EDD payment methods 2025: Direct deposit option vs Money Network Debit Card explained

EDD now uses the Money Network Debit Card system instead of Bank of America cards (that switch happened back in 2023). You do have the option for direct deposit! When you set up your UI Online account, you'll be asked to select your payment preference. You can choose direct deposit to your personal bank account or the Money Network card. If you choose direct deposit, you'll need your account number and routing number ready when you set things up. The direct deposit option is definitely more convenient for most people.

i got laid off in november and i went with the money network card cuz i didnt have my bank info handy when i was filling everything out. kinda regret it now tbh

yeah the card is annoying. had to pay fees to transfer money to my real bank account. wish i just did direct deposit from the start. u can switch later but its a whole process

I've been through three unemployment claims over the years and can confirm direct deposit is the best option. With direct deposit, payments typically appear in your account 1-2 business days after certification is processed. The Money Network card can sometimes take an extra day, plus you have to deal with transferring funds to your main account or using the card directly. One important thing to note: Even if you select direct deposit, EDD will still mail you a Money Network card as a backup payment method. They do this in case there are issues with your direct deposit setup or if they need to issue retroactive payments quickly. Keep the card in a safe place, but you likely won't need to use it if your direct deposit is set up correctly.

Wait I'm confused... I thought EDD only does the Money Network card now? My brother got unemployment in 2024 and they didn't give him a direct deposit option.

Just wanted to add - if anyone is having trouble reaching EDD to change your payment method or fix issues with your Money Network card or direct deposit, I had success using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD representative. I spent days trying to call myself with no luck, always getting the "too many callers" message. Claimyr got me connected in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The website is claimyr.com - seriously saved me so much frustration when I needed to fix a payment issue!

OK I need to VENT here - why does EDD make EVERYTHING so complicated?? In 2025 why can't they just do normal direct deposit like EVERY OTHER PAYMENT SYSTEM ON EARTH?? Why all this confusion with backup cards and different systems? My sister works for the state of Oregon and said their unemployment system has had simple direct deposit for years with no issues! California EDD is stuck in the STONE AGE!

I had uneployment back in 2020 with the Bank of america card and it was terible! Good to here they switched to diffrent system now. What happens if you move during your claim? Does direct deposit still work or do they stop payments?

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going with direct deposit. Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. I'll select direct deposit during my initial application 2. I'll still get a Money Network card in the mail as backup 3. Direct deposit payments come 1-2 days after certification One last question - if I accidentally choose the card option, how difficult is it to switch to direct deposit later?

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this process in early 2025. I chose direct deposit from the start and it's been seamless - payments hit my account like clockwork every two weeks, usually on Tuesday mornings after I certify on Sunday. The Money Network card they send as backup is actually useful to have around - I had one certification period where there was a temporary glitch with my direct deposit and they pushed that payment to the card instead. Got a text notification and was able to access my benefits immediately rather than waiting for them to fix the direct deposit issue. So even though everyone (rightfully) complains about the card fees, having it as a backup actually saved me from missing rent that month!

As someone who just went through this process in January 2025, I can confirm direct deposit is definitely the way to go! I was in the same boat as you - didn't want to deal with another debit card. The setup was super straightforward during my initial application. Just make sure you have your routing and account numbers handy when you're filling out the forms. One tip: double and triple check those numbers because even a small typo can cause delays. I've been getting my payments via direct deposit for about 2 months now and it's been completely seamless. The money shows up in my account every Tuesday morning after I certify on Sunday. Much better than having to deal with card fees or transferring money around!

I've been on unemployment since December 2024 and can definitely echo what everyone's saying about direct deposit being the better choice! I initially went with the Money Network card because I was in a hurry to get my application submitted and didn't have my bank info with me. Big mistake - ended up paying $2.50 every time I wanted to transfer money to my actual bank account, plus ATM fees if I used it for cash. I switched to direct deposit after my third payment and the difference is night and day. The switch process took about a week to go into effect, but now my payments hit my checking account every Tuesday around 6 AM like clockwork. Definitely set up direct deposit from the start if you can - you'll save yourself both money and headaches!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been helping friends navigate EDD for years - you're absolutely making the right choice with direct deposit! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also make sure your bank account can receive ACH transfers without any holds. Some smaller banks or credit unions will put a hold on electronic deposits from government agencies for 1-2 business days, which could delay when you can actually access your funds even though they show as deposited. It might be worth calling your bank ahead of time to ask about their policy on EDD direct deposits. Most major banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America etc. don't have this issue, but it's good to know in advance so you're not surprised if there's a delay!

I'm currently on unemployment (started my claim in February 2025) and went with direct deposit from day one - absolutely no regrets! The process was straightforward during application setup. Just have your bank routing number and account number ready. My payments hit my account every Tuesday morning around 7 AM, usually within 24-48 hours after I certify on Sunday evenings. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned - when you're entering your bank info, use the account number exactly as it appears on your checks or bank statements. Don't add any extra zeros or formatting that some online forms suggest. I learned this the hard way when helping my neighbor set up his claim and he kept getting errors because he was adding leading zeros that weren't actually part of his account number. The Money Network card they send as backup has been sitting in my drawer unused, which is exactly how I wanted it! Direct deposit is definitely the way to go if you want to avoid fees and complications.

I'm in the same boat as Paolo - first time filing and feeling overwhelmed by all the payment options! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been super helpful. It sounds like direct deposit is unanimously the better choice. I'm curious though - for those of you who have direct deposit set up, have you ever had any issues with EDD mistakenly sending payments to the Money Network card instead? I'm wondering how reliable the direct deposit system actually is, or if there are common glitches that might cause payments to default back to the card. I want to make sure I'm prepared for any potential hiccups since I really need these payments to be predictable for budgeting purposes.

As someone who recently went through the EDD application process in late 2024, I can't stress enough how much easier direct deposit makes everything! I was initially hesitant because I'd heard horror stories about government direct deposits, but it's been absolutely seamless. My payments arrive every Tuesday around 8 AM, and I don't have to worry about transferring money or dealing with card fees. One thing I'd recommend is taking a picture of your bank routing and account numbers before you start your application - that way you won't have to scramble to find a check or log into your banking app while you're in the middle of filing. Also, if you're banking with a newer online bank (like Chime, Ally, etc.), double-check that they accept government ACH transfers without issues. Most do, but it's worth confirming so you don't run into surprises later. The Money Network card will still arrive in the mail about a week after you file, but you can just stick it in a drawer and forget about it. Having that peace of mind knowing your unemployment benefits will show up directly in your regular checking account is worth its weight in gold when you're already stressed about being unemployed!

I'm also filing for unemployment for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen asked yet - when you set up direct deposit during the initial application, do you need to provide any additional verification like a voided check, or is just entering the routing and account numbers sufficient? I want to make sure I have everything ready when I sit down to file. Also, does anyone know if EDD sends any kind of confirmation that your direct deposit is set up correctly, or do you just have to wait until your first payment to know if it worked?

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's helped several family members through the EDD process over the past couple years. Direct deposit is absolutely the way to go, but I'd recommend setting up a dedicated checking account just for your unemployment benefits if possible. This makes it SO much easier to track your payments and manage your budget while you're job hunting. Plus, if there are ever any issues with EDD needing to recover overpayments or anything like that, it won't affect your main banking account where you might have automatic bill payments set up. I use a free checking account at my credit union specifically for government benefits, and it gives me great peace of mind. The direct deposit works exactly the same way, but everything stays organized and separate from my regular finances.