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To answer your original question - yes, you can transfer the funds to your regular bank account after activation. Log into the Wisely account online (instructions come with the card) and look for the transfer option. It usually takes 1-2 business days for the transfer to complete. Just be aware there's a daily transfer limit of $2,500.
I went through this exact same thing last month! Got the Wisely card even though I selected direct deposit too. It's definitely legitimate - NY DOL uses Wisely as their default payment method. The lack of DOL branding on the envelope is confusing but that's just how they send them out. Once you activate it, you can either use it like a regular debit card or transfer the funds to your bank account online. I'd recommend setting up the online account right away so you can monitor your payments and avoid any ATM fees by transferring the money out immediately when it hits.
same here never heard of it officially but my cousin said something about it when i was complaining about the crappy jobs available right now
I'm new to the unemployment system and this thread is so helpful! I was also confused by terms I kept seeing online that didn't match what NYS Department of Labor actually uses in their official materials. It sounds like the key is to focus on their actual requirements - doing the weekly certifications, maintaining your job search log, and being able to document that you're actively looking for suitable work. Has anyone had experience with what happens if you do need to turn down a job offer? I want to make sure I understand what constitutes "good cause" for refusing work.
I went through something similar when I was getting unemployment after my restaurant closed down, then I broke my wrist in a car accident. Had to choose between the two and went with disability since the doctor said I'd be out for at least 3 months. You definitely can't double dip though.
No, I didn't have to pay anything back as long as I reported the disability right away and stopped filing weekly claims. The key is being honest about it - if you try to hide the disability and keep collecting unemployment, that's when you get into trouble with overpayments and penalties. I called them the day I got the doctor's note saying I couldn't work and they put a note on my account. When I was cleared to return to work 4 months later, I was able to reopen my unemployment claim for the remaining weeks I had left.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. My understanding is that you need to report any changes in your ability to work immediately to avoid overpayments. The NYS Department of Labor website has a section about reporting changes to your claim - they're pretty strict about the "able and available" requirement. If your wife's doctor says she needs surgery and can't work, she should probably contact them ASAP to discuss suspending her unemployment claim while she applies for disability. It's better to be upfront about it than risk having to pay back benefits later.
I had this exact problem last month and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor no matter how many times I called. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you connected to real agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Used it to check on my claim status and found out there was actually an issue with my employer verification that wasn't showing up online.
IN PROGRESS IS JUST CODE FOR 'WE'LL GET TO IT WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT' - been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for years and they never give you real timelines. Could be 2 weeks could be 2 months depending on their mood.
Rajiv Kumar
Just want to add that you should definitely still file even with the child support issue. I know someone who waited months thinking they couldn't get benefits because of back support and they lost out on thousands of dollars. The NYS Department of Labor will handle the intercept automatically - you just need to focus on getting your claim approved and filing your weekly certifications on time.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Was behind on child support by around $6K and was terrified they'd reject my unemployment claim. But like others have said, you can definitely still get benefits. In my case, they intercepted about 40% of my weekly payments (not quite the full 50% max). The key thing is to file ASAP - I made the mistake of waiting a few weeks because I was worried and that cost me money I'll never get back. The intercept happens automatically once your benefits start, so there's no extra paperwork or hoops to jump through on your end. It's better to get 60% of something than 100% of nothing while you're job searching.
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