How to change NY unemployment direct deposit to my personal bank account?
Can i transfer my benefits to my own bank account ?? Right now my NY unemployment payments are going to my girlfriend's account since i didn't have a bank account when i first filed. I opened my own checking account last week and want to know how to update my payment info. Do i have to call them or can i do this online? don't wanna mess up and delay my payments
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Caleb Bell
You can definitely update your direct deposit info online without calling. Just log into your NY.gov account, go to your unemployment dashboard, and look for 'Update Payment Method' or 'Payment Options.' You'll need your bank routing number and account number ready. The change usually takes effect within 1-2 payment cycles. Make sure your new account is fully activated before making the change!
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Thanks! Do you know if there's any waiting period after I change it? Like will there be a delay in my next payment?
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Danielle Campbell
u gotta do it from the website not the app. i tried on my phone and couldnt find it anywhere
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Oh thanks for the tip! I was about to try on my phone but I'll use a computer instead.
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Rhett Bowman
To add to what others said, the specific section is under 'Manage Payment Options' after you log in. You'll need: - Your bank routing number (9 digits) - Your account number - Select checking or savings After you submit the change, they'll make a small test deposit to verify the account is valid. This usually takes 1-3 business days. Your next payment will go to the new account IF you made the change at least 3 business days before your payment processing date. Otherwise, one more payment might go to the old account. I've personally had to change mine twice with no issues.
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Abigail Patel
•wait they make a test deposit?? i changed mine 2 weeks ago and didnt get any test deposit that i noticed...should i be worried????
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Rhett Bowman
•Not everyone notices the test deposit since it's usually less than a dollar and sometimes they just verify the account info with the bank electronically. If you're still getting your payments, you're fine!
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Daniel White
I tried changing my direct deposit online FOUR TIMES and it never worked!!!! The system kept saying it accepted the change but payments still went to my old account. Had to call them and wait FOREVER to get someone to manually update it. The online system is GARBAGE.
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Nolan Carter
•I had the exact same issue last month. Kept getting an error message that made no sense. After trying for 2 weeks to change it online, I finally got through to someone who fixed it in 2 minutes. If you're having trouble with the online system, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - totally worth it when you need to speak to someone urgently.
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Daniel White
•Thanks for the tip! Wish I knew about that service earlier. Spent 3 days trying to get through on the phone.
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Natalia Stone
Anyone knows if changing bank info triggers any kind of review of your claim? I'm worried about doing anything that might pause my payments
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Caleb Bell
•Changing your bank info is a routine administrative change that doesn't trigger a claim review. It's completely separate from the benefit eligibility system. You should be fine.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
Update: I was able to change my direct deposit info online! It was under Payment Options after I logged in. Thanks for all the help everyone! They did say it might take 1-2 payment cycles to take effect.
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Abigail Patel
•nice! glad it worked out for u
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Rhett Bowman
•Excellent! Just make sure you don't close the old account until you confirm a payment has successfully gone into your new account.
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Danielle Campbell
my cousin had to verify his identity again when he changed his bank info so maybe be ready for that just in case
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Really? When did that happen to him? Hope I don't have to do that...
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Caleb Bell
If anyone else is looking for this information, you can also update your payment method from direct deposit to debit card (or vice versa) using the same online process. The NY unemployment debit card is now through KeyBank and has fewer fees than the old card system.
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Natalia Stone
•the debit card is the worst dont do it!! my friend had his money stuck on there for weeks when there was an issue
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Javier Morales
Just wanted to add - if you're switching from someone else's account (like your girlfriend's) to your own, make sure you have written permission or documentation showing you had authorization to use that account originally. I had a similar situation and DOL asked me to verify this when I changed my info. Also, double-check that your new account accepts ACH deposits - some newer online banks have restrictions. Good luck with the change!
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Ruby Knight
•That's really helpful info about the written permission! I never thought about that but it makes sense they'd want to verify authorization. My girlfriend is totally fine with me switching it and we can get something in writing if needed. Thanks for the heads up about checking if the bank accepts ACH deposits too - I'll call my new bank to confirm before I make the change.
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Carlos Mendoza
One thing to keep in mind - when you change from your girlfriend's account to yours, make sure you coordinate with her so she knows when to expect the last payment to her account. I made a similar switch last year and forgot to tell my roommate, so when that final payment hit her account she was confused and thought there was an error. Also, save a screenshot or confirmation email when you successfully update your info online - it's helpful to have proof of when you made the change in case there are any questions later. The whole process was pretty straightforward for me once I had all my bank details ready!
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GalaxyGuardian
•Great advice about coordinating with your girlfriend! I hadn't thought about that but it would definitely avoid confusion. The screenshot tip is smart too - I always forget to save confirmations but that could really come in handy if there are issues. Did you have any problems with the transition or did everything go smoothly once you made the change?
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AstroAdventurer
•Everything went pretty smoothly for me once I made the change! The only minor hiccup was that my bank flagged the first unemployment deposit as unusual activity since it was a larger amount than my usual transactions, so they put a temporary hold on it. I had to call them to verify it was legitimate, but they released it the same day. Other than that, the transition was seamless - took about 5 business days total from when I updated the info online to when the first payment hit my new account. Definitely recommend having your bank's customer service number handy just in case!
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Paolo Longo
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Had my payments going to my mom's account initially and needed to switch to my own. The online method worked perfectly for me - just log into your NY.gov account and look for "Payment Options" or "Direct Deposit" in your unemployment dashboard. You'll need your routing number (9 digits) and account number ready. One tip: make sure your new account has been open for at least a few days before making the switch, as some banks need time to fully activate ACH capabilities. Also, don't stress about delays - in my experience the change took effect within one payment cycle. Just make sure to coordinate with your girlfriend so she knows when to expect the last payment to her account!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation! Good point about waiting a few days after opening the account - I actually just opened mine last week so the timing should be perfect. Did you have any issues with your mom's bank or your new bank when making the transition? I'm a little worried about potential fees or complications on either end.
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Sebastián Stevens
•No issues at all with either bank! My mom's bank didn't charge any fees since the deposits were just stopping (not being transferred out), and my new bank actually welcomed the regular ACH deposits. Most banks are pretty used to unemployment direct deposits these days. The only thing I'd suggest is giving both banks a heads up if you're worried - I called my new bank just to confirm they could receive government ACH payments and they assured me it was no problem. You should be all set!
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Rosie Harper
Just a heads up - if you're switching from your girlfriend's account to your own, you might want to give both banks a quick call to let them know about the change. When I switched from my sister's account to mine, her bank was fine since payments were just stopping, but my bank temporarily flagged the first unemployment deposit as suspicious since it was a larger amount than usual. I had to verify it was legitimate, but they cleared it the same day. Also, make sure your girlfriend knows which payment will be the last one to her account - it helps avoid any confusion when that final deposit hits. The whole process is pretty straightforward once you have your routing and account numbers ready!
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Brianna Muhammad
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really good advice about calling both banks ahead of time. I definitely don't want my first unemployment payment to get flagged or held up. Did you have to provide any special documentation to your bank when you called to let them know about the incoming deposits, or was it just a simple heads up call?
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Talia Klein
•Just a simple heads up call worked for me! I didn't need any special documentation - I just told them I'd be receiving regular unemployment deposits from New York State and asked if there were any account requirements or limits I should know about. The customer service rep made a note on my account and said it would help prevent any automatic fraud alerts. The whole call took maybe 5 minutes. Some banks are more cautious than others, but giving them advance notice definitely helps things go smoothly!
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