EDD Money Network card randomly declining at stores but works at ATMs - anyone else?

omg same here!!! thought it was just me. tried at safeway yesterday and DECLINED but atm worked fine. so annoying!!

This happens sometimes when the card network has a temporary glitch. Try these steps: 1. Check your balance in the Money Network app to confirm funds are actually there 2. Make sure you're selecting "CREDIT" not "DEBIT" at checkout (debit requires a PIN you may not have set up) 3. Some stores have issues with govt benefit cards - try a different retailer 4. Call Money Network again during non-peak hours (early morning works best) I had this issue last year and it resolved itself in about 48 hours. It's usually a Money Network problem, not an EDD issue.

I had a similar problem but mine was because I hadn't activated the card properly. Did you call the activation number when you first got it? Sometimes the cards arrive pre-activated but sometimes they don't.

EDD and Money Network seem to have these random technical issues every few months. I think there's system maintenance happening this week - I saw a notification about it when I logged into UI Online yesterday but didn't read the details. If you need to reach Money Network quickly, try calling right when they open at 8am. Or if you need to talk to EDD directly about your card issues, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they can get you through to an EDD rep in about 5-10 minutes instead of spending all day redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km I used it last month when my card wasn't working and found out there was a fraud alert on my account that needed to be cleared by EDD, not Money Network.

My sister had the same issue and it turned out some RETAILERS have blocked the Money Network cards because they got too many chargebacks or something. Try a grocery store instead of Target or Walmart. Also sometimes gas stations will pre-authorize like $100 when you only want $30 gas and that can mess with your card too. If ATM works just keep using that until you figure it out.

This is a known issue with the Money Network system right now. I work for a non-profit that helps people navigate unemployment benefits, and we've had several clients report this exact problem over the last 48 hours. Here's what we know: 1. The issue is affecting many cardholders across California (not just EDD cards but other government benefit cards through Money Network) 2. It appears to be related to their transaction authorization system having problems with retail point-of-sale systems specifically 3. ATM transactions use a different processing system which is why those still work 4. Money Network is aware of the problem and working on a fix - they expect it to be resolved by this Friday 5. You don't need to contact EDD about this - it's entirely on Money Network's end In the meantime, yes, ATM withdrawals are your best option. There's also an option to transfer funds from your Money Network account to your personal bank account through the app if you have one set up.

are we sure this isnt edd trying to stop us from spending our money?? wouldn't put it past them tbh

I had a NIGHTMARE with that stupid Money Network card back in January! It would work sometimes and not others and their customer service is THE WORST!!!! I ended up switching to direct deposit into my checking account and haven't had any issues since. You can set up direct deposit in UI Online under Payment Preferences. Takes about 2 weeks to switch over but TOTALLY worth it to avoid all this Money Network drama!!!

My friend told me sometimes the card gets blocked if you try to use it too many times in one day. How many times did you try to use it before it stopped working?

UPDATE: Money Network just posted on their status page that the issue has been resolved as of this morning. Try your card again at stores now - it should be working properly. If you're still having problems, then it might be a different issue specific to your account and you should contact Money Network customer service.