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How long until EDD sends first payment? My claim is approved but no check yet

Just got my claim approved last week after waiting forever for the eligibility interview. The EDD rep said everything looks good and my claim was processed, but I still haven't received any payment. The payment status says 'paid' in the UI Online portal, but nothing in my mailbox or bank account yet. How many weeks should I expect to wait for the first payment to arrive? Do they send it as a check or direct deposit? I chose the check option because I had issues with direct deposit last time. Also, does anyone know if the first payment includes all the back weeks I certified for (6 weeks total)? Starting to get worried since my rent is due next week.

Diego Mendoza

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Congrats on getting approved! For paper checks, it typically takes 7-10 business days after the payment shows as 'paid' in the system. Yes, your first payment should include all back weeks that were approved. The EDD prints and mails checks from their central office, so there's always a delay compared to direct deposit (which is usually 1-2 days). Keep checking your mail daily. Sometimes the checks come in plain envelopes that can look like junk mail if you're not careful.

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Chloe Wilson

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Thanks for the quick response! That's a relief to hear. I'll keep an eye on my mailbox. Do you know if they send all 6 weeks worth of payments in a single check or separate checks for each week?

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they will combien all ur weeks into 1 check dont worry. my brother got his in like 5 days last month but my neibor said hers took 2 weeks so who knows lol

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Chloe Wilson

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Thanks! I guess it's a bit unpredictable then. Hopefully mine comes on the faster end.

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StellarSurfer

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Last year when i filed they sent mine after 8 days exactly. But my friend who filed the SAME DAY got hers in 4 days!!! EDD makes no sense sometimes. At least you're approved tho!

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Sean Kelly

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If your payment is showing as 'paid' in UI Online, that's a good sign! The paper check processing time varies between 5-14 days in my experience helping claimants. One thing to note - if this is your first payment ever from EDD, they will issue you a Money Network debit card for future payments, even if you selected paper checks. Many people miss this card when it arrives because it comes in a plain white envelope. If it's been more than 14 days since your payment status changed to 'paid,' you should contact EDD directly to inquire. And yes, they will include all back weeks in one payment.

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Chloe Wilson

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This isn't my first claim, but it's been about 2 years since my last one. Will they still send a new card, or use my old one? I think my old card expired.

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Sean Kelly

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They typically issue a new Money Network card if your old one has expired. Even if you selected paper checks, they may still send a card as a backup payment method. Check your old card's expiration date - if it's still valid, they might reuse it. If not, watch for a new card in the mail.

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Zara Malik

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CAREFUL with assuming anything with EDD. My account said PAID for THREE WEEKS but nothing showed up!!! Had to call like 97 times before someone finally told me there was a hold on my account that wasn't showing in the system!!! Sometimes the computer says one thing but the reality is different. ALWAYS call to confirm!!!

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Chloe Wilson

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That's concerning. Did you ever get your payment after you called? What kind of hold was it?

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Zara Malik

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Yes I got it eventually but only AFTER I called. They said something about an 'identity verification flag' that wasn't cleared properly. The system showed everything was fine but behind the scenes there was a problem. Don't trust the online status!!!

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Luca Greco

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I had the exact same situation last month! My payment was showing as 'paid' but nothing arrived after 2 weeks. I tried calling EDD but couldn't get through with the usual methods - constant busy signals or disconnects. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an EDD rep within about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Turns out there was a small address issue that was causing my check to be held. The rep fixed it right away and my payment arrived 3 days later. Might be worth a call just to make sure everything is proceeding normally with your claim.

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does that claimr thing actually work? seems to good to be true lol

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Luca Greco

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It worked for me! Saved me from spending days hitting redial. The EDD rep I spoke with was super helpful and fixed my issue in minutes once I actually got through.

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Nia Thompson

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I'm in a similar boat waiting for my first payment too! Did yours arrive yet? I'm on day 6 of waiting and getting anxious...

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Chloe Wilson

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Not yet! Today is day 8 for me. I'm going to give it until the end of this week, and if nothing arrives, I'll probably try calling them. I'll update here when my check arrives in case it helps others gauge timing.

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Diego Mendoza

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Just to follow up on this - I want to clarify something important about EDD payments. When the system shows 'paid' status, it means EDD has processed the payment on their end, but there are still several steps before you receive it: 1. EDD processes payment (status changes to 'paid') 2. State controller issues the check (takes 2-3 business days) 3. Check is printed and mailed (1-2 business days) 4. Mail delivery time (3-5 business days) So from 'paid' status to check-in-hand is typically 6-10 business days total. It's not like a direct deposit where 'paid' means it's already in your account. This timeline doesn't include weekends or holidays, which can extend things further.

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Chloe Wilson

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Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That explains a lot. I was counting calendar days, not business days. Based on your timeline, I should probably expect it next week then. Appreciate the clarification!

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Chloe Wilson

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UPDATE: My check arrived today! It took exactly 12 calendar days (8 business days) from when the status changed to 'paid' in the system. And yes, it included all 6 weeks of benefits in one check. Thanks everyone for your help!

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Nia Thompson

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Thanks for updating! Mine came today too! What a relief!

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StellarSurfer

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Congrats! Always nice to hear when the system actually works like it should!

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