I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got a Wisely card two days ago that I never requested and was really suspicious about it. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is a widespread issue from that March system glitch. I'm still nervous about activating it though - has anyone had any problems with the card once they started using it? Like weird charges or anything sketchy? I know it's supposedly legit but I'm always paranoid about financial stuff like this. Also, for those who got their direct deposit fixed afterward, how long did it take for the next payment to go back to your regular bank account?

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about a month ago. I was also really skeptical when the Wisely card showed up out of nowhere, especially since my direct deposit had been working perfectly for weeks. After reading through this thread, it's clear that a lot of us were affected by that March system issue. I ended up calling NYSDOL (took forever to get through) and they confirmed it was legit - apparently my bank rejected a deposit due to some technical glitch on their end. The agent told me this happened to thousands of people around the same time. I activated the card, used it to get my missing payment, and they fixed my direct deposit for future payments. No issues with the card itself - it worked just like any other debit card. Just wanted to add another voice confirming this is a real thing that happened to a lot of people!

The whole system is so slow its ridiculous!! I waited FIVE WEEKS for my first payment last year because they said they needed to verify my employment history but never told me what documents to send. Finally got through to someone who said it was all a computer glitch. Meanwhile bills dont wait for the state to get their act together!

Just went through this in December - filed on a Tuesday and got my first payment the following Friday, so about 10 days total. I think they've gotten faster since the pandemic backlog cleared up. Just make sure you're doing everything online through my.ny.gov and not trying to call unless you absolutely have to.

If ur claim has any issues at all ur gonna need to talk to someone. Best bet is using claimyr.com to get through or ur gonna be calling forever. The phone lines are impossible these days fr fr

Hey! I'm in a similar situation - just got my determination letter last week. From what I've read on the DOL website, first payments usually take 2-3 weeks after you get the letter, assuming there are no issues with your claim. Make sure you keep certifying every week even if you haven't gotten paid yet - that's super important! Also check your online account regularly for any requests for additional documentation. Good luck! 🤞

Just make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs taking early retirement. If your company offers you a retirement package and you take it, that's considered voluntary and you won't qualify for unemployment. But if they lay you off without offering retirement, you're good to file a claim.

Also keep in mind that if you do get laid off and file for unemployment, you'll need to have your separation paperwork ready. NYS Department of Labor will want documentation showing it was an involuntary layoff, not a resignation. Save any emails or notices about the layoffs your company sends out - that can help establish the involuntary nature of your separation if there are any questions about your eligibility.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify something about my separation reason during adjudication.

I went through something similar when I got fired for attendance issues due to my child's daycare problems. The key thing that helped my case was keeping detailed records of everything - dates of absences, reasons, any communication with my employer about the issues. NYS Department of Labor really does look at whether it was willful misconduct or circumstances beyond your control. Since you have those car repair receipts, definitely include those when you file. Also, if you ever communicated with your manager about the transportation issues beforehand (like emails or texts), gather those too. The more documentation you have showing it wasn't intentional, the better your chances. Good luck!