EDD payment delays with Money Network vs. BofA - confused about new deposit system

The payment system has definitely changed since you last claimed unemployment. Money Network replaced BofA as the EDD payment provider in July 2023. If you properly set up direct deposit when you reopened your claim, payments should go directly to your bank account - not to any card.\n\nThe 'paid' status means EDD has approved and sent the payment, but there's typically a 1-2 day processing time before it hits your bank account. No confirmation email from Money Network is needed for direct deposit customers - that's only for people using the Money Network debit card.\n\nSince you've received your payment, it sounds like your direct deposit is working correctly. The text notification is from your bank (BofA), not the old EDD BofA card system. Going forward, you'll likely see a consistent pattern of payments arriving 1-2 days after certification.

Thank you for explaining this! So just to clarify - my old BofA EDD card is basically useless now, right? And I should continue receiving payments directly to my regular BofA checking account since I set up direct deposit? Sorry for the confusion, just want to make sure I understand the new system correctly.

YOUR OLD BOFA CARD IS DEAD!!! They seriously did a TERRIBLE job explaining this transition. I went through this exact confusion last month when I had to reopen my claim. The Money Network thing is only if you want their prepaid card instead of direct deposit. If u set up direct deposit correctly you'll ONLY get deposits to your regular bank account not any special card. Took me forever to figure this out!!

This isn't entirely accurate. If you had an existing BofA EDD card with a balance, that card still works to access those funds until they expire. But new payments won't go to it. And some people DO get emails from Money Network even with direct deposit, but it's inconsistent. The EDD system is a mess right now with all these changes rolling out.

I just went through this last month. The timing is pretty consistent once you get used to it:\n\n1. Certify (Sunday recommended)\n2. Status changes to 'paid' in UI Online (usually same day or Monday)\n3. Direct deposit arrives 1-2 business days later\n\nIf you certified late Sunday, your deposit arriving Monday afternoon is actually pretty fast! I never get emails from Money Network either with direct deposit. Just the notification from my bank when the deposit arrives.\n\nOne tip - double-check your direct deposit info in UI Online under \

i had the same issue.. but mine took 3 days to go from paid to actual deposit?? is that normal

I was having trouble getting through to EDD about this exact issue last month - kept hitting that frustrating \

does that service actually work? I called like 34 times yesterday and couldn't get through....

Yeah it worked for me. I was skeptical too but was desperate to talk to someone. Got through pretty quick compared to the hours I wasted trying to call directly.

I recently returned to UI after a long time too and everything is different now! From my experience last month:\n\n- If set up direct deposit: payment goes straight to your bank account (no card needed)\n- If didn't set up DD: they mail you a Money Network card that works like a debit card\n\nThe timing is definitely slower than it used to be with the old BofA cards. I usually see my payment hit my account Tuesday or Wednesday after certifying Sunday. Sometimes faster, like yours was.\n\nPlus the whole Money Network transition has been a mess honestly. Their customer service isn't great either when I had questions. I'd stick with direct deposit if I were you!

Thanks, direct deposit definitely seems easier! I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something important with the Money Network emails. Appreciate your help!

wait so you got a text from BofA about ur unemployment money? are u sure that wasnt a scam text?? i thought they dont do the BofA card thing anymore

They're talking about getting a text notification from their regular Bank of America checking account, not the old EDD debit card. Many banks send text alerts when deposits are made to your account if you have notifications enabled.

ohhhh that makes more sense lol. thx for clearing that up, was worried they got scammed!

One other thing to keep in mind - even though you certified after a long gap, the payment process itself is faster now for MOST people than it was during the pandemic. Back in 2020-2021, the system was completely overwhelmed. Now there are fewer claims overall, so less delays.\n\nAs for the Money Network vs BofA confusion - here's what happened:\n\n1. Until mid-2023: EDD used BofA debit cards for those without direct deposit\n2. July 2023 onwards: EDD switched to Money Network for new debit cards\n3. Everyone with direct deposit: Payments go straight to your bank account regardless\n\nYou're experiencing the normal timeline now. Your payment arriving same-day (Monday) after certification is actually pretty quick!

This is a great explanation of the timeline! I think a lot of people are confused about this transition. EDD really should have done a better job communicating these changes.

mines never shows up that fast lol...lucky you!!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful explanations! Sounds like I've got everything set up correctly with direct deposit and don't need to worry about the Money Network card or emails. The deposit timing seems much clearer now too. Really appreciate all the information!

Glad we could help! Just remember to keep certifying on time (ideally Sunday morning) for the most consistent payment schedule. And double-check that your contact information is current in UI Online in case they need to reach you about your claim.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who also returned to unemployment after a long break! I was off unemployment for about 4 years and when I had to file again in late 2024, I was completely lost with all the changes. The Money Network transition really caught me off guard too. What helped me was logging into UI Online and going to the "Payment Method" section to confirm my direct deposit info was correct. There's also a section that shows your payment history with the new system. One thing I noticed - if you have any issues with future payments, don't bother calling the general EDD number. The Money Network customer service line (for direct deposit questions) is actually more helpful and has shorter wait times. The number is on their website if you need it. Your experience with getting the payment Monday after weekend certification is actually ideal timing! Some of my friends who still use the Money Network card say it takes longer to get their funds available.