EDD payment shows approved but no debit card - how long until I receive funds?
I finally got a payment status of 'paid' on my EDD account yesterday after waiting forever! This is my first time on unemployment and I'm confused about what happens next. My claim summary shows $1,450 has been issued but I haven't received any debit card in the mail. Does anyone know how long it takes for the Money Network card to arrive after a payment shows as paid? And once I get the card, is the money available immediately? I've got rent due in 6 days and I'm stressing out!
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Amina Toure
The Bank of America EDD debit cards were actually phased out in mid-2023. EDD now uses Money Network for their debit cards. The first time you get paid, they'll automatically mail you a card, which typically takes 7-10 business days to arrive. Any future payments will automatically load onto that same card. You can check the status of your card by calling Money Network at 1-888-323-7735.
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Paolo Ricci
•Oh no! 7-10 business days?? That means I might not get it before rent is due. Is there ANY way to speed that up? Can I go pick it up somewhere in person?
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Oliver Zimmermann
congrats on getting paid! mine took like 14 days for the card to come but this was back in 2024 so maybe its faster now
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CosmicCommander
•14 days is ridiculous!!! Why does EDD make everything so complicated? They should just let us use direct deposit like normal jobs do instead of forcing us to wait for some stupid card in the mail. The system is designed to make us suffer!
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Natasha Volkova
You actually have two options with EDD payments now: 1. Money Network debit card (which takes 7-10 business days for first-time delivery) 2. Direct deposit (which you can set up through UI Online) If you didn't specifically choose direct deposit when you filed your claim, they default to sending a debit card. Once you receive the card, you'll need to activate it, and then you can also set up a transfer from the card to your bank account. Since you're in a time crunch with rent, I'd recommend calling EDD directly to see if they can expedite the card delivery or switch you to direct deposit for future payments. However, reaching an EDD representative can be extremely difficult these days.
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Paolo Ricci
•Thank you! I definitely didn't know about the direct deposit option - wish they'd made that more clear when I applied. I've been trying to call them for 2 days but keep getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message and then it hangs up on me. Is there a better time to call or some trick to actually getting through?
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Javier Torres
I was in your exact situation a few months ago! After countless redial attempts, I discovered a service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an EDD representative. It worked for me when I needed to expedite my Money Network card. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km or go to claimyr.com - they basically call EDD for you and then connect you when they get through. Saved me hours of frustration when I was dealing with a similar time-sensitive situation.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•is this legit? sounds like a scam tbh
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Emma Davis
My first payment took FOREVER to hit my account when I was on unemployment last year but then after that initial wait the payments were way faster. But yeah the waiting for that first card is brutal especially when you're counting on the money for bills.
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CosmicCommander
The Money Network card is horrible! When I FINALLY got mine, I immediately transferred all the funds to my regular bank account. They charge fees for almost everything! No wonder EDD switched from Bank of America to Money Network - both are terrible but at least B of A had more ATM locations. The whole system is designed to make things difficult for people who are already struggling!
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Natasha Volkova
•While Money Network does have some fees, there are ways to avoid most of them: 1. Use ATMs in their network (MoneyPass ATMs) for free withdrawals 2. Transfer funds to your bank account online at no cost 3. Use the card for purchases with no fee You can view their fee schedule on the Money Network website. The transition from Bank of America was actually planned for several years as part of EDD's modernization efforts.
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Malik Johnson
has anyone had trouble activating there card? i got mine but the automated system keeps saying my information isnt matching up when i try to make a pin
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Amina Toure
•That's a common issue. Make sure you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your EDD application. If that doesn't work, try calling the Money Network customer service directly at 1-888-323-7735 and speaking with a representative who can manually verify your identity and help you set up the PIN.
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Paolo Ricci
UPDATE: I took the advice here and was able to reach EDD (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it actually worked!). The rep confirmed my card was mailed yesterday and should arrive within 7 business days. She also helped me set up direct deposit for future payments so I won't have this issue again. For my current situation, I explained about rent and she suggested I could talk to my landlord about the short delay and show them the EDD payment confirmation as proof that money is coming. Not ideal but at least I have a plan now. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Natasha Volkova
•That's great news! Setting up direct deposit is definitely the way to go for future payments. And good thinking about showing your landlord the payment confirmation - most landlords are understanding if you communicate proactively about a short delay, especially when you can prove the money is on its way.
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Natasha Petrova
Glad to hear you got through to EDD and have a plan! Just wanted to add - when your Money Network card arrives, make sure to activate it right away and then immediately set up online account access at moneynetwork.com. This way you can track your balance, transfer funds to your bank, and avoid most fees. Also, keep that direct deposit setup for future payments - it's SO much faster than waiting for cards. Hope your landlord is understanding about the short delay!
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Samantha Howard
•Great advice about setting up the online account immediately! I wish I had known about that when I first got my card - I spent weeks not knowing I could track my balance online. One more tip for anyone reading this: if you do need to use an ATM before you can transfer the money to your bank, use the ATM locator on the Money Network website to find fee-free locations. There are usually plenty of MoneyPass ATMs at grocery stores and pharmacies.
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Lincoln Ramiro
Just want to echo what others said about the direct deposit option - it's a game changer! I made the switch after my first payment and now money hits my account within 1-2 business days instead of waiting for cards. For anyone else reading this thread, you can set up direct deposit through your UI Online account under "Payment Method" - much easier than dealing with the card delays. Paolo, sounds like you're all set now but this info might help others in similar situations!
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Olivia Martinez
•This is such helpful information! I'm new to this community and currently going through the unemployment process myself. It's really reassuring to see how supportive everyone is here and how much practical advice gets shared. I had no idea about the direct deposit option either - definitely going to look into setting that up right away. Thanks to Paolo for sharing his experience and to everyone else for all the detailed tips about Money Network, fee-free ATMs, and actually getting through to EDD. This thread is going to save me a lot of stress and confusion!
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Talia Klein
Welcome to the community and congrats on getting your first payment approved! I went through this same anxiety-inducing wait last year. Since you mentioned rent is due in 6 days, here's a pro tip that helped me: call your landlord NOW and explain the situation. Most landlords are surprisingly understanding when you're proactive about communication and can show proof that payment is coming. Screenshot your EDD account showing the "paid" status - that's solid proof the money exists and is on its way. Also, once your Money Network card arrives, you can instantly transfer the full amount to your bank account for free through their website, so you won't be stuck dealing with ATM fees or limited access. The waiting is the worst part, but you're almost there!
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Kiara Fisherman
•This is exactly the kind of advice I wish I had when I was going through this process! Being proactive with landlords really does make a huge difference. I was so stressed about my first payment too, but everyone here has been incredibly helpful. It's amazing how much smoother things go when you know what to expect. Thanks for the tip about the instant transfer to bank accounts - I didn't realize Money Network allowed free transfers online. That definitely beats dealing with ATM hunting and fees!
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Chris King
I'm going through something similar right now - my payment just switched to "paid" status this morning and I'm also waiting for my first Money Network card! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I had no idea about the direct deposit option and definitely didn't realize I could transfer money from the card to my bank account for free once it arrives. Paolo, thanks for sharing your experience and for the update about getting through to EDD - it gives me hope that I can reach them too if needed. For anyone else in this situation, this thread is basically a goldmine of practical advice. The community support here is incredible!
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Justin Trejo
•Welcome to the community, Chris! It's so great to see how this thread has turned into such a valuable resource for everyone going through the same stressful situation. I'm brand new here myself and stumbled across this discussion while frantically googling about EDD payment delays. Reading Paolo's experience and everyone's helpful responses has been such a relief - it's nice to know we're not alone in this confusing process! I had no idea about any of these tips either, especially the direct deposit option and free bank transfers. Definitely going to set up direct deposit as soon as I can access my UI Online account. Good luck with your payment, and thanks to everyone who's shared their knowledge here!
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Sophia Carter
I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you have bills due. Here's what I learned: the Money Network card typically takes 7-10 business days to arrive after your first payment shows "paid" status. Once you get it and activate it, the money is available immediately. Since you're cutting it close with rent, definitely reach out to your landlord ASAP - most are understanding when you show them the EDD payment confirmation as proof. Also, as soon as you get that card, set up direct deposit through UI Online for future payments. It'll save you this stress going forward. You can also transfer the full amount from the Money Network card to your bank account online for free once it arrives. Hang in there - you're almost through the worst part!
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