EDD finally offers direct deposit option - no more Money Network card drama!
Anyone just get the notification email about EDD switching to direct deposit option?? After dealing with Money Network card issues for MONTHS (lost card, funds delayed, ATM fees, website errors), I almost screamed with joy when I saw this email! The notification says we can set it up starting July 2025 through UI Online. Has anyone successfully set this up yet or am I too excited too soon? Anyone know if there's a waiting period after switching from card to direct deposit? I'm worried about any payment disruptions since I'm still in the middle of my claim.
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Ava Rodriguez
got the same email!! thank god... those stupid cards have been NOTHING but problems since day 1!!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Right?! Did you start the setup process yet? I'm trying to figure out the best timing so I don't mess up my current payments.
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Miguel Diaz
I received the email too and just completed the direct deposit setup yesterday. The process is pretty straightforward - you'll need your bank routing number and account number ready. According to the confirmation page, any payments issued within 3 business days of setting up direct deposit will still go to your Money Network card, then future payments will be direct deposited. Make sure you keep your Money Network card until you've received your first successful direct deposit just to be safe.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know. So if I have a certification coming up this Sunday, would you recommend waiting until after that payment goes through before setting up direct deposit?
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Miguel Diaz
•Yes, that's what I would recommend. Complete your certification, wait for the payment to hit your Money Network card, then set up direct deposit afterward. That way you won't have any payment delays during the transition.
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Zainab Ahmed
I got the email too but I'm paranoid about giving my bank info to EDD after all the fraud stuff that happened. Anyone else worried about that? Maybe I'll just stick with the card for now...
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Connor Gallagher
•The direct deposit option actually uses the same secure payment system that other state agencies use. It's generally safer than the cards since there's no physical card that can be lost or stolen. I've been using direct deposit with my employer and other benefits for years without issues. Just make sure you're on the official UI Online site (https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/) when entering your banking information, not following email links.
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AstroAlpha
This is LONG overdue!!! I had to call EDD 47 TIMES last year when my Money Network card was suddenly frozen with NO WARNING and it took them 3 WEEKS to fix it! I couldn't pay rent and almost got EVICTED because of their stupid system!! Every other state has had direct deposit for YEARS. California EDD is always the LAST to implement anything helpful for claimants!!
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Ava Rodriguez
•omg same!! my card got frozen twice for no reason. such a nightmare dealing with their customer service
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Yara Khoury
I've been trying to call EDD to ask questions about this direct deposit change, but I can't get through to anyone. Spent 2 hours on hold yesterday before getting disconnected. I want to make sure I understand how this affects my existing payments before making any changes. Has anyone found a way to actually speak with an EDD rep about this?
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Keisha Taylor
•I was having the same problem trying to reach EDD last week about an unrelated issue. Someone on another thread recommended Claimyr.com and it actually worked for me. It's a service that helps you get through to an EDD agent without waiting on hold for hours. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. After trying for days on my own with no luck, I got through to a rep in about 20 minutes using their service. The agent I spoke with confirmed that the direct deposit option is legit and gave me some helpful info about the transition timeline.
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Connor Gallagher
Just a heads-up for everyone: make sure you double and triple-check your bank account information when setting up direct deposit. If you enter incorrect information, it can cause significant delays in receiving your benefits. Also, some banks and credit unions have different routing numbers for direct deposits versus checks, so verify with your bank which routing number to use specifically for direct deposits. And remember that your first direct deposit might take an extra 1-2 business days to process compared to subsequent deposits, so plan accordingly.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Wait, there are different routing numbers for different things? How do I know which one to use? My bank gave me a routing number when I opened my account but I never knew there could be different ones.
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Paolo Longo
Just wanted to share my quick experience - I set up direct deposit last week when I got the email and just got my first payment directly to my bank account this morning! It actually arrived a day earlier than when the Money Network card would typically be loaded. The setup process took less than 5 minutes, and EDD sent a confirmation email immediately after. So much better than dealing with that card!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•That's awesome! I'm definitely setting mine up after my next payment clears. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Ava Rodriguez
wait i'm confused... is this for regular unemployment or disability? i'm on disability and didn't get any email about direct deposit...
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Miguel Diaz
•This change is rolling out for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims first in July 2025. According to the EDD website, they plan to expand it to Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) later in the year. So if you're on disability, you'll probably get a similar notification in a few months, but for now, you'll still use the Money Network card for your benefits.
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Dmitry Smirnov
Update: I just finished setting up direct deposit after my certification payment cleared! The process was super easy - took maybe 3 minutes total. They ask for your routing number, account number, and you have to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN. There's also a confirmation step where you have to verify all the information before submitting. According to the confirmation page, my next payment should go straight to my bank account. SO relieved to finally be done with that Money Network card!
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AstroAlpha
•Did they give you any kind of timeline for when the first direct deposit will happen? I'm still worried they'll find a way to mess this up somehow... can't trust EDD to do ANYTHING right the first time!
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Philip Cowan
•@AstroAlpha The confirmation page said that payments will switch to direct deposit starting with the next certification cycle after setup. So if I certify this Sunday, that payment should go directly to my bank instead of the card. They also mentioned it takes 1-2 business days for the first direct deposit to process, which is still way faster than waiting for the Money Network card to get loaded and then transferred to my actual bank account. Fingers crossed they don't find a way to screw this up! 🤞
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Amina Toure
Finally got around to setting up direct deposit after reading through all these comments! For anyone still on the fence, I just want to emphasize how much better this is than the Money Network card situation. I've been dealing with those cards for over a year and had issues with ATM fees, random holds on my account, and terrible customer service. The direct deposit setup really is as straightforward as everyone said - just make sure you have your bank routing and account numbers ready. One tip: I called my bank first to confirm the correct routing number for direct deposits since some banks have different numbers for different transaction types. Can't wait to never deal with that Money Network card again!
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Emma Wilson
•This is so helpful! I just joined this community and have been dreading dealing with the Money Network card after hearing all the horror stories. I'm still waiting for my claim to be approved, but it's good to know that direct deposit will be an option by the time I (hopefully) start receiving benefits. Did your bank charge any fees for receiving the direct deposits from EDD, or is it treated like a regular deposit?
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