I work in banking and see this issue pretty frequently with prepaid debit cards like the Money Network cards. What's happening is likely that your card has different authorization settings for different transaction types. ATM withdrawals use a different processing network than point-of-sale (POS) purchases at merchants. When you call Money Network tomorrow, here's exactly what to say: "My card works at ATMs but is declining at all retail locations. Please check if my card is restricted to ATM-only transactions and enable full POS/merchant purchases." Also ask them to verify there are no daily spending limits that might be different for retail vs ATM transactions. This is almost always a quick fix once you get the right person on the phone who knows how to toggle those settings. The early morning call strategy others mentioned is spot on - 8-9 AM tends to have the shortest wait times. Good luck!

I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past two weeks! My Money Network card works perfectly at ATMs but gets declined everywhere else - Target, Safeway, gas stations, you name it. Reading through all these comments has been so helpful because I had no idea this was such a common problem. I called Money Network twice already but clearly didn't ask the right questions. Tomorrow I'm going to call at 8 AM sharp and specifically ask them to "enable POS transactions" and check if my card is stuck in "ATM only" mode. It's so frustrating having to withdraw cash every time I need to buy anything, especially when the app shows I have plenty of funds available. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the exact phrases to use when calling - this thread is a goldmine of information!

I'm also new to this community but wanted to share my experience since it sounds so identical to what many of you are going through. I had my eligibility interview just three days ago and immediately saw the "disqualified" status appear on my UI Online account, even though the conversation with the EDD representative seemed completely routine. Like others have mentioned, I was initially panicking because I really need those benefits to cover my rent and basic expenses while I'm job searching. But after reading through all these detailed experiences, especially from Brooklyn Knight, Grace Patel, Emma Wilson, and others who had their disqualifications reversed, I'm feeling much more hopeful. The pattern everyone's describing is so consistent - normal interview, immediate disqualification status, determination letter arrives within a week, and then often gets resolved with additional documentation. It really does seem like EDD's system automatically updates with temporary disqualifications during their review process, which is incredibly misleading and stressful for claimants. I'm following everyone's advice and using this waiting time to organize all my documentation: detailed job search logs with specific company names, dates, position titles, screenshots of applications, email confirmations, and my layoff paperwork. I've also been continuing to certify for benefits as recommended, just in case the disqualification gets overturned. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's been incredibly valuable for understanding what to expect. This community support makes such a difference during what could otherwise be an isolating and anxiety-inducing process. I'll definitely update when I receive my determination letter to add to the collective knowledge here!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I'm currently going through the exact same thing. Had my eligibility interview yesterday and saw the "disqualified" status appear on my UI Online account within a couple hours, despite what seemed like a completely normal conversation about my layoff. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! The pattern is so consistent across everyone's stories - routine interview followed by immediate disqualification status, then often resolved after the determination letter arrives. It really seems like EDD's system has this automatic process that shows "disqualified" during review periods, which is terribly misleading. What's been most valuable is learning about the typical timeline - determination letters arriving within 5-8 days, and then many cases getting resolved quickly once additional documentation is provided. I'm taking everyone's advice and organizing all my records now: detailed job search logs, application screenshots, layoff paperwork, etc. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're already stressed about finances, but seeing so many success stories gives me hope that this might just be part of EDD's confusing process rather than a final decision. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it makes such a difference to know we're not alone in navigating this system! I'll definitely update when I receive my determination letter.

Just to follow up - I checked with an EDD representative today and they officially recommend against using Cash App, Venmo, or similar payment apps for unemployment direct deposit. They specifically mentioned that these can trigger their fraud detection systems and cause payment delays or holds on your account. Best options in order of reliability: 1) Traditional bank accounts, 2) Credit union accounts, 3) Online banks with FDIC insurance (Chime, Ally, etc.), or 4) EDD Debit Card if none of the above are options.

I had a similar situation last year - couldn't get a traditional bank account due to ChexSystems issues. I ended up going with a local credit union (Navy Federal) and they were super helpful. They have a fresh start program that doesn't require ChexSystems approval. Got approved same day and my EDD payments have been coming through perfectly with no delays. The difference in customer service compared to big banks is night and day too. Definitely recommend the credit union route over trying to make Cash App work - not worth the stress!

I had my RESEA appointment about 2 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience since I know how nerve-wracking it can be beforehand! Everyone here has given you such great advice already - the appointment really is much more supportive than intimidating. My counselor was incredibly helpful and spent about an hour with me going over my job search strategy. We reviewed my job search records for maybe 15 minutes (I kept mine in a Google Sheet with dates, companies, positions, and how I applied), then she spent the rest of the time giving me really valuable guidance. What impressed me most was how she helped me identify some industries adjacent to my field that I hadn't considered, which opened up so many more opportunities. She also gave me specific tips about tailoring my cover letters for different types of companies and even shared some insider knowledge about which local employers were actively hiring. My follow-up assignment was to complete an online networking workshop within 3 weeks, which turned out to be really practical and gave me some techniques I've already started using successfully. One tip that really helped: I prepared 2-3 specific questions about my job search challenges beforehand. She had access to labor market data and resources I never would have known about otherwise, so having focused questions helped me get the most out of our time together. You sound incredibly well-prepared with your consistent applications and good record-keeping. The fact that you're being proactive about understanding the process shows exactly the kind of initiative they want to see. Try to think of it as getting free career coaching from someone who really knows your local job market - you're going to do fantastic! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

I had my RESEA appointment about 4 weeks ago and wanted to add my experience since yours is tomorrow! I was pretty anxious beforehand too, but it ended up being really productive and helpful. My counselor was genuinely supportive and spent about 50 minutes with me. We went through my job search records pretty quickly (maybe 10 minutes - I had everything in a simple spreadsheet), then she spent the bulk of our time helping me refine my approach. What really stood out was how she helped me understand which of my applications were getting traction and why. She looked at my response rates and helped me identify patterns - turns out I was having much better luck with certain types of companies and application methods than others, which I hadn't really noticed on my own. She also gave me some great advice about following up on applications and introduced me to a few local job placement services I didn't know existed. My follow-up assignment was completing an online course about using professional references effectively, which was actually really eye-opening. A couple practical things that helped: I made sure to have good lighting for the video call, tested everything 15 minutes early, and had my CalJOBS profile pulled up alongside my job search spreadsheet. Also brought a pen and paper since she mentioned several specific resources to look into later. You're clearly doing everything right with your weekly applications and detailed record-keeping. The counselors really do want to help you succeed - think of it as getting expert guidance from someone who knows exactly what's working in today's job market. You've got this! Looking forward to hearing how it goes tomorrow!

Just went through this exact same nightmare last month! The key thing that finally worked for me was being super persistent and specific about what I needed. When I called Money Network's fraud department (1-855-282-6161), I didn't just say "I need a replacement card" - I said "I need you to process a replacement card authorization request to send to EDD, and I need the reference number for that request." Then when I called EDD, I had that reference number and could say "Money Network submitted authorization request #[number] and I need you to approve it." Having that specific reference number seemed to cut through all the confusion between the two companies. The whole process still took about a week, but at least I wasn't getting bounced back and forth anymore. Also seconding what others said about direct deposit - switched to that immediately after getting my new card and it's been so much better!

I'm actually going through this exact situation right now too! Had about $400 in fraudulent charges last week and I've been stuck in the same loop between EDD and Money Network for days. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea there was a separate fraud department number or that EDD needed to send an authorization code. I'm going to try the approach of calling Money Network's fraud line first to get that reference number, then contacting EDD through UI Online with the specific request. It's ridiculous that they don't make this process clearer when fraud happens, especially since it seems to be such a common issue with these cards. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I have a clear plan of action instead of just calling the same numbers over and over!