Just to update everyone on the latest processing times - NYSDOL's current reported average is: - Monetary Determination letters: 5-10 business days - First payment after certification: 10-14 business days (if no issues) - Regular weekly payments: 2-3 business days after certification These times have actually improved since last year when they were severely backlogged. The key factor that delays most claims is incomplete or inconsistent information between what you provided and what your employer reported.

Filed my claim about 10 days ago and just got my letter yesterday! The process was pretty similar to yours - phone rep was actually really helpful and walked me through everything. My first certification is this Sunday so fingers crossed the payment comes through smoothly. One thing I noticed is they sent me a separate letter about work search requirements that came a few days after the monetary determination letter, so don't be surprised if you get multiple pieces of mail. Also make sure to save all the confirmation numbers they give you during the phone call - I wrote mine down and it helped when I had to reference my claim later.

If your account says benefits were released but Key2Bank shows nothing, you need to file a payment trace with unemployment. I had to do this last year. You have to get through to a live agent though (good luck lol). Try claimyr.com if you're struggling to get through - they'll wait on hold for you.

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! The disconnect between NY unemployment and Key2Bank is absolutely maddening. Here's what I learned: when unemployment says "payment released," it doesn't mean the money is actually on your card yet - there's usually a 1-3 day processing delay. The Key2Bank reps often can't see payments that are still in transit from the state system. My card took 9 business days to arrive, and then I had to activate it before I could see any funds. I'd definitely recommend trying to create an account on key2benefits.com to check if the money is actually there, even without the physical card. And honestly, if you need to talk to someone at unemployment (which you probably do), claimyr.com is worth every penny - saved me literally days of frustration trying to get through on my own.

Hot take: the KeyBank card is actually better than direct deposit if you have a bank that hits you with fees. No monthly fees, and you can transfer the money out to your regular bank for free once it hits. The initial wait sucks but after that it's smooth sailing.

Hey Emily! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. From my experience, once you cancel direct deposit and switch to KeyBank, your first payment usually takes 5-7 business days to hit the KeyBank account. Since you certified yesterday, I'd expect to see it by early next week at the latest. The physical card is a separate issue - that typically takes 7-14 days to arrive in the mail, but here's the key thing: you DON'T have to wait for the card to access your money! Call KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 with your SSN and they can help you set up online banking to transfer funds out before the card arrives. This saved me when I was in a similar bind with bills due. Also keep certifying weekly even while waiting - don't let this mess up your ongoing claims!

Just keep applying for jobs and maybe consider expanding your search area or looking at different types of work temporarily. Sometimes you gotta take what you can get even if it's not ideal.

I'm in a similar situation - about 20 weeks into my claim and getting nervous about what comes next. From what I've researched, New York's Extended Benefits program is tied to the state's unemployment rate, so it's not always available. You can check the current status on the NYS DOL website under "Extended Benefits" or call their customer service line (though as others mentioned, getting through can be tough). Also worth noting that if EB isn't available, there might be other programs like PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation) depending on federal legislation, but those come and go. I'd recommend starting to look into this now rather than waiting until week 25 - gives you more time to figure out your options and potentially appeal if there are any issues with your claim.

Just my experience but a month ago I had a forfeit issue and managed to get it resolved over the phone. The trick was I kept calling different days until I found an agent who actually knew what they were doing (took me 6 attempts). So yes it CAN be done by phone but you might have to be persistent and get lucky with who answers.

Just went through this exact situation 2 months ago! Had a 5-week forfeit for "unreported income" that was actually just a delayed 1099 issue. Here's what worked for me: 1. Filed the appeal IMMEDIATELY (don't wait - seriously) 2. Called the 209 number every single day at 8am sharp 3. When I got through, I specifically asked for a "forfeit specialist" (thanks to whoever mentioned that earlier!) 4. Third call I got someone who actually reviewed my case and saw it was their mistake 5. Forfeit was removed same day The key is persistence and asking for the right person. Most regular agents will just tell you to appeal, but the specialists can actually make changes. Also document everything - write down agent names, times, what they said. Don't give up! It's frustrating but you CAN get this resolved without waiting months for an appeal decision. Good luck! 🤞