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Had a similar situation last month. Definitely notify them beforehand - I sent a secure message through the NY.gov portal explaining my travel dates and reasons. Also made sure to NOT certify while I was out of the country. When I got back, I called to handle that week's certification. The rep said as long as you're transparent about it upfront, they're usually understanding. Just don't try to certify from abroad or they'll flag your account for sure.
@Rachel Clark Really appreciate you sharing this! I m'dealing with the exact same situation right now. One more question - did you mention the specific reason for your travel in the secure message, or did you just say you d'be out of the country? Trying to figure out how detailed I need to be when I contact them.
@Rachel Clark This is really reassuring to hear! I m'actually in a similar spot - need to travel internationally for a family situation. Did they ask you to provide any documentation when you called back, like boarding passes or anything? Also wondering how far in advance you sent that secure message - was it like a week before or just a couple days? Thanks for being so helpful with all these questions!
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I had a similar situation a few months ago when I had to take FMLA for my husband's cancer treatment. What I found out is that while you can't get regular unemployment, you might be able to get New York State Disability Benefits if your FMLA is for your own health condition (not a family member's). If it's for family care like yours, that unfortunately doesn't qualify for disability either. One thing that helped me was reaching out to local social services to see what other assistance programs might be available - things like SNAP, emergency rent assistance, or utility help. It's not ideal but it can help bridge the gap during those 8 weeks. Also check if your employer has an employee assistance program that might offer emergency financial help.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about looking into other assistance programs like SNAP or emergency rent help. My FMLA is for caring for my mom, so like you said, disability won't work. But checking with local social services is a great idea - I need to explore every option I can during these 8 weeks. I'll also ask HR about an employee assistance program, I'm not even sure if we have one but it's worth asking.
I'm going through something similar right now - taking care of my dad after his surgery. What I've learned is that New York does have a Paid Family Leave program that's separate from FMLA, but you have to have been paying into it through payroll deductions. If you've been working in NY and seeing "PFL" deductions on your paystub, you might be eligible for partial wage replacement (about 67% of your average weekly wage). It's not unemployment, but it's specifically designed for situations like yours where you need to care for a family member. You can apply through the NY Paid Family Leave website or contact your employer's insurance carrier. Worth looking into if you haven't already!
Wait, this could be huge! I've definitely been seeing PFL deductions on my paystubs but I had no idea what they were for. I thought FMLA was the only option available. So you're saying I could potentially get 67% of my wages while I'm caring for my mom? That would be a lifesaver! I'm going to look into this immediately. Do you know how long the application process usually takes? I'm already a week into my leave so I'm hoping I didn't miss some kind of deadline.
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Reading through all these responses is both eye-opening and infuriating! I had no idea so many people were dealing with this exact same issue. The NY unemployment system is clearly broken when missing a single phone call (for completely reasonable reasons like being in the bathroom!) can cut off someone's lifeline. I've been in a similar situation for the past 3 weeks - they called during my dentist appointment and even though I called back within an hour, my benefits got suspended. The stress of not knowing when your next payment is coming while bills pile up is absolutely brutal. From what everyone's shared here, it sounds like 835-905-5682 is definitely the number to try, and the strategy of calling right at 8:00 AM sharp seems crucial. I'm also going to try that assembly person contact trick - never knew that was an option! @Rami Samuels - you've got an amazing support system here with all this advice. Don't let the system wear you down. Based on everyone's success stories, persistence really does pay off. We shouldn't have to become unemployment experts just to get basic benefits we're entitled to, but at least this community has our backs! Sending good vibes that you get through tomorrow and get this sorted out quickly! 🙏
This whole thread has been such an eye-opener for me too! I'm new to this community but going through my own unemployment nightmare right now. It's honestly shocking how broken the NY system is - like they've designed it to fail people on purpose. The fact that so many of us have nearly identical stories (random unscheduled calls, immediate benefit cuts, impossible phone lines) really shows this isn't just bad luck but systemic dysfunction. I'm taking notes on all these strategies everyone has shared - the 8AM sharp calling, asking for tier 2 immediately, contacting assembly reps, using multiple phones. It's ridiculous that we need a PhD in unemployment bureaucracy just to get basic help, but I'm grateful this community exists to share these hard-won tips. @Rami Samuels hope your coffee-stained letter photo trick works and you can confirm that 835 number! We re'all in this fight together against a system that clearly doesn t'want to help us. 💪
Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - they called me while I was at my kid's school pickup and by the time I saw the missed call and called back 20 minutes later, it just went to voicemail. Two weeks later my benefits were suspended for "failure to participate in required interview." Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to try calling 835-905-5682 first thing tomorrow morning at exactly 8:00 AM. The tip about asking for tier 2 specialists immediately seems crucial - I've wasted so much time with tier 1 reps who just read scripts and can't actually help. @Rami Samuels - definitely try that photo contrast trick on your coffee-stained letter! Even if you can only make out a few more digits, it might help confirm which number is correct. Also really hope the assembly person contact works out for you - several people here have had success with that approach. It's absolutely mind-boggling that the NY unemployment system operates this way. Making people available 24/7 for random unscheduled calls and then cutting off benefits immediately when life happens is just cruel. But seeing all these success stories gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Thanks everyone for sharing your strategies - this community is a lifesaver! 🙏
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For anyone still dealing with missing debit cards - I went through this nightmare last year and here's what finally worked: First, call KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 early morning (7-8 AM) when wait times are shorter. Have your claim ID and Social Security number ready. If they say the card was mailed but you never got it, insist on an expedited replacement and ask for a tracking number. Second, immediately switch to direct deposit in your NY.gov account to avoid this mess in the future. Third, if you're getting nowhere with KeyBank after multiple calls, contact your state assembly member's office - they have a constituent services team that can cut through the bureaucracy when you're facing financial hardship. Don't let them pass you back and forth between agencies. Your benefits are YOUR money and you have every right to access them!
This is such comprehensive advice, thank you! I'm bookmarking this comment for future reference. The tip about getting a tracking number for the replacement card is brilliant - I never thought to ask for that. It's frustrating that we have to fight so hard just to access our own benefits, but posts like this really help newcomers like me navigate the system. Has anyone had success with the state assembly member route? That sounds like it could be a game-changer when you're really stuck.
Just wanted to add another tip that helped me when I was stuck in debit card limbo - if you've been waiting over 3 weeks and KeyBank says the card was mailed, ask them to file a "non-receipt" claim. This basically flags your account that the card was lost in transit and they'll issue a replacement with expedited shipping at no charge. I learned this after my card got lost somewhere between their facility and my mailbox. Also, once you get your replacement card, make sure to call and activate it immediately - some people wait and then the card gets deactivated for security reasons. The whole system is frustrating but don't give up! Your benefits are there waiting for you.
Rajan Walker
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.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•I FINALLY got through! You were right about pressing 0 repeatedly - eventually it transferred me to a queue. Waited about 30 minutes but finally spoke to someone. Turns out there was a security hold on my account because of the larger withdrawal attempt last week, just like someone else mentioned might be happening. They removed the hold and said the money should be available within 24 hours. But I'm definitely switching to direct deposit after this nightmare. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Aisha Rahman
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.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•That's really good to know about the 1-2 week delay for direct deposit! I was hoping it would switch over immediately but I guess one more KeyBank payment isn't the end of the world now that I know how to reach them if needed. Thanks for the heads up - I'll make sure to set it up today so it's ready for my next certification period.
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