EDD sent Money Network card but no approval letter - is this normal?

Yes, this is completely normal! EDD now sends out the Money Network cards (they replaced Bank of America last year) as part of the initial processing. The card arriving doesn't necessarily mean the claim is approved yet - it's just part of their setup process. Your husband should receive an official determination notice separately, either through UI Online or physical mail depending on his communication preferences. I'd recommend checking his UI Online account daily for updates, as sometimes the electronic notifications appear before physical mail arrives.

got my card b4 approval 2! took like 8 more days 4 the approval letter 2 come thru. just wait a bit longer

Same thing happened to me when I applied in January. Money Network card showed up like 10 days after I applied, but the actual claim approval letter came 2 weeks after that. EDD's systems don't talk to each other very well. The card department just automatically sends them out when you apply, but the actual claim reviewers are working on a different timeline. Make sure your husband keeps certifying for benefits every two weeks even while waiting for approval - otherwise he'll miss out on payment for those weeks when it does get approved!

This is actually standard procedure. The Money Network card is issued in advance so it's ready for payments once the claim is approved. A few important things your husband should be doing right now: 1. Continue certifying for benefits every two weeks through UI Online 2. Complete any work search activities and document them 3. Check UI Online messages daily for any requests for additional information 4. Make sure his contact information is up to date in the system The approval timeline can vary significantly depending on whether his employer contests the claim or if there are any identity verification issues. Most clean claims are being processed in 2-3 weeks currently, but it can take up to 5 weeks for more complicated situations.

EDD IS THE WORST!!!! They sent me the stupid card too but then REJECTED my claim 6 weeks later!!! Total waste of time. Now they're saying I have to repay the $760 they accidentally put on it before they realized their "mistake." I HATE the system. Don't get your hopes up just because you got a card.

My roomate got his card like 2 weeks b4 approval letter came. Card was empty at first then suddenly had $$ on it before he even got the letter lol

When I got laid off from my healthcare job last fall I got my Money Network card about 10 days before any approval notification. Then one day I checked and there was money on it! I was so confused because I hadn't received any official approval. The letter came 3 days after the money appeared. EDD does everything backwards sometimes lol.

If you're really concerned about the status and want to talk to an actual EDD rep (which can be nearly impossible with their phone system), I used Claimyr a few weeks ago and they got me through to a human at EDD within 30 minutes when I couldn't get through for days on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. The website is claimyr.com. Totally worth it for the peace of mind of talking to someone who could see exactly what was happening with my claim.

Just a suggestion - have your husband check that his identity verification through ID.me is complete. Sometimes claims get stuck in pending status if there are identity verification issues, even when you've received the Money Network card. The card issuance is automatic but the claim approval requires identity confirmation. If there's any issue there, it would explain the delay.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my husband's claim was finally approved! The letter came yesterday, almost exactly 4 weeks after he applied. The money was deposited to the Money Network card about 12 hours before we got the letter. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice and reassurance during this stressful time!