EDD payment schedule confusion - just got my Money Network card but unsure about biweekly vs weekly payments

EDD pays biweekly in California, not weekly. Your friend might be thinking of another state or may have been confused about the payment schedule. The certification cycle is every two weeks, and you typically certify for two weeks at a time. The payment usually processes within 24-48 hours after you successfully certify, assuming there are no issues with your claim or certification answers. The certification period opens at the end of each two-week period. For example, if your first certification covered January 1-14, you'd certify on or after January 15, and your next certification would cover January 15-28, which you'd complete on or after January 29. Make sure to set a calendar reminder so you don't forget - certifying late can delay your payments.

congrats on getting aproved!! it took me TWO MONTHS to get my first payment lmfao so ur lucky. and yeah its every 2 weeks. the amount you get is for the FULL two weeks not per week. they send it all at once.

The confusion here is understandable. In California, your first EDD payment might only be for one week if you applied in the middle of a certification period. After that initial payment, you'll fall into the regular biweekly schedule. Check your UI Online account under 'Payment History' - it will show exactly which week(s) the $487 covers. If it shows just one week, your next payment will include the second week of your first certification period. After that, you'll receive payments for two weeks at a time. Also, there's a 10% federal tax withholding if you elected for taxes to be withheld, which might explain why your payment is lower than expected ($450 - 10% = $405 per week).

I've been on unemployment for 4 months now, and I can tell you the system is INFURIATING sometimes! They make everything confusing on purpose I swear. Here's what I've learned the hard way: 1. You certify every 2 weeks 2. Payment SHOULD come 24-48 hours after certifying BUT sometimes it takes 3-4 days for no reason 3. First payment is often for just one week depending on when your claim started 4. Sometimes they randomly put your payment on pending for weeks with ZERO explanation 5. They take out taxes if you selected that option The worst part is when you need to talk to someone about problems, it's IMPOSSIBLE to get through on the phone. I spent THREE DAYS calling nonstop before I got through.

If u need to reach EDD by phone try using Claimyr. saved me hours of frustrating redial attempts when my payments got stuck on pending. they connect u to an EDD rep usually within an hour instead of spending all day calling yourself. theres a video demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km that shows how it works. their website is claimyr.com if ur interested. i was skeptical but it actually worked when i needed to ask about missing payments.

Something nobody mentioned yet is that your payment schedule is determined by your UI Customer Account Number (ends in a specific digit that determines your certification week). You can find this in your UI Online account or on any correspondence from EDD. The confusing part for new claimants is that your first certification might only be for one week if you filed in the middle of a certification period, but after that, you'll fall into the regular biweekly schedule. And yes, the actual payment typically comes 24-48 hours after certifying if everything is in order. Also make sure you're completing your work search requirements and documenting them correctly. That's the #1 reason payments get delayed after certification.

Yes, once you're on the regular biweekly schedule, your certification dates will follow a consistent pattern. For example, if your account number puts you in the "Group 1" schedule, you'll always certify on the same dates (like every other Sunday). The payment dates will then typically be 1-2 days after certification, assuming no issues. So if you're certifying on 1/15, 1/29, 2/12, etc., you'd typically receive payments around 1/16-17, 1/30-31, 2/13-14, etc. This consistency does make budgeting easier. Just remember that bank holidays can sometimes delay the payment by an additional day, and always certify as early as possible on your certification date to ensure the fastest processing.

btw make sure u activate ur money network card!!! my friend didnt realize she had to activate it and thought the payments werent coming thru but they were just sitting on the card lol. also u can set up direct deposit if u want on the edd website its way easier than using the card imo