specifically request a replacement.
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Lincoln Ramiro
just wanted to say congrats on getting approved! took me like FOREVER to get my card when i first got unemploymnet. like 3 weeks after my first certification. and then they sent it to my old address even tho i updated my info online! so annoying!!!!
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Arjun Kurti
•Thanks! Yeah the whole system is frustrating. Did you have to call them to fix the address issue? My mail delivery is kind of hit-or-miss where I live so I'm paranoid about missing important stuff.
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Raúl Mora
By the way, if you ever need to speak with an EDD representative about your card or benefits, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to EDD agents without spending hours on hold. I used it when I had an issue with my Money Network card not working at ATMs. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. The website is claimyr.com - it saved me a lot of frustration.
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Faith Kingston
•I was skeptical about these third-party services at first, but after trying to call EDD for 2 WEEKS straight with no luck, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes! Totally worth it for emergency situations when you NEED to talk to someone at EDD.
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Evelyn Kim
One important tip - make sure you don't throw away your old expired card until you've confirmed all funds have transferred correctly to the new one! Sometimes there can be a delay between what shows as "paid" on UI Online and what actually appears on your Money Network card. I always keep my old cards for at least a month after getting a replacement, just to be safe.
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Arjun Kurti
•That's smart advice! I'm pretty sure the old one is empty (I checked the balance before requesting the replacement), but I'll hang onto it just in case. Better safe than sorry with EDD money!
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Faith Kingston
Since you already have the new Money Network card activated, that's the one they'll use. They don't send separate cards for different certifications - that would be way too confusing! Once you certify on the 10th and it processes (usually takes 1-2 days), the funds should appear on that card. You can always check the card balance through the Money Network app or their website rather than waiting for the physical notification in the mail.
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Arjun Kurti
•Perfect, thank you! I'll download the Money Network app right now. Makes sense they wouldn't send multiple cards - would be super inefficient. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something since this is my first time on unemployment.
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Yuki Tanaka
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion! You're good with the card you have - no need to worry about another one coming. I made the mistake of calling EDD three times asking about this because I was so paranoid about missing payments. The customer service rep finally explained that they use the same Money Network card for your entire claim period unless you specifically request a replacement or it gets lost/stolen. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can set up text alerts through the Money Network app to get notified immediately when funds are deposited. Really helps with the anxiety of wondering if your payment went through!
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Oliver Fischer
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! That text alert tip is exactly what I needed to hear - I'm definitely the type to obsessively check my balance every few hours when I'm waiting for payments. Setting up those notifications will save my sanity! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who got confused about this whole card situation. The EDD system really could use clearer explanations about how this all works.
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Ella Russell
Hey Arjun! I went through this exact same worry when I first got on unemployment benefits. You're absolutely fine with the card you just activated - that's the one and only card you'll need for your entire claim period. EDD doesn't send different cards for waiting periods vs regular benefits, they just load everything onto the same Money Network card once it's active. When you certify on the 10th and get approved, those funds will show up on the card you already have within 1-2 business days. Pro tip: download the Money Network mobile app if you haven't already - it makes checking your balance and transaction history so much easier than calling that annoying automated phone line!
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Connor Richards
•Thanks Ella! That's super helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I was definitely overthinking it - classic me! 😅 I just downloaded the Money Network app and already set up those text notifications that Yuki mentioned. Now I feel much more prepared for when my actual benefits kick in after the 10th. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this - this community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the EDD confusion!
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