I feel your pain! I went through this same nightmare about 6 months ago. My KeyBank card took exactly 9 business days to arrive, and yes, all the money was already loaded on it when I activated it. The worst part is they send it in this super plain envelope that looks like junk mail - I almost threw mine away! Here's what helped me: I called KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 around 8am and they were able to confirm my card had been mailed and give me the expected delivery window. Way more helpful than trying to get through to the unemployment office. Also, the second you get that card, log into the KeyBank website and set up direct deposit to your regular bank account so you never have to deal with this waiting game again. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when rent is due and you're living on ramen. Your money is sitting there waiting for you, it's just the delivery that sucks. Check your mail really carefully for anything that doesn't look important!

I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago and I totally understand the stress! My KeyBank card took 11 business days to arrive, which felt like an eternity when I was broke and anxious. The good news is that once you get it and activate it, all your released payments will already be loaded on there - you don't have to wait for them to transfer the money after activation. A few things that might help while you wait: - Check your mail super carefully - the card comes in a plain white envelope that seriously looks like junk mail - Call KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 early in the morning (around 8am) to confirm they have your correct address and when it was mailed - If you're really desperate to talk to unemployment, I've heard good things about that claimyr service others mentioned - they basically wait on hold for you The waiting is the worst part but your money is secure and coming! Once you get the card, definitely set up direct deposit to your regular bank right away through the KeyBank website so you never have to deal with this card delivery stress again. Hang in there - I know how rough it is surviving on ramen while waiting for benefits! 🙏

Pro tip: Set a reminder on your phone for the weekly certification. Miss one week and you're in for a world of hurt trying to backdate claims. Trust me on this one!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! File the claim on your spouse's actual last day of work, not when severance ends. NY DOL will ask about the severance and any other payments - be completely transparent about it all. The system is designed to handle this stuff, so don't stress too much about the timing. Also, keep all your severance paperwork handy because they might ask for it later. The hardest part is just getting started, so don't overthink it! You got this! 💪

Just wanted to add that you should definitely keep all your unemployment paperwork organized. When it's time to recertify for SNAP they'll want to see your benefit statements from NYS Department of Labor.

Don't let fear keep you from filing for unemployment - you worked for those benefits! I went through something similar when I lost my restaurant job a few years back. The key thing to remember is that unemployment is insurance you and your employer paid into, not a handout. Yes, it counts as income for SNAP calculations, but that just means they'll adjust your benefit amount based on your new income level. You won't automatically lose SNAP eligibility. The important thing is to report your unemployment income to your SNAP caseworker as soon as you start receiving it. This keeps you in compliance and prevents any issues down the road. File that claim ASAP - restaurants are hiring again but unemployment will help bridge the gap while you're job hunting.

I'm in a similar situation right now - just had my claim authorized yesterday! Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful. It sounds like 2-3 business days is pretty standard for direct deposit, which gives me hope. I'm also dealing with the rent stress, so I totally understand that anxiety of waiting for the money to actually show up. One thing I learned from a friend who went through this is to screenshot the authorization notice in case you need to show your landlord proof that payment is coming. Most landlords are understanding about unemployment delays if you can show documentation. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - it really helps to know what to expect! 🙏

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but went through the exact same thing about 2 months ago. My authorization came through on a Tuesday morning around 10 AM, and I had the money in my account by Thursday around 2 PM - so about 2.5 business days with direct deposit through Chase. The first payment was definitely nerve-wracking to wait for! One thing that helped me was calling my bank to make sure there weren't any holds on large deposits (some banks will hold unemployment payments for 24-48 hours if it's your first one). Also, if you're really cutting it close with rent, many utility companies and landlords have hardship programs right now - it's worth asking about a short extension while you wait. The system has gotten much more reliable this year compared to the horror stories from 2020-2021. Hang in there, you're so close! 🙏

The whole NYS Department of Labor online system is so confusing! They should explain this stuff better instead of just throwing numbers at us. I spent forever trying to figure out if my balance was weekly or total amounts.

I totally agree with you Lara! When I first started my claim, I was so confused about whether the remaining balance was what I'd get that week or the total left. It would be so helpful if they had a simple explanation right on the page that says something like "This is your total benefits remaining - divide by your weekly amount to see how many weeks you have left." The interface could definitely be more user-friendly for people who are already stressed about being unemployed.