Honestly this whole thing just shows how broken the entire unemployment system is. They make people wait FOUR YEARS to get money they were entitled to during one of the worst economic crises ever, and we're supposed to be grateful? People lost homes, went into debt, and destroyed their credit while waiting for these payments that EDD was legally required to provide. And now they just drop money on you with no explanation or apology. The entire department needs to be investigated and overhauled.

This is actually really encouraging to hear! I filed for unemployment in September 2021 and got stuck in the dreaded "pending" status for what felt like forever. Eventually gave up after months of trying to get through to someone who could help. Never thought I'd see that money but now I'm wondering if I should check my UI Online account to see if anything similar happened with my claim. Did you have to do anything special to reactivate your account or was the payment activity just automatically showing up when you logged in?

btw if ur applying for unemployment make sure u mention the late final paycheck issue when they ask about why u left ur job... doesnt hurt ur case at all

I went through something very similar last year and definitely keep your wage claim active! Even though you got paid, the waiting time penalties can be substantial - in your case at $21/hour for 38 hours weekly, that's about $159/day in penalties for each day they were late (up to 30 days max). Also document everything about those unexplained deductions - employers can't just randomly deduct money from your final paycheck without proper authorization. The $180 "merchandise" deduction sounds questionable unless you signed something specifically agreeing to it. One tip: when you eventually get your settlement conference or hearing scheduled, bring printed copies of all your emails, texts, and records of when you visited the store trying to get your check. This documentation really helps your case. The whole process is worth it - I ended up getting almost $3,000 in penalties on top of my wages.

I just went through this exact situation last month! My card took 6 business days to arrive after approval, which was actually faster than I expected based on what I'd read online. A couple of things that helped me during the waiting period: - Like others mentioned, definitely check your UI Online account regularly - seeing that "Paid" status gave me peace of mind even before the card arrived - I called my landlord and explained the situation. Most are understanding about unemployment delays if you communicate early rather than waiting until the due date - The card really does come in a plain white envelope that looks like junk mail - I was checking my mailbox obsessively and almost missed it! Once you get it, activation is pretty straightforward through the Money Network website. You'll need your SSN and some personal info. The whole process took me maybe 10 minutes online. Fingers crossed yours arrives on the earlier side of that 7-10 day window! The waiting is definitely the worst part.

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Just got approved yesterday too and my rent is due in about 2 weeks. Reading through all these responses is making me feel a bit better - sounds like most people get theirs within that 7-10 day window. I'm going to follow the advice here and check my UI Online account daily to watch for that "Paid" status, and definitely going to be extra careful about checking all my mail. The fact that you already see a payment issued is a really good sign! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of us that our cards arrive closer to the 6-8 day mark rather than the 10+ day horror stories. This whole process is so stressful when you're cutting it close financially. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have been super helpful!

wait so do I need to go back and fix my old certifications where I only reported the hours on my paystub? or just do it right going forward?

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation working as a freelance photographer where I get paid per shoot but the hours vary wildly. Some shoots are 12+ hours but my invoices just show "1 day" or a flat rate. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like the key is reporting actual hours worked since that's what determines your availability for other employment. I've been stressing about this for weeks thinking I might mess up my certification. @Connor Richards thanks for posting this and following up with the EDD confirmation - super helpful to know they actually have guidance for these situations!

Just a follow-up since my earlier solution worked for you - after you get this resolved, I STRONGLY recommend setting up direct deposit through the Money Network portal rather than using the card. It takes about 5-7 business days to process the change, but then your funds go straight to your regular bank account rather than dealing with the card. Also, document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your UI Online payment history showing 'paid' status, note the times/dates you call Money Network, and get the names of any representatives you speak with. This documentation can be crucial if you need to escalate your case.

I went through this EXACT same nightmare 2 months ago! My payment was stuck for almost 3 weeks and I was losing my mind. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Called Money Network and asked for a "payment trace" (like Nathan mentioned) - they confirmed the payment was sent from EDD but never reached my card 2. Got documentation from Money Network showing the failed transfer 3. Called EDD with that documentation and they were able to see the issue immediately 4. The EDD rep had to "reverse and reissue" the payment because it got lost somewhere in their system The whole process took about 5 days once I had the right documentation, but the money finally showed up. The EDD rep told me this is happening A LOT with the Money Network transition and they're working on fixes. Pro tip: When you call EDD, mention you have "Money Network payment trace documentation" - it seemed to help get me transferred to someone who actually knew how to handle these cases. Good luck!