Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to someone at KeyBank? If not, another trick I've heard works is calling right when they open in the morning. Their customer service opens at 8am EST Monday-Friday, and apparently the wait times are much shorter if you call right at 8.

So glad you got it resolved! The security hold thing is such a pain - I wish they'd at least send a text or email notification when that happens instead of just making your money disappear with no explanation. Direct deposit is definitely the way to go. I made the switch last year and haven't looked back. No more wondering if my card will work or dealing with KeyBank's terrible customer service. Just a heads up though - it can take 1-2 weeks for the direct deposit change to take effect, so you might have one more payment that goes to the card before it switches over.

The unemployment system is so frustrating when you're dealing with health issues on top of everything else. They make it seem like you have to be 100% healthy to qualify for anything. Hope you figure out a solution that works for your situation.

I'm going through something similar right now. From what I've learned, you might want to look into Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) first if your employer offers it - that could protect your job while you're dealing with your health issues. For unemployment, the "able and available" requirement is really strict, but there are some exceptions. If you can do certain types of work with accommodations, document that with your doctor. Also, New York has Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) through the state that might be more appropriate than unemployment if you're unable to work due to illness. You can apply for TDI through the Workers' Compensation Board, not the Department of Labor. It's worth exploring all your options before deciding which route to take.

I'm also 17 and was wondering about this same thing! My hours got cut at my restaurant job and I wasn't sure if I could even apply. This thread is super helpful - it sounds like as long as you worked and paid taxes, age doesn't matter. Ryder, definitely file soon like others said. I'm going to look into this for my situation too. It's really cool seeing other young people taking charge of their finances and helping their families. Good luck with your claim!

I'm a caseworker with NYS Department of Labor and wanted to confirm what others have said - yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment at 17! Since you worked for 8 months with taxes deducted, you should meet the monetary eligibility requirements. When you file online at ny.gov, you'll need your Social Security number, employment dates, employer information, and reason for separation. The system treats all claimants the same regardless of age. One thing I'd emphasize is to be completely honest about your availability for work - since you mentioned you got your GED and can work more hours, that should work in your favor. Make sure to file your weekly certifications on time and keep detailed records of your job search activities. The process really is straightforward, and you've earned these benefits through your work contributions. Don't hesitate to reach out to the office if you have questions during the process!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who recently went through a similar misconduct determination. What struck me about your situation, Monique, is that you were asking questions about a policy that "didn't make sense" - this actually shows you were being a conscientious employee trying to understand your job requirements. I had a comparable experience where my supervisor labeled my questions as "argumentative" when I was genuinely confused about a new procedure. The NYS DOL investigator specifically asked me whether I was trying to understand the policy or refusing to follow it, and that distinction was crucial to my approval. The fact that you had no prior disciplinary issues and were genuinely seeking clarification rather than being defiant puts you in a strong position. When they call for your fact-finding interview, emphasize that your questions came from a place of wanting to do your job correctly, not from any desire to challenge authority. Good luck - based on everything I've read here, you should have a solid case!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add some additional context that might help. The NYS Department of Labor specifically looks at whether your actions were "contrary to the employer's best interests" - and asking clarifying questions about confusing policies actually SERVES the employer's interests by helping ensure proper compliance. I went through a misconduct determination two years ago when my boss claimed I was being "uncooperative" for questioning a new safety protocol that seemed incomplete. The DOL ruling specifically noted that employees who seek clarification on unclear policies are demonstrating due diligence, not misconduct. They also consider the "reasonable employee" standard - would a reasonable person in your position have asked similar questions? Based on your description, absolutely yes. Make sure during your fact-finding interview to emphasize that you were seeking understanding to perform your job correctly, and mention your clean disciplinary record. The investigator will likely ask about your tone and approach, so be ready to explain that you were respectful and professional. You've got a really strong case here!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to the NY unemployment system and had no idea that monetary redeterminations could cause partial payments during transition weeks. It's really reassuring to see so many people share similar experiences with the 2-day payments followed by finding those buried redetermination notices. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned the same frustration - that NYSDOL doesn't give any warning about these partial payments during benefit recalculations. It seems like such a simple fix that would prevent so much anxiety for claimants. A simple notification like "Your payment this week may be reduced due to benefit recalculation processing" would go a long way. For newcomers like me who might face this situation, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Check your messages section thoroughly for any notices, 2) Look for increases in your maximum benefit amount, and 3) Don't panic if it's just one week of partial payment during a redetermination. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and outcomes - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I just experienced the exact same thing - got 2 days instead of my usual 4 this week and was completely panicking. After reading everyone's experiences, I checked my messages and found a monetary redetermination notice from two days ago that I had completely overlooked. My maximum benefit amount increased by $420 and my weekly benefit went up by $38. It's such a relief to understand that the partial payment is just a quirk of how the system processes these recalculations. I was literally about to take time off work tomorrow to sit on hold with NYSDOL all day! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and confirmed that payments return to normal the following week with the higher amounts. This community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official channels. I'll definitely be checking my messages more regularly going forward and will update next week to confirm everything goes back to normal with the increased benefit amount.