Got a NY unemployment all access MetaBank card in mail - what's it for?
I just got something called an 'all access MetaBank card' in today's mail but I don't remember requesting it. It came with my name on it and a bunch of paperwork. Is this related to my NY unemployment benefits? I thought I selected direct deposit when I applied last month. Has anyone else gotten one of these cards? I'm hesitant to activate it because I'm not sure if it's legitimate or some kind of scam.
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Nia Thompson
Yes, it's legitimate! The MetaBank card (sometimes called the NY Way2Go card) is how NY unemployment benefits are paid if you either selected debit card as your payment method or if there was an issue with your direct deposit setup. NYSDOL contracts with MetaBank to distribute benefits this way. You should check your payment preferences in your online account - something might have changed or there could have been an error with your direct deposit information. If you selected direct deposit, call NYSDOL to see why they sent you a card instead.
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Luca Esposito
•Thanks for the quick response! I'm pretty sure I selected direct deposit, so there must be some kind of error. I'll check my account settings right away.
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Mateo Rodriguez
got one of these a few weeks ago too! activated it and my benefits were on there. easy to use at atms and stores
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Luca Esposito
•Good to know it worked for you! Did you also request direct deposit initially? Just wondering if this is a common mix-up.
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Aisha Abdullah
I got a metbank card to but mine had no money on it for 2 weeks!! When I called the number on the card they just told me to contact unemployment. Super annoying!!
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Ethan Wilson
•There's usually a delay between when you receive the card and when the first payment hits it. If you're eligible for benefits and have been certifying weekly, the money should eventually be loaded onto the card. Check your payment history in your NY.gov account to see if payments have been released yet.
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NeonNova
The MetaBank card is legit, but if you really want direct deposit instead (which is way better IMO), you need to update your payment method ASAP in your NY.gov account. I had the same issue back in January - turns out I accidentally clicked the wrong option when setting up my claim. If you can't figure out how to change it online, you'll need to call NYSDOL directly. I wasted THREE DAYS trying to get through to someone. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live agent in under an hour. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE Once I talked to an agent, they fixed my payment method right away and my next payment went straight to my bank account.
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Luca Esposito
•This is super helpful! I definitely want direct deposit instead of dealing with the card. I'll try updating it online first, but good to know about that service if I need to call. The NYSDOL phone system is notorious for being impossible to get through!
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Yuki Tanaka
The MetaBank card is the standard way they distribute unemployment benefits in NY state now. Even if you selected direct deposit, they sometimes automatically send these cards as a backup payment method. I've had mine for months and it works fine, but be aware there are some fees if you use certain ATMs or want to transfer the money to your personal account. You can still switch to direct deposit by updating your payment preferences in your NY.gov account. Just log in, go to your unemployment services, and look for payment method options.
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Carmen Diaz
•Yeah the fees are RIDICULOUS!! They charged me $1.50 just to check my balance at the ATM plus another $2 for a withdrawal. Highway robbery if you ask me!!!
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Aisha Abdullah
Does anyone know if you can transfer money from the metabank card to a regular bank account online? Don't want to call them if I can avoid it
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Nia Thompson
•Yes, you can! Once you activate and create an online account at the MetaBank portal (there should be instructions in the paperwork), you can set up transfers to your personal bank account. There might be a small fee, though, which is why direct deposit is generally preferred.
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Luca Esposito
Update: I just checked my NY.gov account and found out what happened. There was an issue with my direct deposit information - I accidentally transposed two digits in my account number when setting up my claim. That's why they defaulted to sending the card instead. I've fixed my banking info now and switched back to direct deposit for future payments. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Ethan Wilson
•Glad you figured it out! For anyone else reading this thread: always double-check your bank information when entering it. Simple typos are one of the most common reasons direct deposit fails and they send the card instead. Your first payment will likely still come on the card, but future payments should go to your bank account now.
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Carmen Diaz
The same exact thing happened to my cousin last year and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix!!!! The unemployment system in this state is completely BROKEN!! They take WEEKS to process anything and you can never reach anyone on the phone. Its absolutely CRIMINAL how they treat people!!!!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•yeah my brother had same problem too. said he spent like 3 days just trying to talk to someone
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Luca Esposito
Quick question - now that I've updated my direct deposit info, should I still activate the MetaBank card? Will my current payment be on there or will it go to my bank account?
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Nia Thompson
•Yes, you should still activate the card. Any payments that were already processed before you updated your direct deposit information will be on the card. Only future payments will go to your bank account. The paperwork that came with the card should explain how to check your balance and access those funds.
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