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Update: I decided to call NYSDOL today and finally got through after trying for hours. They confirmed my card was mailed on September 26th as shown online. The rep said to wait until October 17th (that'll be 3 weeks total), and if it still hasn't arrived by then, call back to request a replacement. Apparently there's currently a significant mail backlog affecting card deliveries across the state. So frustrating but at least I know it's not just me!
That's good information - thanks for sharing the update. The 3-week timeline matches what others have reported recently. Once you do get your card, remember to immediately set up your online account at KeyBank's site so you can monitor your balance and transactions. And definitely consider switching to direct deposit to avoid future card issues.
Just a heads up that my brother had this same issue and when he finally got the KeyBank card, he couldn't activate it because they had his SSN wrong in the system. Took another month to fix. The NYSDOL system is so broken it's unbelievable. They make everything as difficult as possible.
Just checking in - were you able to set up direct deposit? If so, you should see the funds in your account within 2-3 business days. If you run into any issues, let us know!
Keep trying to reach someone at NYSDOL if you're confused! I was in a similar situation - got a KeyBank card out of nowhere. Spent DAYS trying to get someone on the phone to explain it. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes who explained everything. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Turns out they were processing adjustments for claims from early 2024 and found I was eligible for more money than I received. The agent explained everything and helped me understand what payments to expect.
is claimyr legit? seems weird to pay just to talk to unemployment ppl
Don't activate anything until you verify what it is!!! There are TONS of scams going around with fake bank cards. Call the official NYSDOL number (not any number that came with the card) and verify if they sent you something. Scammers are getting really good at making fake KeyBank cards that look just like the real ones.
That's a good point! I did check my unemployment account first and saw there was a payment issued, so I'm pretty sure it's legitimate. But you're right - always good to be careful.
This is partially accurate advice. You should definitely verify unexpected financial items, but KeyBank cards for NY unemployment do come with legitimate activation instructions and phone numbers. The safest approach is to check your NY.gov unemployment account first to confirm a payment was issued, then use the official KeyBank unemployment card website (not the general KeyBank site) to activate. The card is legitimate if it matches the official design and came in official packaging.
That's a great tip. The supervisor review request can sometimes bypass the standard appeal timeline. Just be sure to include your claim ID number and the specific determination date you're contesting when you submit that request.
Emma Swift
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! Used the Claimyr service that was suggested and it actually worked - got connected to an agent in about 30 minutes. Turns out it was a system glitch related to the gig work I reported in April. The agent was able to fix it while I was on the phone and my effective days are showing correctly now (43 days). She said my payment for last week should process within 2-3 business days. Such a relief!!! Thank you all for your help!
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Lucy Lam
•Great news! Glad it was resolved quickly. I'd recommend continuing to take screenshots of your claim status and payment history just to be safe. System glitches can sometimes recur.
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LordCommander
•nice!! wish id known about that service when i was having problems
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Zoe Wang
I had something similar happen last year, but mine was because I answered a certification question wrong. Just one mistake and they shut everything down. Make sure you're answering everything correctly each week. The wording can be tricky especially on the availability to work questions.
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Emma Swift
•Thanks for the tip! The agent did mention they've updated some of the certification questions recently, so I'll be extra careful going forward.
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