EDD payment approved but no Money Network card - when will it arrive?
So I just checked my UI Online account and saw that my first payment was approved 4 days ago (status shows 'paid'), but I still haven't received any Money Network debit card in the mail. I thought the card would come automatically with the first payment, but nothing has shown up yet. This is my first time on unemployment and I'm starting to worry because my rent is due next week. Do they send the card separately after the payment is processed? How long should I expect to wait? Anyone know if there's a way to track when it will arrive?
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Omar Farouk
Yes, the Money Network card is sent separately after your first payment is processed. It usually takes 7-10 business days after your first payment shows as 'paid' in the system. The cards are mailed from their processing center, not directly from EDD. You can't really track it, unfortunately - that's one of the frustrating things about the system.
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Freya Andersen
•Thanks for explaining! I was starting to think I did something wrong. So there's no way to speed it up? Really need that money for rent.
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CosmicCadet
Mine took 12 days to arrive and I was freaking out too lol. But it did come eventually. Just be patient
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Freya Andersen
•12 days?! That's so long when you're counting on that money. Glad yours showed up though!
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Chloe Harris
when mine got approved last year the card came about a week later. but then i had problems activating it and had to call their customer service which was another headache. make sure when it comes you activate it right away and set up your pin!!
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Diego Mendoza
If you need to access the money before the card arrives, you can call Money Network customer service (number should be on the EDD website) and ask if you can expedite the card delivery for a fee. I think it costs around $15 to get it in 3 business days. Alternatively, you could set up direct deposit for future payments once you have access to your account - that's much faster than waiting for the card to be reloaded.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! I'll check out the expedited option. $15 is worth it if I can get my rent paid on time. And definitely setting up direct deposit for future payments.
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Anastasia Popova
The whole EDD system is ridiculous!! Why can't they just use direct deposit from the beginning? Making people wait for a physical card in 2025 is absurd. I had to wait almost TWO WEEKS for my card while my bills were piling up. And then when I finally got it, the activation process was a nightmare. The Money Network website kept crashing on me and I had to call them three different times before I could access my funds. RIDICULOUS!!!
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Sean Flanagan
•I agree, the system is outdated. They actually used to offer direct deposit from the start, but they switched to the Money Network cards a few years ago. Something about reducing fraud, but it just creates more hassle for everyone.
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Zara Shah
has anyone had their card lost in mail? im worried this will happen to me too
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Diego Mendoza
•If your card doesn't arrive within 10-12 business days, you should call Money Network customer service. They can verify if it was sent and can issue a replacement if needed. Just make sure to keep checking your UI Online account to confirm when the payment status changed to 'paid' - that's when the clock starts for the card mailing.
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NebulaNomad
I went through this exact thing back in January! So frustrating waiting for that card when you need the money. One thing no one mentioned yet - you can actually call the Money Network automated system (866-320-8699) to check if your card has been mailed. It won't tell you where it is, but at least confirms if it's in the mail system. Just need to enter your SSN and date of birth.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you! I'll try that number today to at least see if it's been sent out.
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Chloe Harris
i had a problem with my first claim too and needed to talk to someone at EDD about why my payment was stuck and the card wasnt coming. spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone!!
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Sean Flanagan
If you're having trouble reaching EDD to check on your card status, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me get through to a live agent when I was dealing with a similar payment issue. Their system connects you with EDD without having to redial hundreds of times. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of frustration when I needed to sort out my Money Network card issues. The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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Freya Andersen
•Thanks for the tip! At this point I'm willing to try anything to get this sorted out faster. I'll check out that video.
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Zara Shah
•does that service actually work? i'm always suspicious of these things
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Sean Flanagan
•It worked for me. I was able to speak with an actual EDD rep within about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The rep I spoke with was able to confirm my card status and give me specific information about when it was mailed.
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Omar Farouk
Once you get your card, I strongly recommend setting up the Money Network mobile app. It makes managing your unemployment funds much easier. You can check your balance, see payment history, and even set up alerts when new payments are deposited. Also important - you can switch to direct deposit for future payments once you have card access, which is much faster than waiting for the card to be reloaded every certification period.
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Freya Andersen
•That's great advice, thanks! I'll definitely set up the app and switch to direct deposit as soon as possible. Really appreciate everyone's help here!
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