Hey Mateo! I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when my restaurant cut me from 35 hours to 12 hours due to "slower business." Here are some practical tips that really helped me: 1. Apply ASAP - there's a waiting week, so the sooner you file, the sooner you might start receiving benefits 2. When you file, you'll answer questions about why your hours were reduced - be honest that it was your employer's decision, not yours 3. Get something in writing from your manager about the hour reduction if possible (even a text or email works) 4. The work search requirement is real - I had to apply to 3 jobs per week and keep records, even though I was still working part-time One thing that surprised me: my first certification was confusing because I had to report earnings for a week where I hadn't been paid yet (since payday was later). Just remember it's about when you WORKED, not when you got paid. The partial benefits really helped bridge the gap while I looked for a second part-time job. Don't let people scare you off - yes, EDD can be frustrating, but the program exists for exactly your situation. You've got this!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! My hours just got cut from 40 to 20 per week at my office job, and I've been really stressed about making ends meet. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially knowing that I need to report gross earnings and track everything carefully. One question I have that I didn't see addressed: if my employer decides to increase my hours back up in a few months, do I just stop certifying for benefits at that point, or is there a formal process to close out the claim? I want to make sure I handle everything properly from start to finish. Also, does anyone know if having a side gig (like occasional freelance work) affects partial UI benefits? I do some graphic design work here and there and want to make sure I report that correctly too if I get any projects while collecting benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really reassuring to know this program exists for situations like ours!

Congratulations on getting your appeal approved! That's such a relief after waiting 8 months. For anyone else dealing with similar confusion about BofA vs Money Network cards, this is a perfect example of why it's always worth calling EDD to verify, even if it takes multiple attempts to get through. The transition period is definitely causing a lot of mixed signals, but at least now we know that old claims stick with their original payment system. Thanks for updating us with the resolution!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - got a BofA card last week for a claim I filed in early 2024 that went to appeal. I was panicking thinking it was a scam since everyone talks about the Money Network switch. Reading about your successful resolution gives me hope that my appeal might have been approved too. Going to check my UI Online account right now and then call EDD to verify. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats on finally getting your benefits!

Update us when you get this resolved! I'm sure others will run into the same situation and could benefit from knowing what worked for you.

I went through something similar last month - missed my interview because they called 20 minutes late and I was in the middle of picking up my kids from school. The anxiety is real, but here's what saved me: I immediately called the main EDD number and kept pressing 1-2-1 to get to a live person. Took about 45 tries over two days, but I finally got through to someone who could see the call log showing the interviewer called outside the scheduled window. They marked it as "interviewer error" and rescheduled me for the following week. The key is being persistent and having your story straight about why you couldn't answer at that exact moment. Don't give up - this happens more often than you'd think and they do have procedures to handle it!

Another option that worked for me - try contacting your state representative's office! I know it sounds like overkill, but their constituent services team can sometimes cut through the EDD bureaucracy when you're truly stuck. I called my assemblymember's office, explained the situation, and they had someone from EDD call me back within 48 hours to help reset my password. It's a free service and they deal with EDD issues all the time. Worth a shot if the other suggestions don't pan out! Good luck Kaylee! 🍀

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I contacted my credit union and they were able to pull up a detailed statement going back 18 months showing all my EDD deposits with exact dates. Even if you bank with a big bank, most have online chat support that can help you search for specific transaction types. Also, if you have Google Pay, Apple Pay, or PayPal linked to your account, check their transaction histories too - sometimes they capture payment details that can help you piece together the timeline. The key is being persistent and trying multiple angles. Don't let EDD's broken system defeat you! 💪

Quick tip from someone who's been through this exact situation - if you're really worried about timing for rent, you can also call Bank of America at 1-866-692-9374 and ask if they can expedite your debit card for a small fee (I think it was like $5 when I did it). They can usually get it to you in 1-2 business days instead of the usual week. Also, once you get your UI Online account set up, you'll see that EDD actually shows the exact date your payment was "sent" to your card, which helps with planning. The payment amounts can vary week to week depending on any part-time work you report, so don't be surprised if it's not always the same. Hang in there - the first few weeks are definitely the hardest part of navigating the system!

I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago! Filed by phone after my retail job suddenly closed, got that same confusing text, and had no idea what to do next. Here's what I learned: The "payment issued" text usually means your money will hit the debit card within 24-48 hours if you already have one, but since this sounds like your first payment, they're probably mailing your card now. I was able to track my card shipment by calling Bank of America at the number others mentioned - they could tell me it had been sent and when to expect it. One thing that saved me was setting up UI Online immediately. Even though I filed by phone, I could still create the online account using my SSN and the claim info from my paperwork. Having that online access made everything so much easier for future certifications and checking payment status. Also, don't stress too much about the amount varying - mine fluctuated based on whether I did any gig work that week. The system is confusing at first, but once you get into the rhythm of bi-weekly certifications through UI Online, it becomes much more manageable. You'll get through this!