EDD suddenly switched from Money Network card to paper checks - investigation happening?

Yep this happened to me back in January! It was a NIGHTMARE. They froze my card with no warning and I had to wait 3 weeks for the first paper check to arrive. When I finally got through to someone (after 47 calls!!!!), they said there was 'suspicious activity' on multiple accounts but wouldn't give me any details. They never found any issues with my account but it took almost 2 months to get my card reactivated.

The same thing is actually happening across the system right now. I know because my brother and my cousin both had their cards frozen last week too. EDD is doing some kind of system-wide fraud investigation. The good news is that as long as your claim is legitimate, you'll still get paid by check. The bad news is that those checks can take 7-10 business days to arrive after each certification. If you're really struggling while waiting, you can request an emergency payment at your local EDD office, but you'll need to make an appointment first.

mine got frozen 2 and they didnt even tell me!! i only found out when i tried to use it at target and it got declined so embarassing. then i had to wait 10 days for a stupid check. edd is the WORST

If you need to speak with an EDD representative about the investigation or to get more information about when your checks will arrive, try using Claimyr. After my card was frozen last month, I spent days trying to get through the regular EDD phone system with no luck. Then I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual EDD agent in less than 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km It was the only way I could get answers about my frozen card situation.

This is happening because of a large-scale fraud investigation involving Money Network cards. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your benefits are NOT suspended - only the payment method has changed 2. The investigation is not specific to your account (it's affecting thousands of claimants) 3. Paper checks typically arrive 7-10 business days after certification 4. You can verify your mailing address in UI Online to ensure check delivery 5. The investigation usually takes 4-6 weeks, but some are resolved faster To speed up resolution, call EDD at 1-800-300-5616 and specifically request to speak with the Identity Verification Department. They can often provide more details about your specific situation. Make sure you have your claim ID and a copy of your ID ready.

wait does this mean the money already on the card is locked too????? i have this same issue happening but i had $725 still on my card that i need for rent!!!

Just to update everyone - I spoke with an EDD specialist today who confirmed this is related to a security breach at Money Network from late March 2025. EDD is being super cautious and temporarily converting affected accounts to paper checks. They said most accounts will be restored within 30 days if no fraudulent activity is found. The specialist also mentioned that the first paper check typically arrives faster (about 5 days) than subsequent ones.

This happened to me last month, and I found out it was because someone had attempted to access my UI Online account from another state. EDD automatically froze my card as a precaution. I had to verify my identity again through ID.me and update my password. After that, they continued sending paper checks for about 3 weeks before reactivating my card. The checks weren't too delayed - they came about 5-7 days after certification. Just make sure your mailing address is correct in UI Online!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My Money Network card was frozen three days ago with no warning. I found out when I tried to buy groceries and the transaction was declined - so embarrassing. When I finally got through to EDD yesterday (took 6 hours of calling), they said it's part of a "routine security review" but couldn't give me any details about what triggered it or how long it would take. They just said I'd get paper checks "soon." This is so stressful because I have rent due next week and I'm a single mom with two kids. Has anyone had success getting an emergency payment while waiting for this to be resolved? I'm really worried about making ends meet with these delays.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! My card got frozen on Tuesday and I'm still waiting for my first paper check. What's really frustrating is that EDD won't give you a timeline - they just keep saying "a few weeks" which could mean anything. I called Money Network directly and they confirmed that once EDD freezes the card, they have zero control over when it gets unfrozen. The Money Network rep was actually more helpful than EDD and explained that this is happening to thousands of people right now due to some kind of security issue. She suggested documenting everything - dates of calls, reference numbers, etc. - in case you need to escalate later. I'm also keeping screenshots of my UI Online account showing that my claim is still active. Hang in there - from what everyone is saying here, it sounds like most people do eventually get it resolved, it's just the waiting that's brutal.