EDD Paid Status to Money Network Card Timeline - What does Waiting Period Served mean?

Congrats on getting to paid status! The Money Network Card usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive after your first payment is processed. The 'waiting period served' means you've completed the mandatory one-week waiting period that all new EDD claims have - it's essentially an unpaid week that everyone has to serve at the start of their claim. You won't get paid for that week, but it's completely normal and required by California law. Nothing to worry about!

money net work cardd took like TWO WEEKS for me... it was so frustrating!! and then when i got it i had to call & activate but the system hung up on me 3 times... edd is such a disaster. make sure ur address is updated on BOTH ur claim AND the bank of america account once you can set it up!!! dont make my mistake lol

Important correction: EDD doesn't use Bank of America anymore. They switched to Money Network in July 2023. When your card arrives, you'll need to activate it through Money Network's portal, not BofA. The waiting period is the standard first week of your claim that you don't get paid for - it's normal and everyone has to do it. Your first actual payment will be for your second week. The card typically arrives within 5-7 business days after your first payment processes, but can take up to 10 business days during busy periods.

my situation was exactly like ur husbands! i certified on a sunday morning once, it switched to paid by that afternoon, and my money was on the card by wednesday. but that was AFTER i already had the physical card in my possession. the first card does take a while to come in the mail as others have said.

If you're worried about tracking when your Money Network card will arrive, I actually recommend setting up the direct deposit option as soon as you can access your Money Network account. It's much more convenient than the card. You can do this after you receive and activate your card. As for the waiting period - that's just EDD's way of saying you've completed the mandatory unpaid week that all new claims require. It's normal and you'll start receiving payments for your second week onward.

If you're still having trouble reaching EDD to ask about your card status, I used a service called Claimyr when my card didn't arrive after 2 weeks. They helped me get through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I couldn't get through at all on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The website is claimyr.com - it was worth it for me to actually talk to someone who could help track my card and confirm when it was mailed.

am i the only 1 who thinks its CRAZY we still have to wait for physical cards in 2025??? like why cant they just do instant direct deposit for the first payment??? my roommate got her nevada unemployment direct deposited immediately but california makes us wait for this stupid card 🙄

btw the waiting period is always the first week when u file a NEW claim. u dont get paid for that week. its dumb but thats how it works 🤷‍♀️

One more thing to be aware of - when your Money Network card arrives, you'll need to set up your PIN and activate it right away. You'll also want to create an online account to track your balance and transactions. Don't forget to sign up for direct deposit if you prefer that over using the card. And just to clarify a common misconception - the waiting period is separate from the processing time. The waiting period is a policy thing (the unpaid first week), while the card delivery is just regular mail logistics.

Hey Cynthia! Congrats on getting to paid status - that's always such a relief! Just wanted to add from my recent experience that you should definitely keep an eye on your mail around day 5-6 after your payment processes. The Money Network card comes in a pretty plain envelope that doesn't look super official, so it's easy to miss if you're not expecting it. Since you mentioned your mailing address is at your mom's house, maybe give her a heads up about what to look for? Also, once you get it, the activation process is actually pretty straightforward through their website or phone line. The waiting period thing is totally normal - everyone has to serve that unpaid first week, so you're right on track!