The 26 week thing is true but honestly the whole system is designed to discourage you from using it. They make the job search requirements more and more ridiculous, the website crashes constantly, and don't even get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone. I burned through my 26 weeks mostly fighting with their system instead of actually job hunting.

same boat here! just started collecting last month too. good luck with the job search, hopefully we both find something soon before the 26 weeks runs out

I tried both ways and here's what I learned: Online is definitely faster BUT if you have any special circumstances (like working out of state or multiple employers) you might need to talk to someone eventually. Start with online filing and only call if you absolutely have to.

Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I'll definitely go with online filing and try to do it early in the morning like @Amina suggested. Good to know about documenting everything too - I'll make sure to screenshot everything just in case. Really appreciate all the advice!

Congrats! That's one less thing to worry about. The whole unemployment system is so stressful.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! "Not disqualified" means you've passed the separation determination review - basically NYS DOL confirmed that your job loss wasn't due to misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. This is actually a major milestone in the process. In my case, I received my first payment about 5-6 days after seeing this status update. Just keep filing your weekly claims and stay patient - the hardest part is behind you now. The waiting is nerve-wracking but you're definitely heading in the right direction!

Pro tip: use the mobile app! Way easier than the website and you can do it from anywhere as long as you got service

Look Im gonna tell you exactly how this works cause I been in the system for a minute. You HAVE to certify between Sunday 7AM and Saturday midnight. No exceptions. If you miss it, you gotta call them and explain why, and trust me you DO NOT want that headache. They might make you wait weeks to get paid. Sunday morning is your best bet - do it early before the system gets overwhelmed. Don't try any tricks or loopholes cause they will catch you. If you really can't do it yourself on Sunday, your only options are either finding internet access wherever you're gonna be, or calling them through claimyr.com to explain your situation before it happens. Better to handle it upfront than fix it after.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My payments were released on 1/20 and I'm still waiting for the card to arrive. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's reassuring to know that 2-3 weeks seems to be the norm even though KeyBank's website is misleading about delivery times. I'm going to try calling them tomorrow using that phone number someone shared to at least confirm it was sent to the right address. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, especially the tip about the bank transfer feature once you get the card. Will definitely set that up immediately when mine finally arrives!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - my payments were released to KeyBank on 1/22 and still nothing in my mailbox! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and concerning. It sounds like 2-3 weeks is unfortunately normal despite what their website says. I'm going to call that 866-295-2955 number tomorrow to at least verify they have the right address. This whole KeyBank card system is such a pain compared to just getting direct deposit to our own banks. Really hoping mine shows up soon because I desperately need these funds! Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and tips - it helps to know we're not alone in this frustrating wait.