Got BofA debit card in mail but thought EDD switched to Money Network - what's happening?
I'm totally confused right now. Just checked my mail and found a Bank of America EDD debit card, but I thought California switched from BofA to Money Network for all unemployment payments? I haven't had a claim in over a year, so I wasn't expecting anything from EDD at all. Is this card even legitimate or is it some kind of scam? Should I activate it or call EDD first? Has anyone else received a BofA card recently when they were expecting Money Network? I don't want to activate something fraudulent but also don't want to miss out on benefits if they're actually mine.
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Nora Brooks
The transition from BofA to Money Network started in July 2024, but it's happening in phases. If your claim was originally filed before the transition date, you might still receive a BofA card for outstanding payments. However, all new claims should be getting Money Network cards now. I'd recommend calling EDD to verify this is legitimate before activating it, especially if you weren't expecting a payment.
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Jayden Reed
•Thanks! I filed a claim back in October 2023 but it was denied and I appealed. I haven't heard anything about the appeal so maybe this is related? I'll try calling EDD tomorrow.
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Eli Wang
same thing happend to me lol. turned out it was backpay from an old claim i forgot about!
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Jayden Reed
•Really? Did you just activate it and it worked fine? I'm still nervous about scams these days.
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Cassandra Moon
BE CAREFUL!!! There are TONS of scammers sending fake EDD cards lately!!! My neighbor got one and when she called the number on it they asked for her SSN and tried to steal her identity!!! ALWAYS call the official EDD number on their website NOT the number that comes with the card!!!!!
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Zane Hernandez
•This 👆 I got scammed last month by a fake card. Lost $2300 before I could get my accounts frozen. Always verify through official channels.
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Genevieve Cavalier
This is actually a common issue right now. The Money Network transition applies to new claims, but existing/pending claims and appeals are still processing through the old BofA system in many cases. Here's what you should do: 1. Do NOT call any number on materials that came with the card 2. Visit the official EDD website and use their contact methods 3. You can also check your UI Online account to see if there's a payment listed that matches this card 4. If you had an appeal pending, this might be retroactive payment if your appeal was successful The transition is causing a lot of confusion, but both systems are running parallel during this period.
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Jayden Reed
•Just checked my UI Online and there IS a payment listed from last week! So it might be legitimate. I still think I'll call EDD first just to be 100% sure.
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Ethan Scott
Try calling EDD directly to check if its legit. good luck getting thru tho lol took me 3 days of calling nonstop last month
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Lola Perez
•If you're having trouble getting through to EDD on the phone, try using Claimyr. It got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes when I was dealing with a similar card issue last month. Saved me days of frustration. Their system basically calls EDD for you and gets you in the queue. I watched their demo video first (https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km) and then used their service at claimyr.com. Way better than calling 50+ times a day.
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Zane Hernandez
I think the transition is a mess tbh. My roommate got a BofA card last week and my cousin got a Money Network card for claims filed only 2 weeks apart. The EDD website isn't clear about which claims get which cards.
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Nora Brooks
•That's because it depends on when your claim was initially processed in their system, not just when you filed. Claims that were in the system before the cutover date continue with BofA, while new ones go to Money Network. Appeals and retroactive payments can trigger old-system payouts.
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Jayden Reed
UPDATE: I was finally able to get through to EDD this morning! The card is legitimate - my appeal from 8 months ago was finally approved and this is retroactive payment. Since my original claim was processed through BofA, they're still using that system for my payments even though new claims use Money Network. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Genevieve Cavalier
•That's great news! Just be aware that they're phasing out all BofA cards eventually, so at some point you might receive instructions to switch to Money Network, even for this existing claim. Make sure you keep checking your mail and EDD account for any notifications about the transition.
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