Thanks for sharing this! I was able to get through this morning using the 8:01 AM trick you suggested. They rescheduled my interview for next week and added a note to my file about the notification issue. The rep also recommended I opt into text notifications once the new system is implemented. Appreciate everyone's help here!

That's amazing news that you got through and resolved it! For anyone else dealing with this same issue, I'd also recommend keeping screenshots of your UI Online account showing no interview notifications and saving any confirmation emails you get about the rescheduled interview. EDD's system has been known to have recurring glitches, so having that documentation could save you time if this happens again. Really glad this community was able to help you navigate such a frustrating situation!

One more thing to add - since you mentioned this is a contract ending situation, make sure you understand how your severance package timing might interact with your final paycheck requirements. Sometimes companies try to spread severance payments over multiple pay periods, but your vacation payout still has to be included in that final check on your last day. Also, if you haven't already, I'd recommend documenting your current vacation balance with a screenshot from your company's time tracking system AND requesting an official statement from HR showing your accrued vacation days as of your last day. This creates a paper trail in case there are any disputes later. California's Department of Industrial Relations website has great resources on final pay requirements if you want to reference the exact statutes when you contact HR - having the specific legal codes can help ensure they take your request seriously!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours! My company is also based out of state (Colorado) but I work remotely in California. When my contract ended last year, their payroll department initially tried to tell me vacation payout wasn't required because "company policy doesn't mandate it." I had to educate them that California law overrides company policy - it doesn't matter what their handbook says or what other states allow. I ended up sending HR a detailed email citing Labor Code 227.3 and explicitly stating that as a California employee, I'm entitled to full vacation payout on my final day regardless of company policies from other states. They corrected course immediately once they realized I knew the law. Definitely get everything in writing and don't let them brush you off with "company policy" - California law is non-negotiable on this! You've got solid legal backing, so don't hesitate to be firm about your rights.

As someone brand new to this community and the EDD system, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I've been struggling with the exact same direct deposit issue for about 2 weeks now - stuck with the Money Network card and getting that frustrating "unable to verify account information" error every time I try to switch. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a learning experience. I had absolutely no idea about the timing restrictions (8am-2pm weekdays only), browser compatibility issues (Firefox vs other browsers), exact name formatting requirements, or the leading zero account number tip that @Bridgett Haney shared. It's honestly shocking that EDD doesn't provide any of this crucial information on their official website! I've been making all the classic mistakes - trying in the evenings after work, using Chrome, and being too casual about name formatting. Meanwhile, those Money Network fees keep adding up ($3 here, $2.50 there) which really hurts when you're already dealing with unemployment stress. This community has essentially created the comprehensive troubleshooting guide that EDD should have provided from day one. Tomorrow morning I'm going to follow the proven approach: Firefox browser at 9am, current routing number verified with my bank, name matched exactly to my EDD profile, and check if I need to remove any leading zeros from my account number. Thank you to everyone who shared their hard-won solutions here - this is what real community support looks like! Hopefully I'll be back with another success story to add to this amazing collection. Those Money Network fees won't defeat us! 💪

As someone completely new to both this community and the EDD system, I'm absolutely blown away by how helpful this thread has been! I just started receiving unemployment benefits last month and have been stuck with the Money Network card, getting hit with fees left and right. I had no idea I could even switch to direct deposit until I found this discussion. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational - I never would have guessed that timing (8am-2pm weekdays), browser choice (Firefox), exact name formatting, and account number details like leading zeros could make such a difference. It's honestly ridiculous that EDD doesn't publish any of this critical information anywhere official! I've been using the Money Network card for about 3 weeks now and those fees are already adding up fast - $3 ATM withdrawals, $1.50 balance checks, it's death by a thousand cuts when you're already financially stressed from being unemployed. Every dollar matters right now. This community has basically created the ultimate EDD direct deposit troubleshooting manual through collective trial and error. I'm definitely going to try the proven formula tomorrow morning: Firefox browser at 9am, triple-check my routing number with my bank, match my name exactly to my EDD profile, and verify if I need to remove any leading zeros from my account number. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their solutions and turned your frustrations into help for others. This is exactly what community support should look like! Hopefully I'll be back soon with another success story to add to this amazing thread. Time to escape Money Network fee prison! 💪

I just went through this exact situation about 6 weeks ago! My benefit year expired and I had to reopen my claim, then got scheduled for an interview. Just like everyone else is saying, your payments will definitely stay pending until after your interview is completed - that's totally standard for reopened claims. The interview was actually much easier than I expected. They asked about my job search activities, confirmed I was still available for work, and asked if anything had changed in my situation since I originally filed. The whole thing took about 18 minutes. My pending payments (2 weeks worth) showed up in my account exactly 48 hours after the interview ended. A few things that really helped me prepare: - I printed out my job search log organized by week (so much easier than trying to scroll through digital files during the call) - Made sure my phone was fully charged and I was in a spot with great reception - Had a simple one-page summary of my weekly application totals ready to reference The "eligibility determination interview" wording sounds intimidating but it's really just their standard language for verifying you still meet the requirements. As long as you've been actively job searching and following all the rules, you should be completely fine. I know the timing with rent is stressful, but if your interview goes well Wednesday, there's a good chance you'll see those payments by Friday or Saturday based on what others have shared. You've got this!

I went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago! Your payments will definitely stay pending until after your interview - that's completely normal for reopened claims, even though it's super stressful when you have bills due. The interview itself was way more straightforward than I expected. They asked about my job search activities, confirmed I was still available for work, and verified some basic info about my situation. The whole thing took about 22 minutes. My pending payments (4 weeks worth) were released about 40 hours after the interview ended. Here's what really helped me prepare: - Printed out my job search log organized by week and date - Created a simple summary sheet with weekly application totals for quick reference - Made sure I had good phone reception and stayed near a charger - Had explanations ready for any weeks where I applied to fewer jobs The "eligibility determination interview" language sounds scary, but it's really just their standard process for verifying you still meet all the requirements when reopening a claim. As long as you've been actively job searching and following the work search requirements, you should be totally fine. I know the rent deadline is adding extra stress, but based on the timeline others have shared and my own experience, if your interview goes well Wednesday, you should see those payments hit your account by Friday or Saturday at the latest. Hang in there - you're almost through this process!

I'm currently in week 1 of waiting for my mailed application to be processed and stumbled across this thread while searching for timeline information. Like so many others here, I had to mail my application because the online system kept erroring out during the employer information section. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - before finding this thread I was already starting to worry after just one week! Now I understand that 3-5 weeks seems to be the standard timeline for mail processing, which definitely helps set realistic expectations. It's so frustrating that EDD's own technical failures are forcing so many of us into this slower process, but it's reassuring to see multiple success stories here. @Yara Khalil and @Xan Dae, congratulations on getting your confirmations and approvals! Your experiences give me hope. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy once I hit week 3, and I'm going to follow the advice about checking UI Online just once daily instead of obsessively refreshing. Thank you to everyone for sharing such detailed timelines and practical tips - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's normal!

I'm in week 3 of waiting for my mailed application and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Had to file by mail after the online system kept crashing during the wage verification step - it's so maddening that their technical problems force us into this limbo. Reading everyone's timelines here (the 3-5 week range seems very consistent) has really helped me understand what's normal vs. what to worry about. @Yara Khalil huge congratulations on getting approved after 5+ weeks - that gives me so much hope! @Alice Pierce hoping you get your letter any day now since you're at week 5. I tried calling yesterday using the 8am strategy that several people mentioned but couldn't get through - going to keep trying this week. One thing I wanted to add: I called my local state senator's office yesterday and they confirmed they can help with EDD issues if you've been waiting longer than the normal timeframe. They said they have direct contacts at EDD and can sometimes expedite cases. Might be worth trying for anyone who's been waiting 6+ weeks. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - knowing benefits get backdated is keeping me sane during this wait!