I'm on day 7 since my claim was approved and this thread is exactly what I needed to find! The waiting is so stressful when you have bills due and no idea when the card will actually show up. I had no clue about calling Bank of America directly - definitely trying that 1-866-692-9374 number tomorrow to see if mine has been mailed yet. Also signing up for USPS Informed Delivery right now after seeing everyone rave about it. It's wild how much the timeline varies but reading everyone's experiences makes me feel way less alone in this. The uncertainty is honestly worse than the actual waiting sometimes! Thanks to everyone for sharing all these helpful tips - this community is amazing 🙏

I'm on day 4 since my claim was approved and already starting to feel anxious about when my card will arrive! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about calling Bank of America directly at 1-866-692-9374 or setting up USPS Informed Delivery. I'm definitely going to try both of those tricks this week. It's both comforting and nerve-wracking to see how much the timeline varies for everyone - some get theirs in 7-10 days while others wait over a month. At least knowing there are ways to actually track the process makes me feel less helpless. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part when you're depending on those funds! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and all the practical tips 🙏

I just wanted to add another option that helped me when I had this same Money Network card issue a few months back. If you're still having trouble getting through using all the great methods everyone has shared, you can also try calling very early in the morning (like 7:00-7:30 AM Pacific) or late in the evening (after 7:00 PM). I know their official hours are different, but I've actually gotten through to representatives during these "off hours" when the call volume is much lower. Also, one thing I learned the hard way - if your card gets blocked multiple times, they might require you to go through additional verification steps that can only be done over the phone (not through chat or text). So while the live chat and SMS options are great for simple blocks, more complex security holds usually need phone resolution. But definitely try those first since they're faster! Once you get this sorted, I'd also recommend calling Money Network to set up account alerts so you get notified immediately if your card gets flagged again. That way you can address it right away instead of finding out when you're trying to pay for something important. Good luck - this thread has so many helpful tips, I'm sure you'll get it resolved soon!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who recently dealt with this exact same Money Network card nightmare! Reading through all these responses brought back so many frustrating memories, but I'm amazed at how helpful this community has been with sharing actual solutions. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're having trouble with the Money Network app or website not letting you log in (which you mentioned), try clearing your browser cache/cookies or deleting and reinstalling the app. Sometimes when cards get flagged, it can mess with your online account access too. I had to do this before I could even see my balance or try any of the self-service options people mentioned. Also, if you end up needing emergency cash while waiting to resolve this, some credit unions and banks will do small emergency loans or cash advances if you can show proof of your pending unemployment benefits. It's not ideal since there might be fees, but it could help with rent if the Money Network resolution takes longer than expected. Fingers crossed that one of the methods shared here works for you quickly! The combination of live chat, SMS support, specific phone sequences, and calling during off-hours should definitely get you to a solution. And yes - switch to direct deposit as soon as humanly possible! This Money Network card system is clearly broken and causes way too much stress for people who are already dealing with unemployment challenges.

Congratulations on the new job! That's awesome after 4 months of searching. I just went through this same situation a few weeks ago and totally understand your stress about doing it right. Everyone here has given you perfect advice - definitely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work hours and gross pay honestly. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the bi-weekly certification IS the official way to report returning to work. There's no separate form or phone call needed. When you certify, you'll answer "yes" to whether you worked and then enter your hours and earnings for each week. Report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you get paid. So if you start Monday and your certification period covers that week, report those earnings even if your first paycheck won't arrive for another week or two. The system will automatically stop your benefits once you consistently report full-time earnings above your weekly benefit amount. Usually takes 2-3 certification periods. Just be patient with the process and keep documenting everything. You're being smart by asking upfront instead of just guessing! Good luck with your first day at the marketing firm on Monday!

Congratulations on the new job! That's such great news after 4 months of searching. I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and had all the same worries about overpayments and doing everything correctly. Everyone here has given you excellent advice - the most important thing is to absolutely keep certifying every two weeks and report your work hours and gross earnings honestly. Don't stop certifying! That's where people get into serious trouble with overpayments later. When you certify, answer "yes" to working and report your earnings for the actual weeks you worked, even if you haven't received your paycheck yet. The system will automatically reduce your benefits to zero once you report full-time wages, and after 2-3 certification periods of consistently reporting earnings above your weekly benefit amount, EDD will stop your claim automatically. One tip that really helped me was keeping a simple note on my phone with my work hours and expected gross pay for each week, so when certification time came I had everything ready and didn't have to scramble to remember the details. You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront instead of just guessing. The certification process really is designed to handle return-to-work situations smoothly - just be honest and thorough with your reporting and you'll be fine. Best of luck with your first day at the marketing firm on Monday!

Welcome to the community, Maya! It's so great to see how this discussion has helped so many people who were in similar situations. Starting your first job after college while navigating unemployment benefits can definitely feel overwhelming, but you're absolutely doing the right thing by seeking out guidance from people who've been through it. This thread really shows the power of community knowledge - Carmen's expertise combined with everyone's real experiences creates such a comprehensive guide. The fact that you found this post while searching shows you're being proactive about handling everything correctly, which is exactly the right approach. Best of luck with your new job! You've got all the information you need to transition off benefits properly, and this community will be here if you have any other questions along the way.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm in week 3 of a new job after being unemployed for 7 months, and I was so worried about handling the EDD transition correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially the success stories from Mateo, Chloe, and others who got that confirmation message about earning too much for benefits - has been incredibly reassuring. Carmen's professional breakdown was absolute gold, and I love how this community shares both the technical details (like gross vs net earnings) and the emotional support of going through these transitions. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your employer's EIN number ready when certifying - they ask for it and I had to scramble to find it my first time! Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge here. It's amazing how a simple question turned into such a comprehensive guide for anyone navigating this process.

I've been doing gig work while on UI for about 6 months now and want to share some hard-learned lessons that might help you avoid mistakes I made early on. First, the reporting timing IS confusing at first, but here's how I think about it: EDD wants to know what you EARNED during each certification period, regardless of when the money hits your account. So if you work Thursday-Sunday of your certification week, you report ALL of those earnings even if some payments are delayed. Second thing - and this is HUGE - track your GROSS earnings before any platform fees. So if DoorDash shows you earned $100 but only pays you $85 after their service fee, you report $100 to EDD. I made the mistake of reporting net earnings my first few weeks and had to correct it later. Also, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. I use a simple notes app on my phone to log: date, platform, hours worked, gross earnings, miles driven, and gas purchased. Takes 30 seconds after each shift but has saved me multiple times when EDD asked for clarification. One more tip: consider your vehicle expenses. Gig work is hard on your car - oil changes, tire wear, increased insurance. Factor these real costs into whether the work is actually profitable for you after the UI benefit reduction. The system works if you're diligent about accurate reporting, but there's definitely a learning curve!

I've been doing Uber/DoorDash while on UI for about 4 months now and wanted to share some practical tips that have helped me stay compliant and maximize my income. **Key things I've learned:** 1. **Set up a simple tracking system immediately** - I use a notebook in my car where I write down each shift: date, app used, total gross shown in app, hours worked. Takes 10 seconds but creates a paper trail. 2. **Screenshot everything** - At the end of each week, I screenshot my earnings summary from each app before I cash out. This gives me proof of what I reported to EDD if questions come up later. 3. **The sweet spot calculation** - With your $450 WBA, if you earn around $400 gross from gig work in a week, EDD deducts $300 (75%), leaving you $150 in benefits + $400 gig money = $550 total. That's been my target range. 4. **Don't overthink the timing** - I report earnings for the week I did the actual work, period. If I drove Saturday night but got paid Tuesday, it goes on Saturday's week. Keep it simple. 5. **Plan for taxes NOW** - I transfer 25% of each gig deposit into a separate savings account immediately. You'll thank yourself later when quarterly taxes are due. The system really does work if you're honest and organized. I'm actually earning more now than I was at my old job, and it's giving me flexibility to be picky about my next permanent position. Just don't cut corners on the record-keeping!