I've been collecting NY unemployment for 2 months now and had a similar issue with my KeyBank card in February. What I discovered is that sometimes there's a security hold if there's unusual activity. In my case, I had tried using the card at 3 different ATMs in one day (because the first two weren't working properly). This triggered some kind of fraud alert. You might want to check if you've done anything that could be considered "unusual" - like trying to withdraw a larger amount than normal, using the card in a different location, or making multiple transactions in a short time. When I finally reached someone at KeyBank (took forever!), they told me the security department had put a hold on my funds. They transferred me to that department who verified my identity and released the money immediately. Hope this helps! The situation is incredibly frustrating, I know.

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.

I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about garnishments on my account. If you need to talk to someone about this stuff, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

Just make sure you keep paying your current support while on unemployment. The court doesn't care if you're unemployed, they still expect the payments. If you can't afford it, you need to petition for a modification BEFORE you fall behind.

omg yes file anyway!! my sister thought she couldnt get anything cause her boss said they were too small but turns out he was lying and just trying to avoid paying taxes

Just to add some clarity here - the threshold for employer coverage in NY is actually quite low. Employers must pay unemployment insurance if they pay $300 or more in wages in any calendar quarter, OR if they employ one or more workers for some portion of a day in each of 20 different calendar weeks. So most legitimate employers should be covered. If your friend's employer is claiming they don't participate, it's worth having her file a claim anyway because NYS Department of Labor will investigate and determine if the employer was actually required to be paying in. Don't take the employer's word for it!

I'm in a similar situation and just went through this process! As an independent contractor, your eligibility really depends on whether you have ANY W2 income in your base period. Since you mentioned having a part-time W2 job about a year ago, definitely check if that falls within your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed calendar quarters). Even if you're not sure, apply anyway - the worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. Also, with your current $170/week from remaining clients, you'd likely qualify for partial benefits if you do have that W2 history. The key is being completely honest about all your income when you certify weekly. Don't let the confusing website discourage you - many people think they won't qualify but end up getting benefits. Good luck!

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Independent contractor for about 8 months, lost my main client, still had some small work coming in. Here's what I learned: definitely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. The system is confusing but there are more pathways than you'd think. Since you had that W2 job a year ago, calculate your base period carefully - it might still count. I ended up qualifying for partial benefits even while doing some freelance work. The key is reporting everything honestly during weekly certifications. Also, don't get discouraged if the initial application seems overwhelming - I almost gave up halfway through but I'm so glad I didn't. You've got nothing to lose by applying and potentially a lot to gain. The worst case scenario is they say no, but at least you'll know for sure rather than wondering "what if.

Has anyone tried going to an actual unemployment office in person? Are they even open?

I feel your pain Emma! I was stuck in the exact same nightmare for 2.5 months. Calling hundreds of times, getting that same automated rejection message every single day. What finally broke the cycle for me was using Claimyr - I was skeptical at first because I'd tried everything else, but it actually worked. They handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit there pressing redial all day. When they finally got me connected to a real person, my benefits were unlocked within 48 hours. Sometimes you just need that one actual conversation with a human to fix everything. Hang in there, there are ways to get through this broken system!