I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My Chase account got flagged last month and they rejected my unemployment payment. Got the Key2Benefits card about 10 days ago but it's showing zero balance too. Reading through everyone's responses here, it sounds like there's almost always some kind of hold that they don't tell you about. I'm going to try that special Key2Benefits number someone mentioned (1-855-203-3823) tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work, I might have to try one of those callback services people are talking about. This whole system is so broken - they make it nearly impossible to get help when you need your benefits the most. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! My TD Bank account got frozen in early January and they rejected my unemployment payment. Got my Key2Benefits card last week but it's showing zero balance just like yours. Reading all these comments, it's clear this is a super common issue that NY unemployment just doesn't properly communicate to people. The fact that there are automatic "security holds" that they don't tell you about is infuriating - especially when people are already struggling to pay bills! I'm definitely going to try calling that Key2Benefits specific number (1-855-203-3823) that someone mentioned, and if that doesn't work I might have to bite the bullet and use one of those callback services. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get money we're legally entitled to. Thanks for posting about this - at least now I know there are solutions even if the system is completely broken.

My 16-year-old just went through this exact process last month after getting laid off from a local pizza place. The application itself is pretty straightforward, but I'd suggest gathering all her documents first - pay stubs, Social Security card, and any work permits. One thing that really helped us was creating an email dedicated just for her unemployment correspondence since they send a lot of updates and requests for information. Also, don't stress too much about the wage credit calculation - the system automatically figures that out based on what employers reported. The hardest part was honestly just getting her motivated to do the required job searches each week, but once she got into a routine it became second nature. The benefits weren't huge given her part-time hours, but it definitely helped cover some of her expenses while she found her next job. Feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions about the process!

Just wanted to add something that might be helpful - make sure your daughter understands that if she receives unemployment benefits, she'll need to report them on her tax return next year. At 16, this might be her first experience with taxes beyond what was withheld from her restaurant paychecks. The unemployment benefits are considered taxable income at both federal and state levels. You can choose to have taxes withheld from her weekly benefit payments (though the amount will be small), or just set aside money to pay when she files. It's not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind so there are no surprises come tax time!

Final update: I finally got through to someone! The agent explained that because I had worked and earned enough since my last claim, I was eligible for a new claim even though my benefit year wasn't over. They had to manually override something in the system to let me file a new claim. My weekly benefit amount is higher now too because I was making more at my recent job. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got laid off last week and the system won't let me file a new claim. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like calling directly is the way to go when the website gets stuck in these loops. @Donna Cline glad you got it sorted out! Did you end up using the callback service or were you able to get through on the regular phone line?

I'm 65 and currently collecting social security, and I was just laid off from my part-time administrative assistant position last week. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could collect both benefits simultaneously! I was actually afraid to apply for unemployment because I thought it might somehow affect my social security payments. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this situation. I'm planning to file my claim online this week since it sounds like that's much more reliable than trying to call. One question though - for the work search requirements, are there any age-friendly job search resources that people have found particularly helpful? I want to make sure I'm meeting the 3 weekly activities requirement effectively.

I'm 63 and went through this same situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my part-time job at a medical office. Just wanted to add my voice to confirm - yes, you can absolutely collect both social security and unemployment in New York! I was nervous about it too at first, but the NYS Department of Labor representative I eventually spoke with was very clear that there's no conflict. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I got started. I filed online, reported my social security income on the weekly certifications (they do reduce your UI benefits by 50% of your SS income as others mentioned), and kept up with my job search requirements. I collected benefits for about 4 months before finding a new part-time position. The hardest part was honestly just getting over my own hesitation to apply - I wish I had done it sooner! Don't let anyone make you feel like you're doing something wrong by claiming what you're entitled to.

I just want to say how grateful I am for this entire discussion thread! I've been dealing with a hold on my claim for about a week now and was getting really worried that I had made some serious mistake in my application. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that holds are much more common than I realized and are often just routine administrative reviews rather than actual problems. The consistent advice about calling at exactly 8 AM and continuing to file weekly certifications even during the hold is so valuable. I was actually considering skipping my weekly filing this week thinking it was pointless while on hold, but now I understand that would be a huge mistake for getting backpay later. It's amazing how much peace of mind comes from hearing real experiences from people who've been through this exact situation and came out fine on the other side. I'm setting my alarm for 7:55 AM tomorrow to try the early morning call strategy. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their stories - this community support makes such a difference when dealing with the stress and uncertainty of unemployment issues!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My claim has been on hold for 8 days and I was starting to worry that I had done something wrong with my application. Reading everyone's experiences here really shows how common these holds are - it sounds like they can happen for routine audits, job search verification, wage reviews, or just random eligibility checks. The consistent advice about calling right at 8 AM and continuing to file weekly certifications during the hold is invaluable. I almost made the mistake of skipping this week's filing thinking it was pointless while on hold, but now I understand that would prevent me from getting backpay once this resolves. It's so reassuring to hear from people who waited 2-3 weeks but then got everything sorted out with full backpay. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow with my SSN and claim number ready. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - knowing that others have been through this exact stressful experience and came out fine really helps with the anxiety!