EDD debit card funds locked with Bank of America hold - can't access my money after 4 years

Unfortunately, B of A has been automatically putting holds on EDD debit cards that haven't been used for extended periods. This is part of their fraud prevention measures instituted after all the pandemic fraud issues. You absolutely need to speak with an EDD representative to verify your identity and have them request the hold be lifted. The good news is that your funds should still be there - there's no official 'expiration date' on unemployment benefits once they've been issued to your card.

omg same thing happened to my cousin last year! he had money from 2020 on his card and BOA froze it. took him like 2 months to get it fixed bc edd kept saying talk to the bank and BOA kept saying talk to edd 🙄

I had a similar issue but with debit card from 2022... my problem was i moved to a diff address since getting the card so BOA had my old info and they said it didn't match with what i was telling them. You might need to do ID verification again with EDD since its been so long. Does ur UI Online account still work?? You should check there first to see if theres any messages about identity verification or fraud alerts.

Here's what you need to do: 1. Check your UI Online account first for any messages or alerts about your claim 2. If there's nothing there, you DO need to speak with an EDD representative (Bank of America can't remove these holds without EDD authorization) 3. The main line (1-800-300-5616) is always busy, so your best bet is to call right when they open at 8:00 AM 4. Bring any identity documents if you go in person (driver's license, passport, birth certificate, social security card) 5. Request a replacement card at the same time (old cards often have technical issues) The funds don't expire, but after this many years, you may need to complete a new identity verification process. This is especially true since there were so many fraud issues during the pandemic.

I was stuck in a similar situation last month trying to reach EDD about a hold on my card. After days of frustration, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes. It's a service that navigates EDD's phone system for you and calls you back when they've got an agent on the line. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It was honestly the only way I could get through. The agent I spoke with was able to verify my identity and request Bank of America remove the hold within a few days. Worth looking into if you keep getting disconnected.

The REAL issue is that EDD and Bank of America have created this impossible system where neither one wants to take responsibility! I had to fight for WEEKS last year to get a similar hold removed. EDD told me it was BofA's problem, BofA told me it was EDD's problem. Meanwhile MY MONEY was just sitting there unavailable to me. It's CRIMINAL how they treat people. The entire system is designed to make you give up so they can keep your money!!!

One thing no ones mentioned is u might have to pay taxes on that money if u haven't already. Just sumthing to think about when u get access to it again.

Wait you still have money from 2020?!? That's amazing lol I spent mine in like 5 seconds 😂

Just to update you on the most current information - as of 2025, Bank of America is no longer the EDD debit card provider. They've transitioned to Money Network, but your old B of A card should still work to access any funds that were deposited during the time they serviced EDD. This is why reaching an EDD representative is particularly important in your case - you need someone who understands how to handle these older accounts during the transition period.

have u checked if the card is expired??? most debit cards only last like 3-4 years

I went through something similar with an old EDD card from 2021. Here's what worked for me: First, try logging into your UI Online account to see if there are any messages or verification requirements. If you can't remember your login, you can reset it using your SSN. Second, for calling EDD, I had success using the 1-800-300-5616 number but calling exactly at 8:00 AM and pressing 1-2-1 when the prompts start. It took me about 15 tries over different days but I finally got through. The representative was able to see that my account had been flagged for "extended inactivity" and they lifted the hold within 3 business days. Since your card is also expired, you'll definitely need to request a replacement through EDD (not Bank of America). Don't give up - your money is still there, it's just trapped in bureaucratic limbo!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My EDD card from 2021 also got locked by Bank of America after not using it for years. What I've learned is that you need to approach this from both ends - EDD AND Bank of America. Here's what's working for me so far: 1) I filed a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) against Bank of America online - it takes 5 minutes and they have to respond within 15 days. 2) I'm also trying to reach EDD using the autodial trick - there are apps that will keep calling the number for you automatically. 3) Make sure you have all your original documents ready (Social Security card, ID, any EDD correspondence from 2020-2021) because they'll likely need to verify your identity again after all this time. The frustrating part is that your money IS there, it's just locked up in this ridiculous system. Don't let them wear you down - you're entitled to those funds!

I'm going through almost the exact same thing right now! My EDD card from 2020 has been sitting unused and when I tried to access it last month, Bank of America said there was a security hold. What's really frustrating is that they won't tell you exactly why the hold was placed - they just keep saying "for security reasons." I've been trying the early morning calling strategy that others mentioned, and I finally got through to EDD yesterday after calling right at 8am. The representative told me that cards with no activity for over 3 years automatically get flagged in their system, and both EDD and Bank of America have to clear the hold together. She said it could take 5-10 business days once they submit the request. I'm still waiting to see if it actually works, but at least I got confirmation that the funds are still there and haven't been forfeited or anything. Keep trying - don't let them keep your money!

I actually just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Had an unused EDD card from 2020 that got locked by Bank of America. Here's what finally worked for me: I discovered that you can actually request a callback from EDD through their website instead of sitting on hold forever. Go to the EDD website, log into your UI Online account, and look for the "Contact EDD" section - there's an option to request a callback for technical issues with your debit card. It took about 3 days but they actually called me back! The rep was able to verify my identity over the phone and submitted a request to Bank of America to lift the hold. The whole process took about a week total. Also, since your card is expired anyway, ask them to issue you a new card at the same time - that way you won't have to deal with any potential technical issues with the old card once the hold is lifted. Your money is definitely still there, you just need to get past the bureaucratic maze to access it!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My EDD debit card from 2021 has been locked by Bank of America for the past month, and like everyone else here, I've been getting the runaround between EDD and BofA. What's really helped me is keeping detailed notes of every phone call - dates, times, representative names, and exactly what they told me. This has been crucial when I get conflicting information from different reps. I also discovered that if you call Bank of America's EDD debit card line (1-866-692-9374) instead of their main customer service, you sometimes get reps who are more familiar with these specific holds. They still can't lift it without EDD authorization, but at least they can give you more details about what type of hold it is. The key thing I've learned from reading everyone's experiences here is to be persistent and document everything - don't let them make you give up on YOUR money! I'm going to try that callback option through UI Online that Isabella mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating process!

As someone new to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD issues, I wanted to share what worked for me when I had a similar situation with my 2020 EDD card that got locked after years of non-use. The breakthrough came when I realized I needed to treat this as TWO separate problems: 1) Getting EDD to authorize the hold removal, and 2) Getting a replacement card since the old one was expired. What finally worked was using the UI Online callback feature that Isabella mentioned, combined with filing a CFPB complaint against Bank of America. The CFPB complaint seemed to light a fire under BofA - they called me within 48 hours instead of the usual 15-day timeline. Having both processes running simultaneously meant that when EDD finally authorized the hold removal, BofA was already motivated to process it quickly. The whole thing took about 10 days total. One tip that saved me hours of frustration: when you do get through to EDD, ask them to email you a confirmation number for the hold removal request. That way when you call BofA, you have something concrete to reference. Don't give up - your money is absolutely still there, and this community's advice really works if you stay persistent!

As someone who just joined this community after dealing with a similar EDD card hold issue, I wanted to add another resource that helped me get through to EDD when the regular phone lines weren't working. I found that calling the EDD Disability Insurance line at 1-800-480-3287 and then asking to be transferred to unemployment services sometimes works when the main UI line is overwhelmed. The disability reps can't help directly with UI issues, but they can often get you into the UI queue without you having to fight through the automated system that keeps hanging up. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the transition from Bank of America to Money Network - just wanted to confirm that even though EDD switched providers, your old BofA card and any funds on it are still valid and accessible. The key is getting through to someone at EDD who understands how to handle these legacy accounts. I'm currently waiting for my own hold to be lifted after using the CFPB complaint + UI Online callback strategy that others mentioned here. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences and not giving up on getting your money back!

As a newcomer to this community but unfortunately not new to EDD frustrations, I wanted to share my current experience and thank everyone for the incredibly helpful advice in this thread! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - EDD card from 2020 that I forgot about until recently, now locked by Bank of America with the usual "security hold" runaround. Reading through all these responses has been like finding a treasure map for navigating this bureaucratic nightmare! I'm planning to implement the multi-pronged approach several of you have outlined: filing the CFPB complaint against BofA, using the UI Online callback feature, and trying that alternative Disability Insurance line transfer trick that Paolo mentioned. The tip about getting an email confirmation from EDD with a reference number is something I never would have thought of but makes perfect sense. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know that this is such a common issue - frustrating because the system is clearly broken, but reassuring because it means there ARE proven solutions. Thank you all for not giving up on your money and for sharing the strategies that actually work. This thread should honestly be pinned as a guide for anyone dealing with old EDD card holds!

As someone new to this community dealing with the exact same issue, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed and helpful advice! I have an EDD card from 2020 that I completely forgot about until last month when I tried to use it for some unexpected expenses. Bank of America hit me with the same "security hold" nonsense and won't give me any real details. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea so many people were dealing with this same problem! The multi-pronged strategy everyone's discussing (CFPB complaint + UI Online callback + persistence with documentation) seems like the winning formula. I'm especially grateful for the specific phone numbers, the timing tips (calling right at 8am), and that brilliant suggestion about getting email confirmation from EDD with reference numbers. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating this broken system just to access our own money, but at least this community has created an amazing roadmap for success. I'm starting my own battle tomorrow morning and feel so much more prepared thanks to everyone's shared experiences. Will definitely report back with my results!

As someone new to this community but unfortunately very familiar with EDD headaches, I wanted to jump in and share what I'm currently going through with my own forgotten 2020 EDD card. Just like Sophia, I had a card sitting unused for years that I only remembered when I needed it for an emergency expense last month. Bank of America gave me the same "security hold" runaround with zero helpful details. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! The collective knowledge here is incredible - from the specific phone numbers and timing strategies to the brilliant idea of filing CFPB complaints and using the UI Online callback feature simultaneously. I'm planning to implement the full multi-pronged approach that several of you have outlined: CFPB complaint, UI Online callback request, early morning calls to 1-800-300-5616, and that clever transfer trick through the Disability Insurance line. The documentation tip about getting email confirmations with reference numbers is something I never would have considered but makes perfect sense for avoiding the typical runaround between EDD and BofA. Thank you all for not giving up on your money and for creating this amazing roadmap for the rest of us stuck in EDD limbo! I'll definitely report back with my results once I start the process next week.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with this exact same nightmare! I have an EDD card from 2021 that I completely forgot about until I tried to use it last week for some car repairs. Bank of America hit me with the usual "security hold" story and won't give me any real explanation beyond "fraud prevention measures." This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and strategies! I'm amazed at how many people are dealing with identical situations. The multi-pronged approach everyone's discussing really makes sense: filing the CFPB complaint against BofA while simultaneously using the UI Online callback feature and trying the early morning phone strategy. I'm particularly grateful for those specific phone numbers and the transfer trick through the Disability Insurance line - that's brilliant problem-solving! The tip about documenting everything and getting email confirmations from EDD is something I never would have thought of but could save hours of confusion later. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in bureaucratic warfare just to access our own money, but this community has created an amazing blueprint for success. Starting my own battle tomorrow using all the wisdom shared here. Will definitely update everyone on my progress!

As someone new to this community dealing with the exact same frustrating situation, I can't express how helpful this entire thread has been! I have an EDD card from 2020 that I completely forgot about until I desperately needed it for some medical bills last week. Bank of America gave me the same runaround about a "security hold" with zero useful details. Reading through everyone's experiences has been like finding a survival guide for this bureaucratic nightmare. The multi-pronged strategy that's emerged from all your shared wisdom - CFPB complaint + UI Online callback + early morning phone calls + documentation - seems like the only way to actually get results from this broken system. I'm particularly grateful for the specific phone numbers, the 8am calling strategy, and that brilliant Disability Insurance transfer trick. The tip about getting email confirmations from EDD with reference numbers is genius - I never would have thought of that but it makes perfect sense for avoiding the typical blame game between EDD and BofA. It's both infuriating and reassuring to see so many people dealing with identical situations. Infuriating because the system is clearly broken, but reassuring because you've all proven that persistence pays off and the money IS recoverable. Starting my own battle Monday morning using everything I've learned here. Will definitely report back with my results to help the next person stuck in EDD limbo. Thank you all for not giving up and for sharing the strategies that actually work!