Good luck with your appeal! I went through something similar in 2023 and want to add one more tip - when you send your certified mail letter, also email a copy to the EDD appeals department (if you can find their email address) and reference the certified mail tracking number in your email subject line. This creates multiple touchpoints in their system. Also, consider reaching out to your state assemblyperson's office - they often have staff who specialize in EDD issues and can sometimes help expedite cases that are stuck in the system. Many people don't realize this is a free service available to constituents. With your termination letter showing involuntary termination, you really do have a solid case here. The fact that they approved one week but denied the rest on the same claim actually works in your favor - it shows their initial determination was inconsistent. Stay persistent!

Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - when you write your timeline, make sure to include any confirmation numbers or reference numbers you received when updating your address with EDD. Even if the updates didn't work properly, having those numbers shows you made good faith efforts to keep your information current. Also, if you have any screenshots or printouts from your EDD online account showing your address changes, include those as supporting documentation. The more paper trail you can provide showing you tried to keep them informed of your correct address, the stronger your "administrative error" argument becomes. You've got this - sounds like you're putting together a really thorough package!

the entire california edd system is designed to confuse people i swear. like they WANT us to mess up and not get benefits. so glad u got it figured out!

So glad you got it sorted out! I went through this exact same confusion last year when I was laid off from my retail job. The EDD phone reps really should mention that UI Online is only for managing existing claims, not filing new ones. I wasted so much time refreshing that empty dashboard thinking it was broken! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - after your claim gets approved, bookmark the UI Online certification page because you'll be going there every 2 weeks. And definitely sign up for text notifications if they offer it, because sometimes the email reminders end up in spam. The whole process gets much easier once you understand the system, but that initial setup is needlessly confusing for first-timers.

I wanted to add something about your second question - regarding the technical issues with certification. While using your Assemblyperson's office is definitely effective (and great advice!), for future reference, if you experience technical issues with certification, you can also: 1. Request a backdate for any weeks affected by technical issues by submitting the request through your UI Online account 2. Use the "Contact Us" form in UI Online to specifically report technical issues - mark it urgent and they usually respond within 48 hours 3. For paper certifications, there's a specific fax number (1-866-215-9159) that processes them faster than regular mail I'd still recommend keeping an eye on your UI Online account daily for the next few days. The "paid" weeks that aren't showing in payment history should eventually appear there. If they don't by the end of the week, then you'll need to contact EDD directly to investigate.

I'm dealing with a similar payment delay issue right now! My card took 8 business days to arrive after my first payment was issued, so you should hopefully see yours soon. One thing that helped me track everything was screenshotting my UI Online account daily - that way I could see exactly when the payment history updated versus when my claim status changed. For the missing payments showing as "paid" but not in payment history, I've found that usually means they're in some kind of processing queue. In my case, two payments appeared in my payment history about 4 days after showing as "paid" in my claim status. Also, once you get your Money Network card, you can create an online account with them to track when funds are loaded - it's actually more reliable than waiting for EDD's payment history to update. Hang in there, the money should come through!

I'm in the same boat with DSS. Been trying to update my address for weeks and can't get anyone on the phone. It's ridiculous how underfunded and understaffed these agencies are. We need to put pressure on our representatives to fix this mess!

I went through this exact same situation last month! For DSS, try their online portal first if you haven't already - sometimes you can get things done there without having to call. For EDD, definitely try the early morning calling strategy that others mentioned, but also check if there's a "contact us" form on their website. I submitted one of those and actually got a callback within a week. Also, make sure you're checking your EDD account online regularly - sometimes the status changes but they don't always send notifications. Hang in there, I know how stressful this is! 💪

Great to see this got resolved! Just wanted to add for anyone else dealing with this - if you're switching to direct deposit in the future, you can actually keep both payment methods active temporarily. Just don't close your Money Network card right away when you switch. Let a few direct deposit payments come through successfully first, then call Money Network to close the card account once you're sure everything is working. This way you avoid the access issues and can transfer any remaining balance smoothly. I learned this the hard way after switching last year!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago. The frustrating part is that EDD doesn't give you any warning about this when you make the switch! I had about $650 stuck on my Money Network card and panicked thinking I'd lost it forever. Like others mentioned, calling 1-888-233-5916 is definitely the way to go - they were actually pretty helpful once I got through. The whole verification process took maybe 10 minutes and I was back in my account. Pro tip: if you're planning to make this switch in the future, definitely spend down your card balance first or transfer it out through the app. Would have saved me a lot of unnecessary stress!