How to get unemployment card from NYS Department of Labor - lost mine and need replacement
I lost my unemployment debit card somewhere and I can't find it anywhere. I've been getting my benefits deposited on it but now I can't access my money. Does anyone know how to get a replacement card from NYS Department of Labor? I tried looking on the my.ny.gov website but couldn't find clear instructions. Do I need to call them or can I request it online? Really stressed because I need to pay rent this week.
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Abigail Patel
You'll need to contact KeyBank directly, not NYS Department of Labor. The unemployment debit cards are issued through KeyBank. You can call their customer service at 1-866-295-2955 or log into the KeyBank mobile app if you have it set up. They can rush deliver a replacement card for a fee, or standard delivery takes 7-10 business days.
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Rhett Bowman
•Oh I didn't know it was KeyBank! Thank you so much, I was calling the wrong number this whole time.
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Daniel White
same thing happened to me last month!! i was panicking but keybank was actually really helpful. if you need money before the new card arrives you can also go to any keybank atm and do a cardless withdrawal using their app
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Nolan Carter
Just to add - when you call KeyBank, have your social security number ready and the phone number associated with your unemployment account. They'll verify your identity before issuing a replacement. Also, your old card gets automatically deactivated once you report it lost, so don't worry about someone else using it.
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Natalia Stone
•Wait, does this affect my weekly claim filing at all? Or just the card itself?
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Nolan Carter
•No it doesn't affect your weekly claims through NYS Department of Labor at all. Your benefits will still be deposited, you just need the new card to access them.
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Tasia Synder
Ugh the whole unemployment debit card system is so annoying. Why can't they just do direct deposit like normal jobs? I've had issues with that KeyBank card multiple times - fees everywhere, sketchy ATM locations.
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Selena Bautista
Actually you CAN switch to direct deposit! I had so many problems trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about various issues that I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They helped me switch my payment method to direct deposit to my regular bank account. Way better than dealing with the debit card. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Rhett Bowman
•Wait really? I had no idea you could do direct deposit for unemployment benefits. How long did it take to switch over?
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Selena Bautista
•It took about 2 weeks from when I made the request to when the first deposit hit my regular bank account. Much better than worrying about losing cards or finding the right ATMs.
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Mohamed Anderson
thanks for posting this, I was wondering the same thing but was too embarrassed to ask
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Lucy Taylor
Don't feel embarrassed at all! This is exactly the kind of stuff this community is for. I've been on unemployment for a few months now and I'm still learning new things from posts like this. The KeyBank info was really helpful - I had no idea they handled the cards instead of NYS DOL directly. Definitely bookmarking that direct deposit option too in case I run into issues with my card.
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Charlee Coleman
•Exactly! I wish someone had told me about the KeyBank thing when I first started getting benefits. I spent so much time trying to navigate the NYS DOL website looking for card replacement info when it wasn't even their department. This community has been a lifesaver for figuring out all these little details that aren't explained clearly anywhere else.
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Samantha Hall
Just wanted to add that if you're in a real emergency situation and need cash before the replacement card arrives, some KeyBank branches will let you do an over-the-counter withdrawal with proper ID. I had to do this once when my card got damaged and couldn't wait for a replacement. You'll need your social security number, ID, and they might ask for the phone number on your unemployment account. Not all branches do this but it's worth calling ahead to ask if you're really stuck.
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Ben Cooper
•This is such good info to know! I had no idea you could do over-the-counter withdrawals at KeyBank branches. That would have saved me so much stress when I was waiting for my replacement card. Do you remember if there were any fees for doing the withdrawal that way? I'm always worried about extra charges eating into my benefits.
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