Money Network card deposit timeline and bank transfer questions - EDD payment process confusion
Hi everyone! I'm new to this whole EDD unemployment process and I'm a bit confused about how the Money Network card actually works. I certified for benefits this past Sunday and haven't seen any deposit hit the card yet (it's now Wednesday). When I tried to add my bank account to the Money Network app to set up transfers, it seems like it won't let me add my banking info until there's actually money loaded onto the card? Is this normal? Do I seriously have to wait for EDD to deposit funds first, THEN add my bank info, and THEN wait again for a transfer? The whole process seems really inefficient. Anyone know roughly how many days after Sunday certification before money typically shows up on the card? And am I right about needing to wait for funds before setting up bank transfers? Thanks in advance for any help!
28 comments


Alfredo Lugo
Yes, that's exactly right. You need to wait for the first payment to hit your Money Network card before you can set up the bank transfer option. EDD usually processes payments within 24-48 hours after certification, but it can sometimes take up to 3 business days to appear on your card. So if you certified Sunday, you should see it by Wednesday evening at the latest. Once the money is there, you can log into the Money Network app or website and add your bank account information for future transfers. The first transfer to your bank might take another 1-2 business days, but after that it gets more predictable. Just make sure you triple-check your bank account number and routing info when you enter it!
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Gianna Scott
•Thank you for confirming! It's just frustrating because I really need those funds and every extra day of waiting is stressful. So basically I'm looking at almost a week from certification to actually having the money in my bank account for this first payment. Ugh. I'll keep checking the card and hopefully it hits today.
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Sydney Torres
i think it depnds on when u certify too. i certify late sunday night and my funds always show up thursday morning. but my friend does it at like 6am sunday and gets the money tuesday sometimes. its weird how the timing works lol
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Gianna Scott
•Oh interesting! I certified around noon on Sunday. Maybe next time I'll try super early in the morning and see if that speeds things up. Worth a shot!
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE SLOW ON PURPOSE!!!! I've been dealing with EDD for 7 months now and I swear they WANT us to suffer waiting for our money. They make the process complicated and then wonder why people get frustrated. And don't get me started on how the Money Network card has all those fees if you use it wrong. They're basically counting on people being desperate enough to pay ATM fees instead of waiting for bank transfers. It's a racket!!
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Caleb Bell
•While the system can definitely be frustrating, there are ways to avoid those fees. You get one free ATM withdrawal per deposit at MoneyPass ATMs, and bank transfers are always free. The timing isn't ideal, but once you get the initial setup done, payments tend to follow a more regular schedule. If you're having ongoing issues with your claim, you might want to try calling EDD directly to address them.
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Danielle Campbell
Just went through this last month. Here's what I learned about the Money Network card timeline: 1. Certification (Sunday) 2. Payment shows as "paid" on UI Online (usually Monday-Tuesday) 3. Money appears on Money Network card (usually Tuesday-Wednesday) 4. FIRST TIME ONLY: Add bank account info to Money Network app/website 5. Initiate transfer to your bank (1-2 business days) After the first payment, you can set up automatic transfers so every new deposit automatically goes to your bank. That's what I did - now the money just shows up in my checking account about 3-4 days after I certify without me having to do anything. Hope this helps!
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Gianna Scott
•This timeline is SO helpful, thank you! I didn't realize you could set up automatic transfers - that will make things much easier going forward. I'm definitely going to do that once my first payment comes through.
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Rhett Bowman
when i was on unemployment last year the money would usually hit my card on tuesday afternoon/evening after certifying on sunday. but sometimes it would be wednesday morning. just depends i guess.
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Abigail Patel
If you're having trouble reaching EDD to ask about your payment status, you might want to try Claimyr. It helped me get through to an EDD rep when I had issues with my Money Network card. Their system connects you with an EDD agent usually within 5-10 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. I found them at claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. It saved me so much frustration when I was trying to figure out why my payments were delayed.
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Gianna Scott
•Thanks for the suggestion! If my payment doesn't show up by tomorrow, I might try that. I'm hoping it won't be necessary, but good to know there's an option out there.
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Alfredo Lugo
Just to update on your original question - yes, the way the Money Network card works is kind of backwards. You'd think they would let you set up your bank info right away, but their system requires funds to be present first before you can complete the bank transfer setup. It's definitely not ideal, but that's unfortunately how they designed it. The good news is it's only an issue for your first payment.
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Gianna Scott
•That's what I was afraid of! Really seems like they could improve that process, but at least it's only a one-time inconvenience. Checking my card obsessively today hoping to see that deposit come through.
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Rhett Bowman
my money just came through like 20 minutes ago and i certified sunday too. maybe check your card now?
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Gianna Scott
•OMG JUST CHECKED AND IT'S THERE!!! Thank you! Going to set up my bank transfer right now!
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Heather Tyson
Congrats on getting your first payment! Just a heads up - when you set up that bank transfer, make sure to double-check all your account details before submitting. I made a typo in my routing number the first time and it delayed my transfer by almost a week while they had to reverse it and let me re-enter the correct info. Also, once you get the automatic transfer set up like @Danielle Campbell mentioned, it really does make the whole process so much smoother. You'll basically forget about the Money Network card after that first time!
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Andre Dupont
•Great advice about double-checking the account details! I'm being extra careful with the routing and account numbers since I definitely don't want any delays. It's such a relief to finally see that money on the card - the waiting was really stressing me out. Looking forward to getting that automatic transfer set up so I don't have to go through this process again next time!
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Yara Nassar
So glad to see this worked out for you! The Money Network card system definitely has its quirks, but once you get past that first payment hurdle, it becomes much more manageable. For future reference, I've found that payments usually hit the card between Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon after Sunday certification, so that timing you experienced is pretty typical. And yes, definitely set up that automatic transfer - it's a game changer! You'll barely have to think about the whole process after that. Welcome to the EDD unemployment system - it's not perfect, but you'll get the hang of it!
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Kingston Bellamy
•Thanks for the encouragement! It's definitely a relief to know that this timing is normal and not just me having bad luck. I'm already feeling so much better about the whole process now that I understand how it works. Really appreciate everyone in this community being so helpful to newcomers like me - you all made what seemed like a really stressful situation much more manageable!
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Diego Flores
I'm so happy this community could help you through your first EDD payment! It really shows how valuable it is to have people who've been through the process share their experiences. The Money Network card system is definitely confusing at first - I remember feeling the same way when I started my unemployment claim. One thing I'd add is to keep track of your certification dates and payment patterns once you get into a routine. I keep notes in my phone about when I certify and when payments typically arrive, which helps me plan my finances better. Also, don't hesitate to come back here if you run into any other EDD-related questions down the road. This community is great for troubleshooting issues that pop up!
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•This is such great advice about keeping track of the patterns! I'm definitely going to start a note in my phone with certification dates and when payments come through. It would be really helpful to have that data to reference, especially for budgeting purposes. And thank you for the warm welcome - it's so reassuring to know this community is here for ongoing questions. I'm sure I'll have more as I navigate this whole unemployment process!
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Lilly Curtis
Welcome to the EDD community! I'm really glad to see your payment came through and that everyone here was able to help you understand the process. The Money Network card setup is honestly one of the most confusing parts of the whole unemployment system - you're definitely not alone in feeling frustrated by it initially. One additional tip I'd share is to screenshot or write down your Money Network card number and customer service info once you get everything set up, just in case you ever need to contact them directly. I had to call them once when a transfer got stuck and having that info handy saved me time. Also, if you ever have issues with the automatic transfer not working properly, don't panic - it happens occasionally and can usually be resolved with a quick call to Money Network. You've gotten through the hardest part now!
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Charlee Coleman
•Thank you so much for all the helpful tips! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. The screenshot idea is brilliant - I'm going to do that right now while I'm setting up my bank transfer. It's amazing how many little details there are to keep track of with this whole system. I'm definitely feeling much more confident about the process now thanks to everyone's advice. This community has been such a lifesaver for a newcomer like me!
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Kai Rivera
Hey there! I just wanted to jump in and say how awesome it is to see this community come together to help someone navigate their first EDD payment. I went through the exact same confusion about 6 months ago when I first got my Money Network card. That whole "you can't add your bank info until there's money on the card" thing is so counterintuitive - like, why wouldn't they let you set everything up from the beginning?? But once you get past that initial hurdle, the process really does become second nature. I love seeing all the practical tips everyone shared here - especially about keeping notes on timing patterns and screenshotting your card info. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes such a difference when you're dealing with EDD's quirky systems. Welcome to the community, and don't hesitate to ask if you run into any other weird EDD situations down the road!
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StardustSeeker
•Thanks so much @Kai Rivera! It really is amazing how supportive everyone has been. You're absolutely right about that Money Network setup being counterintuitive - it would save everyone so much confusion if they just let you add your bank info from day one. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread because there are so many useful tips scattered throughout all the responses. It's reassuring to know that what felt like such a stressful and confusing process is actually pretty normal, and that there are people here who've been through it all before. Really grateful for communities like this that share real experiences instead of just the official (often unclear) guidance!
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Zoe Wang
This whole thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I've been dealing with EDD for over a year now and I still remember how confusing and stressful that first payment was. The Money Network card system really is designed poorly - having to wait for funds before you can even set up your bank transfer just adds unnecessary anxiety when you're already worried about money. But seeing how everyone jumped in to help explain the timeline and share their experiences is exactly what makes navigating this bureaucratic maze bearable. @Gianna Scott, you handled this perfectly by asking the right questions, and it looks like you got some amazing advice from folks who've been through it all. The tip about keeping notes on your certification and payment patterns is spot on - I wish I had started doing that from the beginning. It would have saved me so much stress trying to remember if payments were "late" or just following their usual weird timeline. Welcome to the EDD journey - it's bumpy but this community makes it so much easier!
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Connor Murphy
•@Zoe Wang you re'so right about this community being invaluable! As someone brand new to unemployment benefits, I was honestly pretty overwhelmed by all the different systems and timelines. Reading through everyone s'experiences here has been like getting a crash course in EDD "reality versus" what the official websites tell you. I had no idea about things like certification timing affecting deposit speed, or that you literally cannot set up bank transfers until after your first payment hits. The fact that so many people took time to share detailed timelines and practical tips really shows how supportive this community is. I m'definitely going to pay it forward by helping other newcomers when I have more experience under my belt. Thanks to everyone who made what felt like a really stressful situation so much more manageable!
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Freya Christensen
This is such a heartwarming thread to read! As someone who's been on unemployment benefits twice now (once in 2020 and again recently), I can definitely relate to that initial confusion and stress about the Money Network card system. The first time around, I was calling customer service every day wondering where my payment was, not realizing that the 24-48 hour processing time they mention doesn't include weekends. It's so true what everyone said about the system being backwards - why make people wait to set up their bank info? It just creates unnecessary anxiety when folks are already dealing with financial stress. @Gianna Scott I'm so glad your payment came through and you got such amazing help from this community! One small tip I'd add: if you ever need to check your card balance quickly, you can text "BAL" to 96411 from your registered phone number instead of logging into the app. It's saved me time when I just need a quick balance check. Welcome to the community and don't hesitate to ask questions - everyone here has been through the EDD maze and is happy to help!
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