No approval notice but certifications went to 'paid' status - how do I get my EDD debit card?
I filed my unemployment claim about 3 weeks ago and never got any notification saying if I was approved or not, or what my weekly benefit amount would be. I checked my UI Online account and saw that I had weeks available to certify, so I went ahead and certified for those weeks. My status changed from 'pending' to 'paid' within 2 days, which I'm taking as a good sign! But now I'm confused about how to actually get my money. Do I automatically get a debit card in the mail? Does 'paid' status definitely mean I was approved? How long does it usually take for the card to arrive? This is my first time on unemployment and I'm really confused about the next steps.
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Nia Thompson
Yes, if your certification status shows 'paid' then you are definitely approved! The EDD doesn't always send an explicit approval notice. The Money Network debit card will be automatically mailed to you, usually within 7-10 business days after your first payment shows as 'paid'. If it's been more than 10 business days, you can call Money Network directly at 1-866-692-9374 to check on the status. Keep in mind your actual benefit amount will show in your UI Online account under 'Claim Summary'.
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Luca Greco
•Thank you so much! That's a relief. I just checked my UI Online and found my weekly benefit amount under Claim Summary like you said. I'll wait another week for the card before worrying. Do they send any kind of tracking info or notification when they mail it?
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Mateo Rodriguez
congrats! ur good 2 go. they dont always send notices anymore. i waited like 2 wks for my card to come last year
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Aisha Hussain
•Not always true. My payments showed paid but then I got a disqualification notice 3 weeks later and they took all the money back off my card! OP should make sure there's no pending eligibility issues listed anywhere on their account.
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GalacticGladiator
When this happened to me last summer, I waited and waited for the card. THREE WEEKS went by after my status changed to PAID and still no card!!! Called Money Network and they said they never got the order from EDD to send one. Had to call EDD and sit on hold FOREVER to fix it. What a nightmare. Make sure you follow up if that card doesn't show up soon!!
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Ethan Brown
•I had this exact same issue in February. The secret is using Claimyr to get through to EDD when calling. I spent days trying to get through on my own with no luck. With Claimyr, I was talking to a rep within 20 minutes who fixed the debit card issue on the spot. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km and sign up at claimyr.com - totally worth it to avoid the endless busy signals and get your card situation resolved quickly.
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Yuki Yamamoto
There's actually two separate things going on here that people confuse: 1. Claim approval - Your claim was approved when they made weeks available to certify. That's your approval notice. 2. Payment processing - When status changes from pending to paid, that means the money has been released. Your Money Network card will come automatically, but there are a few things to know: - First payment can take 10-14 days to get the card - Subsequent payments post within 24-48 hours - You can set up direct deposit once you have your card and account information - Keep your card even after you stop claiming as they reuse the same card if you need benefits again within 3 years If you haven't received any mail at all from EDD, you might want to verify your address is correct in the system.
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Luca Greco
•This is really helpful, thank you! I double-checked my address in the system and it's correct. I think I'm just being impatient because I have bills coming due. I'll wait until the 14-day mark before getting too worried.
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Carmen Ruiz
Does anyone know if you can check online to see if the card has been mailed? My boyfriend had the exact same situation but he could somehow track his card online. I can't remember how though.
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Nia Thompson
•Yes, you can check your card status by creating an account on the Money Network cardholder website (prepaid.moneynetwork.com). However, you need to have received your card first to set up the account, so it doesn't help with tracking the initial card delivery. For that, unfortunately, you do need to call Money Network directly.
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GalacticGladiator
hey i just realized something - did u check ur spam folder for the approval email? mine went to spam and I nearly missed it. but yeah if ur status says PAID ur definitely approved. also make sure u write down ur card numbers and keep them safe when u get the card cuz replacing it is a HUGE PAIN!!!
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Luca Greco
•I've been checking my spam folder every day and nothing's there. But everyone's confirmed that the 'paid' status means I'm approved, so I'm feeling better about it now. I'll definitely keep my card info in a safe place once it arrives. Thanks for the tip!
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Yuki Yamamoto
Just to add one important detail - make sure you activate your card as soon as you receive it by calling the number on the sticker. You'll need to create a PIN. Also, Money Network now has an app you can download to manage your funds, check balances, and set up alerts for deposits. Much easier than their website in my experience.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•the app sucks tho, crashes all the time on my phone
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