EDD Money Network card delivery timeline after first certification?
So I finally got approved for unemployment benefits and just certified for my first two weeks yesterday. My question is - how long will it take for the EDD Money Network debit card to arrive in the mail? I chose the debit card option instead of direct deposit when I filed my claim about a week ago. My UI Online account shows the payment as 'paid' now but I obviously can't access the funds yet without the card. Is it usually a few days, weeks, or longer? This is my first time on unemployment so I'm not familiar with the timeline. Anyone who's recently gotten their card, how long did you wait?
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Connor O'Neill
The Money Network card typically takes 7-10 business days to arrive after your first payment is processed. Sometimes it can come faster (I got mine in 5 days), but they tell you to wait up to 10 business days before contacting them about a missing card. Make sure your mailing address is correct in your UI Online account because they won't forward these cards for security reasons.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Thanks for the timeline! 7-10 business days isn't too bad. My address is definitely correct in the system, double-checked it when I applied. Fingers crossed it comes on the earlier side.
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LunarEclipse
mine took forever lol like almost 3 weeks. but my friend got hers in like 4 days so who knows
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Ugh that's discouraging. Did you ever figure out why yours took so long? Was there an issue with your claim or just slow mail?
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LunarEclipse
•no idea tbh. my claim was normal I guess. might just be luck of the draw or maybe depends on where u live
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Yara Khalil
I just went through this last month! My card came exactly 8 business days after my first payment showed as "paid" on UI Online. BUT what I didn't realize is that you can actually set up your Money Network account online BEFORE the card arrives and check your balance. Go to the Money Network website and click on "first time logging in" - you just need your SSN and some other info. You can't use the money without the physical card, but at least you can see that it's there, which gave me peace of mind.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•That's super helpful! I didn't know you could set up the account before getting the card. I'll definitely do that today just to make sure everything looks right. Thanks for the tip!
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Keisha Brown
Anybody else HATE these Money Network cards?? Why can't EDD just do normal direct deposit like every other employer instead of these stupid prepaid cards with all their fees and hassles. I swear they make it complicated on purpose.
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Paolo Esposito
•Actually, EDD does offer direct deposit now! They started it in 2025. When you file a new claim, you can choose either the Money Network card OR direct deposit to your bank account. Sounds like OP specifically chose the card option, but direct deposit is definitely available now.
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Amina Toure
I had a terrible time waiting for my card last year. Called the EDD every day for 2 weeks straight and couldn't get through. Then I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Turns out my card had been mailed but was returned to EDD because my apartment number was missing from my address. The rep fixed it right away and I got my card a few days later. Might be worth trying if yours takes longer than the 10 business days.
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LunarEclipse
•is that service legit? seems kinda sketchy to pay someone just to call EDD?
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Oliver Weber
ok wierd question but does any1 know if we can use the money network card to buy stuff online before it comes in the mail? like if i have the card number from the website?
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Connor O'Neill
•No, you can't use it for online purchases until you have the physical card. The website will show your balance but not the full card details (card number, expiration, CVC) that you need for online purchases. You need to activate the physical card first, which requires the security code printed on the actual card.
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Zainab Ibrahim
UPDATE: My card arrived today! So it took exactly 6 business days from when my payment status changed to "paid". Just wanted to update in case anyone finds this thread later with the same question. The envelope is very plain and easy to miss, so check your mail carefully!
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Yara Khalil
•That's great! And thanks for coming back to update - that's super helpful for others. Don't forget to activate it right away and set up your PIN. Also good to transfer the money to your regular bank account so you don't get hit with ATM fees.
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