I've been trying to call the helpline for three days about my missing card and it's IMPOSSIBLE to get through. Just constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting 40+ minutes. Anyone found a way to actually talk to a human being there??

UPDATE: Finally got my virtual card today! Took exactly 12 business days after approval. For anyone still waiting, hang in there. The email came from a different address than I expected (nytourismrelief@ny.gov), so check your spam carefully. Now figuring out how to transfer to my bank account...

my cousin had this happen and he said if you worked enough hours they will approve you for a new claim. i think its like 2 quarters of work or something? anyway he said the key is to make sure you report your income correctly each week when you certify or you could get in trouble later. good luck!

I just wanted to update everyone - I applied for a new claim yesterday and the system said I'll hear back within 2-3 weeks. The application asked for all my employment history from the past 18 months, so I included my part-time job. Fingers crossed I get approved! Thanks for all the helpful advice.

The online system is GARBAGE!!! I've been trying for WEEKS to get a straight answer about this. I exhausted my 26 weeks in February and got ZERO communication about what to do next. No email, no letter, NOTHING! I kept certifying like everyone says but NO MONEY! When I finally got through to someone after calling 47 TIMES they said "oh yeah you qualify for extended benefits" but then had to "fix something in the system" because it wasn't processing automatically like it's supposed to. THIS is why people hate dealing with government programs!!!!

To summarize what everyone's saying based on the current 2025 policies: 1. Yes, the 13-week Extended Benefits program is still available in NY 2. It's NOT the same as the pandemic programs that ended years ago 3. You should be automatically considered once you exhaust regular UI 4. You MUST continue certifying weekly without interruption 5. There might be a 1-3 week gap while they process your extension 6. If you don't see movement after 2-3 weeks of continued certification, call NYSDOL The key is persistence with your weekly certifications even if you don't see payments immediately after your regular benefits end.

I went back through my emails and found most of my applications! But I'm still missing about 2 weeks worth. If I get audited do you think they'll make me repay those weeks? Has anyone successfully appealed when they had incomplete records?

To address the repayment concern: in my experience, the DOL typically gives you a chance to explain missing documentation before demanding repayment. If you can show good faith effort (partial records, detailed explanation of your job search process), they may waive the repayment requirement. Appeals are possible but time-consuming. The key is to start keeping proper records immediately and be proactive if audited. Explain your situation honestly - many people don't realize the documentation requirements until after they've been certifying for a while.

Hey so my brother works at KeyBank (not customer service but IT) and they've been having MAJOR database issues with the unemployment card system. Something about the conversion to a new security protocol that went really wrong. They're working on fixes but it's taking forever because it's a whole government contract thing with approvals needed. His advice to family has been just switch to regular direct deposit because the card system won't be fully fixed until May probably.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the NY unemployment KeyBank line that someone suggested (1-866-295-2955), and it was like night and day compared to the regular KeyBank customer service! The rep immediately understood the issue and transferred me to their security team. They confirmed my identity through a different process and manually reset something on my account. I was able to log in right after the call! For anyone else having this issue, definitely call this specific number and ask for the security authentication team right away. Now I need to decide if I should stick with KeyBank or switch to direct deposit to my regular bank...

btw has anyone noticed the payment amounts are different this year? i got $63 less this week than normal and cant figure out why

UPDATE: I was finally able to certify! The automated phone system worked on my second try. For anyone else having this problem, definitely try calling 1-888-581-5812. Thanks everyone for your help!

update us if u fix it! i bet its the address thing

UPDATE: I got it fixed!!! It WAS the address mismatch between my license and unemployment account. I contacted ID.me support directly like @HelpfulCareerPro suggested and they told me exactly what was wrong. Had to upload additional proof of address (utility bill) but finally got verified! Already completed my recertification for this week. Thank you everyone for your help!!!

anyways u might wanna check if NH benefits r better than NY... sometimes its worth keeping ur old claim if the $ is better just sayin

Just wanted to update everyone - I followed the advice here and successfully closed my NY unemployment claim! The "Request to Close Claim" option was exactly where you all said it would be. They sent me a confirmation email that my claim has been properly closed. Such a relief to have this taken care of properly. Thanks for all the help!

update?????? did ur money come?

Glad to hear your payment arrived! For future reference, the specific timing depends on how quickly each financial institution processes ACH transfers from NY state government agencies. Chime and a few other online banks make funds available immediately when they receive the ACH notification (which is why they're faster). Most other banks and services like PayPal wait until the transfer fully settles. If anyone else is reading this and planning to change their deposit account, just be prepared for that first payment to take a little longer, and know that different financial institutions have different processing schedules.

For anyone dealing with long wait times, here's some helpful information: 1. The main NY unemployment phone number (1-888-209-8124) has the most staff but also the highest call volume. Operating hours are 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday-Friday. 2. If your claim says "pending review," this typically means one of three things: - Identity verification issue - Employer response pending - Eligibility determination needed 3. Alternative contact methods: - Use the secure message center in your online account - Email through the contact form on the NYSDOL website - Call the alternative claims center: 1-888-783-1370 4. As others have mentioned, contacting your state representative can help escalate cases that have exceeded normal processing times (typically 2-3 weeks). The department is working to improve response times, but current average wait time is approximately 38 minutes when you do connect.

update????? did u ever get thru?