Don't forget you'll also need workers compensation insurance if you have employees! That's separate from unemployment but equally important. The state can penalize you pretty heavily if you're not properly covered.

Also make sure to keep detailed payroll records from day one! NYS Department of Labor will require quarterly wage reports that include each employee's name, social security number, and total wages paid. I learned this the hard way when I had to scramble to organize my records for my first quarterly filing. Setting up a good payroll system early will save you headaches later when you need to file your UI-3 quarterly reports.

Congrats on finally getting your card! 18 business days is pretty typical unfortunately. For anyone else waiting, I'd recommend calling KeyBank around the 15 business day mark to check on the status. I had mine take 16 days last summer and was starting to panic too. The good news is once you have it, future payments are super quick. Also definitely look into setting up the bank transfer feature - I transfer my funds to my regular checking account the same day they hit the KeyBank card and it's usually available next business day. Makes the whole process much more manageable!

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 remember when I was on unemployment back in 2019, I had to document every job I applied for and why I didn't take certain positions. The whole process was so stressful but at least now with the online system it's easier to track everything. Just make sure you're honest about your job search efforts!

Based on my experience, the 80% rule mentioned earlier is generally accurate for the first 13 weeks of benefits. After that, NYS Department of Labor becomes more flexible with what they consider "suitable work." I'd recommend documenting everything - save job postings, note why you declined offers, and keep records of salary ranges you're seeing. Also, "suitable work" considers factors beyond just salary - commute distance, work schedule, and whether it matches your skills/experience. If you're unsure about a specific job offer, it's better to call and ask rather than guess wrong and risk your benefits.

Ok so this is gonna sound weird but you need to call at EXACTLY 8:02am (not 8:00, not 8:05) using the SECOND phone number on the website (not the main one). They have some weird call routing system and this specific time on that line has way less traffic. Worked for me after trying EVERYTHING else.

This is absolutely infuriating but you're not alone. I'm dealing with something similar - been pending for 8 weeks now and it's driving me crazy. The system is completely broken. From reading all these comments, it sounds like there are a few options that actually work: 1) Contact your state assembly person/senator (they apparently have direct contacts at DOL), 2) Try that claimyr service that multiple people here vouched for, or 3) Keep trying the phone at exactly 8:02am like someone mentioned. I'm going to try contacting my state rep first since that's free, then maybe the claimyr thing if that doesn't work. Hang in there - sounds like once you actually reach a human they can fix these issues pretty quickly. The hard part is just getting through to someone!

Thanks everyone. I think I'll apply based on the restaurant job and see what happens. At least now I know how to report the DoorDash earnings properly if my claim gets approved.

Good luck with your application! Just wanted to add - when you report your DoorDash earnings, make sure to keep detailed records of your daily/weekly income since gig work can be so variable. NYS Department of Labor will want accurate numbers, and having good documentation will help if there are any questions later. Also remember that you need to be actively seeking traditional employment while collecting benefits, so keep applying for regular jobs too. The combination of partial benefits plus some DoorDash income might actually work out better than just doing gig work alone right now.