EDD payment stuck on pending after first certification - normal wait time or should I call?
Hi everyone, I submitted my first certification for unemployment benefits last Sunday, but my payment is still showing as 'pending' in the UI Online portal. I've never gone through this process before, so I have no idea if this is normal or if something's wrong. Can anyone tell me approximately how long it usually takes for a first-time certification to go from pending to paid? Is the first payment always delayed? Should I be calling EDD already, or am I being impatient? This waiting and uncertainty is stressing me out because I've got bills coming up. Thanks for any insights!
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Genevieve Cavalier
Welcome to EDD hell lol. First payments ALWAYS take longer than they tell you. Mine took 3 full weeks to change from pending to paid after my first certification. They dont tell you that part on their website!!! Just keep checking your UI account daily. Calling probably won't help but you can try if it makes u feel better.
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Zane Hernandez
•Thanks for the reply! 3 weeks sounds like forever right now. Did you ever find out why yours took so long? Was there anything you had to do to get it moving?
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Ethan Scott
First-time certifications often require additional verification, which can cause delays. The standard timeframe is 7-10 business days, but it can definitely take longer depending on your specific claim circumstances. If you have a straightforward claim with no issues flagged, you should see movement this week. However, if you haven't seen any status change after 10 business days, that's when I'd recommend contacting EDD for clarification. Did you receive any notification about an upcoming eligibility interview or requests for additional documentation?
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Zane Hernandez
•No, I haven't received any notifications about interviews or additional documents needed. My UI Online homepage just shows the certification as received with status 'pending'. Is there somewhere else I should be checking for messages or notices?
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Lola Perez
same thing happend to me last month!! dont worry to much, took like 9 days for my first payment to switch from pending 2 paid. but my second certification only took 2 days
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Zane Hernandez
•That's reassuring to hear! I'm on day 4 now, so hopefully I'll see movement in the next few days. Glad to hear the subsequent certifications go through faster.
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Nathaniel Stewart
The first payment delay is completely normal, but here's what you should know: For first-time certifications, EDD often conducts an automatic review which can take 7-14 days. The system needs to verify your identity, employment history, and benefit eligibility before releasing funds. Keep an eye on your UI Online portal for any action items - sometimes they need additional documentation but don't clearly notify you. If you're approaching the 14-day mark with no change, then it's time to contact EDD. Don't just wait indefinitely as some claims can get stuck in the system without proper follow-up. There's no need to panic yet, but do stay proactive about checking your portal daily.
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Riya Sharma
•this is good advice but getting ahold of EDD is IMPOSSIBLE. I tried for 2 weeks straight when my account was pending.
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Nathaniel Stewart
•You're absolutely right about how difficult reaching EDD can be. The regular phone lines are overwhelmed, especially during peak hours. When I had a pending issue that needed resolution, I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without the endless redials. They have a service that helps you bypass the busy signals and connect with an EDD representative. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It saved me days of frustration when I needed to resolve my pending payment issue.
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Santiago Diaz
did u answer NO to the question about looking for work? that will make it stuck on pending until u talk to someone. happened to me.
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Zane Hernandez
•I answered YES to the work search question and listed my job search activities for the week. So I don't think that's the issue in my case, but good to know that can cause delays!
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Riya Sharma
EVERYONE is having this problem right now!! The EDD system is completely broken. My friend and I both certified last Sunday and both still pending. The state doesn't care that people have bills to pay!!!!
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Nathaniel Stewart
•While there are certainly system issues that can cause delays, there's no widespread pending payment problem currently being reported in California. Each claim is processed individually based on specific circumstances. First-time payments do typically take longer than subsequent ones, but most claims progress normally through the system without requiring intervention.
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Millie Long
I had this exact situation back in February. My first certification sat in pending for about 8 days, then suddenly switched to paid. The Money Network card came about 5 days after that. For me, all subsequent certifications were processed within 2-3 days. One thing to check: make sure you completed your ID.me verification fully. Sometimes people think they've finished the verification process but actually missed a step. Also, double-check that your contact information in UI Online is accurate - if they need to reach you and can't, that will delay things. If it goes beyond 10 days, then yes, you should definitely try to contact EDD. But I wouldn't worry too much before then.
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Zane Hernandez
•Thank you, this is really helpful! I did complete the ID.me verification when I first filed my claim, and got the confirmation email. My contact info is also up to date. I'll wait until the 10-day mark before I start trying to call. I appreciate the reassurance!
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Nathaniel Stewart
Just checking back - has there been any update to your pending payment status? It's been a few days since your original post.
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Zane Hernandez
•Yes! I was actually just about to update everyone. My status changed from pending to paid yesterday morning - so it took 6 days total. The EDD rep I finally reached mentioned they're currently processing a higher volume of first-time claims than usual, which is causing some delays. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! Such a relief to see that payment status change.
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