How long does it take to get my NYS Department of Labor unemployment debit card after approval?
My claim got approved last Thursday and I'm wondering when I should expect to receive my unemployment debit card in the mail. I haven't gotten anything yet and it's been 5 days now. Should I be worried or is this normal timing? I really need to access my benefits ASAP since rent is due next week. Has anyone received their card recently and can tell me how long the wait was?
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Jessica Suarez
The KeyBank debit card usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive after your first payment is issued by NYS Department of Labor. Since you were approved Thursday, your first payment probably won't be processed until this week, so you're looking at potentially another week or two for the card to arrive.
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Jay Lincoln
•Thanks! That makes me feel better. I was starting to panic that something went wrong with my claim.
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Marcus Williams
mine took 12 days to get here last month, but once you have it the money shows up pretty fast after you certify
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Lily Young
You can actually check if your payment has been issued by logging into your my.ny.gov account and looking at your payment history. If it shows a payment date, then the card should be coming soon. If no payment is showing yet, then NYS Department of Labor hasn't processed your first weekly claim payment.
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Jay Lincoln
•Just checked and it shows payment issued yesterday! So hopefully the card comes soon.
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Kennedy Morrison
•That's a good sign! Once the payment is issued, KeyBank usually gets the card out within 5-7 business days. I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my card delivery, but I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made it so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Wesley Hallow
Why does everything with unemployment take FOREVER?? I swear they make these delays on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits. 7-10 days for a piece of plastic in 2025 is ridiculous.
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Justin Chang
•I feel your frustration but honestly the card timing isn't too bad compared to other states. At least once you have it, the payments are pretty reliable.
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Marcus Williams
make sure to activate it as soon as you get it! I forgot and then panicked when my next payment didn't work lol
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Ethan Anderson
I'm in a similar situation - got approved about a week ago and still waiting for my card. Reading these responses is really helpful! I didn't know about checking the payment history on my.ny.gov, so I'll definitely do that. The timing stress is real when you're counting on these benefits. Has anyone had issues with the card not arriving and had to request a replacement?
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Zara Malik
•I haven't had to request a replacement yet, but I've heard from others that if your card doesn't arrive within 2-3 weeks after the payment is issued, you can call KeyBank directly to report it missing and request a new one. They'll expedite a replacement which usually takes 3-5 business days. You can also track your card delivery status through KeyBank's website once NYS Department of Labor provides them with your info. The stress is definitely real - I'm going through the same waiting game right now!
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Javier Torres
I just went through this same process a few weeks ago. My timeline was: approved on a Tuesday, first payment issued the following Monday, and the KeyBank card arrived exactly 8 business days after the payment was issued. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you need the money, but it sounds like you're right on track with the normal timeline. Once you get the card, make sure to set up the KeyBank app - it makes checking your balance and finding ATMs much easier than calling the phone number on the back of the card.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•This is super helpful, thanks for breaking down the timeline! It's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through the same process. I'll definitely download the KeyBank app once my card arrives. Did you have any issues with finding fee-free ATMs, or are there plenty of options? I'm trying to plan ahead so I know where I can access my benefits without getting hit with extra charges.
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