Got KeyBank debit card in mail after ny unemployment ended - what could this mean?

Check your payment history on your NYSDOL account before activating anything! This happened to me in March. Got a random KeyBank card after my benefits ended, and it turned out they had audited my claim and found I was owed an additional 3 weeks of benefits they hadn't initially processed. The system automatically issued a card because my direct deposit info had expired in their system. But definitely verify online first before activating.

Thanks, I'll check my account right away. Did your payment history show the additional payments before you activated the card or only after?

Could be retroactive payments, tax refund adjustment, or a mistake. I'd activate it - what's the worst that could happen?

I'm just worried about identity theft or something. But you're right, I should probably just activate it and see.

Your direct deposit info might have expired! Same thing happened to me. I updated mine in December but apparently there's a 90-day expiration on direct deposit info with NYSDOL that nobody tells you about. So even though you updated in January, if they're sending you any kind of payment now (backpay, adjustments, tax withholding corrections, etc.), the system defaults to a debit card when your direct deposit expires.

Wow I had no idea the direct deposit info expires! That might explain it.

Don't activate until you check your account first and call NYSDOL to verify. There are some scams going around where fake KeyBank cards are being sent out. The real ones come in a plain white envelope with only a small KeyBank logo and NY state details. If yours looks different or came in flashy packaging, it could be suspicious.

It came in a white envelope with minimal branding, so it does look legitimate. I tried calling NYSDOL yesterday but was on hold for over an hour before I had to hang up for work.

USE CLAIMYR TO GET THROUGH TO AN AGENT!!!! I was dealing with the EXACT same situation last week. Couldn't get thru to anyone at NYSDOL for days. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and actually got a callback from an agent in 20 mins!!! Waaaaay better than waiting on hold all day. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. The agent confirmed mine was legit - turns out they found an error in my previous benefit calculation and owed me money from last year!

Do they actually work tho? Seems sketchy to pay someone else just to get through to unemployment

KEYBANK SENT ME A CARD TOO LAST WEEK!!! Turns out it was a retroactive adjustment after they reviewed my claim from LAST YEAR!! They found I was underpaid by $840 during my last three weeks on unemployment. Never got a notification email or anything, the card just showed up. Check your account payment history and see if there are any new deposits listed.

That would be amazing if that's what happened! I'll check my payment history tonight when I get home from work.

@casual_commenter it's not sketchy at all - they just help you get past the phone system. I was skeptical too but it saved me literal days of trying to get through. And yes they actually work - got me to an agent who confirmed my card was a legit backpay situation.

ok but how much does it cost? seems weird to pay $ just to talk to unemployment when its supposed to be free

This is actually quite common in 2025. NYSDOL has been conducting systematic reviews of 2023-2024 claims due to a software update that identified calculation errors in about 8% of claims. Many people have been receiving these unexpected adjustments. When you log into your account, look specifically at the

That makes sense! Now I'm hopeful it's actually additional money owed to me. I'll definitely check the Determinations section too.

@original_poster I had to activate the card before I could see the balance, but the payment was already showing in my payment history on the NYSDOL site before activation. It showed up as

This is super helpful, thank you! I'll look for that specific wording in my payment history.

As others have said, it's likely an adjustment payment. BUT - important tip: if that's what it is and you want to switch it back to direct deposit, you need to call KeyBank first to decline the card (BEFORE activating), then update your direct deposit info on the NYSDOL site again. If you activate the card first, you're stuck with it for any future payments related to this claim.

Oh that's really good to know! I'd definitely prefer direct deposit over the card. I'll try calling KeyBank first then.

My cousin got one of these and ignored it for like 3 weeks thinking it was junk mail lol. Turned out he had like $1200 on it from some appeal he filed and forgot about.

OMG I would NEVER forget about an appeal I filed!! How does someone just forget about potentially getting unemployment money?? I check my account like 5 times a day even months after my claim ended 😂

Sometimes they send these out for the release of tax withholding too. Did you have taxes withheld from your benefits? They sometimes release those at the end of the tax year if you were eligible for a refund or something.

Yes I did have taxes withheld! That's another possibility I hadn't considered.

Update from someone who works with NYSDOL claims: in 2025, there have been three main reasons for unexpected KeyBank cards: 1) Retroactive adjustments from the system audit I mentioned, 2) Processing of previously pending appeals that were delayed due to high volume, and 3) Tax withholding recalculations. In all cases, there should be corresponding documentation in your online account. The delay in sending these cards is due to staff shortages in the notification department.

Thank you for this detailed explanation! It's frustrating they don't notify people before sending these cards, but I'm glad to know there are legitimate reasons for it.

UPDATE: I finally got through to NYSDOL (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it actually worked!) and found out they did a review of my claim and found I was eligible for an additional week of benefits that wasn't processed correctly. The amount is $504! The rep said this has been happening to lots of people due to a system update that found calculation errors. Thanks everyone for your help!

THATS AWESOME!! Glad you got some extra $$$! This gives me hope maybe I'll get another random card someday too lol

Don't hold your breath waiting for a card 😂 But it's definitely worth checking your account periodically. These system audits seem to be identifying lots of past errors.