How do I receive my unemployment money from NYS Department of Labor?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits after waiting 3 weeks for adjudication to clear, but I have no idea how I'm supposed to actually get the money. My claim status on my.ny.gov shows approved but there's nothing about payment method setup. Do I need to set up direct deposit somewhere? Will they mail me a check? I'm really confused about the whole process and need this money to pay rent next week.
11 comments
Join the conversation
Paloma Clark
You'll receive a KeyBank debit card in the mail within 7-10 business days of your first payment being issued. The NYS Department of Labor automatically loads your weekly benefits onto this card. You can also set up direct deposit through your online account under payment preferences if you prefer that option.
0 coins
Evelyn Kelly
•Thank you! So I don't need to do anything right now? The card just comes automatically?
0 coins
Heather Tyson
yeah i got my card like 2 weeks after my first payment, you can use it at ATMs or anywhere that takes debit cards
0 coins
Raul Neal
Make sure you file your weekly claim certification every week! Even though you're approved, you still need to certify that you're actively looking for work. The payment won't be released until you complete that weekly requirement. You can do this through the my.ny.gov portal every Sunday.
0 coins
Evelyn Kelly
•Oh I didn't realize I had to keep doing something weekly. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?
0 coins
Raul Neal
•You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log. The job search requirements are pretty strict now.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
I had so much trouble getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when my payments were delayed. Spent hours on hold just to get hung up on. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!
0 coins
Christian Burns
•interesting, never heard of that before but the phone system is definitely broken
0 coins
Sasha Reese
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS! I've been waiting 6 weeks for my card and nobody can tell me why. The NYS Department of Labor just keeps saying 'processing delays' but won't give any real timeline. Meanwhile I'm about to lose my apartment because I can't access MY OWN MONEY.
0 coins
Paloma Clark
•If it's been that long, you should definitely call the KeyBank customer service line directly. Sometimes there are address verification issues that hold up card delivery.
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
Just wanted to add that you can check your payment history in the my.ny.gov portal to see when payments were issued. Sometimes the card arrives before you even realize the money has been processed.
0 coins