EDD approved my claim but never received Money Network card - stuck in limbo for months

The same thing happened to me in February! The automated system was showing $3,800 in benefits but no card for weeks. Here's what worked: call the Money Network card services directly at 1-866-320-8699 to check if a card was actually issued to you. In my case, they had sent it to my old address even though I updated my info with EDD. If a card was never issued, you need to specifically request one from an EDD rep. And yes, getting through to EDD is a nightmare, but keep trying around 10:30am or 2:15pm - those times worked better for me than the 8am rush.

ur making this 2 complicated tbh... just go on UI online and click on payment prefrence. u can change from debit card to checks there. thts what i did when my card never showed up. took like 5 mins to change and got my 1st check like 10 days later

I've been stuck in the EDD system for MONTHS and it's absolutely INFURIATING!!! The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing. When they tell you they've fixed something, it's usually NOT fixed at all. I had $6,300 sitting in my account for 3 months with no way to access it because they kept saying a card was issued but it never came. Called that useless automated system 56 TIMES before getting a human. Don't bother with the callback option - complete waste of time!!!

I've helped several clients with this exact issue. Here's what's happening: when your payment preference isn't properly set in the system, EDD will show benefits as paid in their internal system, but the Money Network card may never get triggered for issuance. You need to: 1. First verify if a card was ever issued by calling Money Network directly (1-866-320-8699) 2. If no card was issued, you must speak with an EDD representative to manually trigger the card issuance OR change to paper checks 3. For the paper check option, you need to complete Form DE 5800 (the one they sent you) and sign in Section 2 to authorize paper checks Since you've been trying to get through to EDD without success, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They've helped many people get through to EDD quickly when dealing with these payment preference issues. They have a demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km In your situation, I'd personally go with the paper checks for now. You can always switch back to the debit card later once you start receiving payments.

guys edd doesnt even issue there own cards anymore did u know that?? my neighbor works for the state and said money network is some private company that has a contract with california. thats why everything is so confusing nobody knows whos responsible for what lol

I went through a similar situation last month. Called and called with no luck. Finally gave up and used that Claimyr service someone mentioned on another thread. Got connected to EDD in about 40 minutes and the agent was able to see that my Money Network card was never triggered to be sent out because of an address verification flag on my account. They fixed it while I was on the phone and my card arrived 8 days later. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right person who can see what's actually happening with your claim. The whole paper vs. card system is ridiculously confusing.

Yes, there is a fee, but considering I had already wasted probably 20+ hours trying to get through and had nearly $5k waiting to be accessed, it was completely worth it to me. They don't guarantee you'll get your issue resolved, just that you'll get connected to an EDD rep. In my case, it solved my problem in one call.

sOmEoNe PLZ help. I'm reading this thread because I'm having almost the same problem but backwards!!! I specifically asked for paper checks but they sent me a debit card anyway and now my checks are "deposited" to a card I don't want to use!!! The whole system is BROKEN

UPDATE: I called Money Network and they confirmed no card has ever been issued for my claim! They said EDD needs to submit a request for the initial card. I'm going to sign that DE 5800 form for paper checks and also try Claimyr tomorrow morning to speak with an EDD rep. Will update again when I hopefully get this resolved. Thanks everyone for your help!

I went through something very similar earlier this year! The key thing I learned is that EDD's internal system can show benefits as "paid" even when no actual payment method has been set up properly. It's incredibly frustrating because you see the money sitting there but can't access it. Based on your update about Money Network confirming no card was issued, you're definitely on the right track. Here's what I'd suggest: 1. Go ahead and sign that DE 5800 form for paper checks - it's honestly more reliable than the card system 2. When you get through to EDD (whether through Claimyr or regular calling), ask them to put a note on your account about the payment preference issue so future reps can see what happened 3. Ask them to expedite processing your switch to paper checks since you've been waiting months The paper checks typically arrive within 7-10 business days once the preference is properly updated in their system. I know it's not as convenient as a debit card, but at least you'll finally have access to your benefits! Keep us posted on how it goes with Claimyr - I'm curious if they can help speed up the process.

This is such a common issue unfortunately! I had the exact same problem last summer - claim approved, money showing in the system, but no way to access it because the payment method wasn't properly configured. The disconnect between EDD's benefit system and the payment processing is ridiculous. Since you confirmed with Money Network that no card was ever issued, definitely go with the paper checks for now. I know it seems old-fashioned, but honestly the check system is way more reliable than the debit card mess. Once you get your first check and know the payment pipeline is working, you can always switch back to the card later if you want. One tip: when you do get through to EDD, ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email about the payment preference change. That way you have documentation in case there are any future mix-ups. The whole system is so poorly integrated that having a paper trail really helps. Hang in there - you're finally on the right track to getting your money!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! I just went through something extremely similar last month - had over $3,200 showing as available but couldn't access it for 2 months because of payment preference issues. Reading your update about Money Network confirming no card was issued is actually good news because now you know exactly what the problem is. I went the paper check route too and honestly, it was the best decision. My first check arrived in 8 days once EDD properly updated my preference in their system. One thing that really helped me when I finally got through to EDD was being very specific about the timeline and what each rep told me. Write down dates, reference numbers, and exactly what they said they would do. The inconsistency between reps is unreal - having that documentation saved me from starting over multiple times. Also, don't feel bad about using a service like Claimyr if the regular phone lines aren't working. I was stubborn and kept trying the free way for weeks, but honestly the stress wasn't worth it when I had bills piling up. Sometimes you just need to get a human on the line who can actually see what's wrong with your account. Keep us posted - rooting for you to get this resolved soon!

I just went through this exact same issue a few weeks ago! The frustration is real when you can see the money but can't touch it. Here's what finally worked for me: Since you already confirmed with Money Network that no card was issued, you're ahead of where I was. I also switched to paper checks using the DE 5800 form and it was the right call. My first check arrived exactly 9 days after EDD updated my payment preference. A couple things that helped me: - When you call EDD (or use Claimyr), ask them to check for any "payment holds" or "address verification flags" on your account. Sometimes there are hidden issues blocking the payment setup - Request they send you the confirmation letter about your payment preference change via both mail AND email if possible - Get a reference number for the call and ask them to put detailed notes about what they changed The paper check system is honestly more reliable than the debit card mess. You can always switch back to the card later once you know everything is working properly. Don't feel bad about using a paid service to get through - I wasted weeks trying the free route and wish I'd just paid to talk to someone sooner. You're so close to getting this resolved! Keep us posted on how the Claimyr call goes.