How to opt out of EDD Money Network Card and get paper checks instead?
I'm about to file my unemployment claim for the first time (lost my retail management job last week). Been reading horror stories about the Money Network debit card - fees, frozen accounts, customer service nightmares. I definitely want to receive paper checks instead. Can someone tell me exactly when and how to specify this preference during the application process? Is there a specific question or section where I choose payment method? Don't want to miss it and get stuck with that card by default. Thanks in advance!
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Sophia Gabriel
u cant get paper checks anymore lol thats old school. its either direct deposit or that stupid card. I HATE the money network card too btw
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Vince Eh
•Wait, what?? Are you sure? The EDD website mentioned something about paper checks still being an option. This is stressing me out.
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Tobias Lancaster
The previous commenter is incorrect. You actually have THREE options for receiving your EDD payments: 1) Money Network debit card, 2) direct deposit to your bank account, or 3) paper checks. During the application process, there will be a section called "Payment Preference" where you can select your preferred method. Just choose the paper check option there. However, be aware that paper checks take longer to arrive compared to the other methods - usually 7-10 business days after certification is processed vs. 1-2 days for direct deposit or card payments.
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Vince Eh
•Thank you so much for clarifying! That's a relief. The extra waiting time is worth it to avoid dealing with that card. I'll make sure to watch for that Payment Preference section.
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Ezra Beard
Just want to add - I had the Money Network card for 3 months and ABSOLUTELY HATED IT!!! They randomly froze my card TWICE for "suspicious activity" when I was just buying groceries!!! Each time it took 4+ days to get it unfrozen. I switched to paper checks after that and it's been way better. Just be prepared for the wait time like the person above said.
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Statiia Aarssizan
•same thing happened to my cousin. money network is the worst. freezing accounts for no reason smh
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Reginald Blackwell
Just to provide accurate information: You select your payment preference during the initial UI Online registration after your claim is approved. When you set up your UI Online account, you'll be prompted to choose between direct deposit, debit card, or paper check. If you've already completed registration and selected the debit card by mistake, you can still change it. Log into UI Online, go to "Profile" then "Payment Preference" and update your selection there. Changes typically take effect for the next payment cycle. Keep in mind that while paper checks avoid the Money Network issues, they do take longer to arrive and could get lost in the mail. Just something to consider for your planning purposes.
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Vince Eh
•Thank you for these detailed instructions! This is exactly what I needed. I'll make sure to check for this during registration and double-check my selection before proceeding.
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Sophia Gabriel
whoops my bad, guess im wrong about the checks. i thought they phased those out in 2019
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Aria Khan
Just FYI - if you end up going with direct deposit (which is what I'd recommend personally), make 100% sure you enter your account numbers correctly. My buddy transposed 2 digits and his payment went to someone else's account. Took him 6 WEEKS to get it sorted out with EDD. Triple check those numbers!
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Vince Eh
•Yikes that's scary! Thanks for the heads up. I'll probably still go with paper checks to be safe, but that's good advice for anyone choosing direct deposit.
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Everett Tutum
Im having the worst time trying to reach EDD to fix my payment method issue right now. Been calling nonstop for 3 days and cant get through. Seriously considering using this service called Claimyr that someone in another thread mentioned - they help get you connected to an EDD rep faster. I watched their demo at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and it looks legit. Anyone tried claimyr.com before? Might be worth it if you need to change your payment method and can't get through on the regular line.
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Sunny Wang
•I used Claimyr last month when I had problems with my certification. Got through to EDD in about 25 minutes instead of spending days calling. Definitely worth it when you're desperate to talk to someone. They just connect you to the regular EDD line but somehow get you past the busy signals.
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Statiia Aarssizan
whatever u do just make sure u pick something when they ask... my roommate didnt select anything (thought he could decide later) and they automatically gave him the money network card by default. total pain
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Vince Eh
•That's good to know - I'll make sure to actively select paper checks rather than skipping that section. Thanks for the warning!
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Tobias Lancaster
One more thing I should mention - if you do choose paper checks, make sure your mailing address is always current with EDD. Unlike the debit card (which is issued once) or direct deposit, each check needs to be physically mailed to you. If you move during your claim period, update your address immediately in UI Online under the Contact Information section.
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Vince Eh
•That's a great point! I'm in a stable living situation right now, but I'll keep that in mind if anything changes. Really appreciate all the helpful advice everyone!
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