EDD claim filed after recent layoff - how is process different from COVID era?

The EDD system is definitely different now compared to the COVID era. I filed in April 2025 and here's what I experienced: 1. Regular UI claims are taking about 3-4 weeks for initial processing (at least in my case) 2. The Money Network card replaced Bank of America - they switched in late 2024 3. Direct deposit works pretty well now, but there's a verification step that can add a few days to the first payment 4. Your prior pandemic claim shouldn't affect your new claim as long as you've worked and earned enough in your base period (typically the 12-18 months before filing) 5. The one-week waiting period is definitely back (this was waived during COVID) One thing that hasn't changed - calling EDD is still nearly impossible. I spent three days trying to get through before giving up. If you need to speak to an agent about your claim, prepare for frustration.

GOOD LUCK with the EDD!!! System is STILL completely broken!!! I got laid off in March and it took SIX WEEKS to get my first payment!!! And that was after calling like 50+ times!!! They kept saying my identity verification was "pending review" even though I did everything right with ID.me! Then they suddenly approved everything without even telling me why it was delayed!! No apology, nothing!!! The Money Network card is a JOKE too - the app constantly crashes and their customer service is worse than EDD if you can believe that!!! Don't count on getting money anytime soon!

I went through this in February and can confirm direct deposit works much better than it did during COVID times. You need to verify your bank account by responding to two small test deposits, but after that's set up, payments are actually pretty consistent. Just make sure to certify exactly on your certification day - I missed mine by one day and it delayed my payment by almost a week. Regarding your previous COVID claim - no, it won't affect your current claim eligibility as long as you've worked enough quarters since then. They calculate your benefit amount based on your highest-earning quarter during the base period (roughly 12-18 months before filing). One tip: print out the confirmation page after each certification. The EDD site sometimes glitches and having proof of submission has saved me headaches.

Hey ive been through this recently and the whole process is SO confusing. you asked about eligibility interviews - i had one but my roomate didn't. i think they only do them if theres something weird about your application? mine was because i had a 2 week gap between jobs earlier this year. the money network thing is new and kinda annoying tbh. they send you this card even if you picked direct deposit (at least they did for me) and then you have to activate it and then go BACK online to set up the direct deposit. why they cant just do direct deposit from the start makes NO sense. also be really careful with your certifications! they ask these tricky questions about job search and availability to work. i almost messed up by saying i was unavailable one day because i had a doctors appointment, but apparently thats not what they mean by 'unavailable' lol

If you need to actually speak with an EDD representative (which you likely will at some point), I discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me get through after days of failed attempts. It's at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. They basically place the call for you and then connect you once they get through to an EDD agent. I was skeptical but used it when my claim was stuck in pending for two weeks with no explanation. Got connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes who fixed my issue right away - apparently there was a flag on my account that only a specialist could remove. Saved me countless hours of redialing.

i had to file for ui in may and yeah its different from covid times. the money network thing is frustrating at first but once u get set up its fine. not as good as the old bofa card imo but whatever. ur previous covid claim from years ago won't matter now, they only look at ur recent work history. but yeah getting through on phone is still impossible lol one weird thing i noticed - they're way more serious about the work search requirements now vs during covid. u gotta actually apply to jobs and keep records. they randomly selected me for an audit and i had to submit all my job search proof.

To answer your question about the Money Network card timing - I received mine about 10 days after my claim was approved. Even though I selected direct deposit, they still send the card as a backup payment method. The direct deposit verification took about 3 business days to complete after I entered my bank information. Regarding eligibility interviews, they're not automatic anymore. They only schedule them if there's something in your application that raises questions - like if you indicate you were fired rather than laid off, if you have a gap in employment, or if your employer contests your unemployment claim. Since you were clearly laid off for business reasons and HR is supportive, you might avoid the interview entirely. The certification process is essentially the same - every two weeks, you'll need to certify that you're looking for work, available to work, and report any income. The main difference from COVID times is that work search requirements are fully enforced again.

i got laid off in jan and the money network thing is new since covid. its ok but the app is kinda glitchy sometimes. the direct deposit works fine tho! takes like 1-2 days after ur certification gets processed. def faster than waiting for the card. my claim took exactly 22 days to get approved which was within their 3-5 week estimate. just make sure all ur info matches ur w2 exactly or it can cause delays!

One important thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you check your UI Online inbox daily. EDD sends important notices there that they don't always email you about. I almost missed a deadline to provide additional information because I didn't check my inbox for a week. Also, if your claim gets stuck in pending status for more than 2 weeks, that usually means there's an issue that requires manual review. That's when being able to reach someone by phone becomes critical. The regular customer service line (1-800-300-5616) is nearly impossible to get through on, but there are specific times when your chances are better - right when they open at 8:00 AM, around 11:30 AM when the morning shift changes, and about 30 minutes before closing. The process is definitely more streamlined than during COVID, but there are still plenty of frustrations. The biggest difference is volume - during COVID they were processing millions of claims simultaneously.