How to set up direct deposit for unemployment benefits - NYS Department of Labor
I just got approved for unemployment and want to make sure I get my payments as fast as possible. Right now it's set to mail me a debit card but I'd rather have the money go straight into my bank account. Does anyone know how to set up direct deposit through the NYS Department of Labor system? I logged into my.ny.gov but can't find where to change the payment method. Do I need to call them or is there a way to do it online?
14 comments
Join the conversation
Sofia Ramirez
You can definitely set up direct deposit! Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for 'Payment Method' under your unemployment claim. You'll need your bank's routing number and your checking account number. Make sure you use a checking account, not savings - NYS Department of Labor doesn't allow direct deposit to savings accounts.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•Perfect, thank you! Do you know how long it takes for the change to go into effect? I already certified for this week.
0 coins
Dmitry Volkov
The direct deposit option should be in your online account under 'Benefit Payment Information' or something like that. But heads up - if you already have a payment processing for this week, that one will still go to the debit card. Direct deposit usually starts with the next payment cycle after you make the change.
0 coins
StarSeeker
•This is correct. I switched to direct deposit and it took effect the following week. Much better than waiting for the card in the mail!
0 coins
Ava Martinez
I had trouble finding this option too! It's kind of buried in the system. If you can't locate it online, you might need to call the NYS Department of Labor. Fair warning though - getting through can be really difficult with their call volume. I spent hours trying to reach someone about changing my payment method.
0 coins
Miguel Ortiz
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an agent much faster. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much time instead of calling over and over.
0 coins
Ava Martinez
•Interesting, I'll have to check that out. The hold times are absolutely brutal.
0 coins
Zainab Omar
Make sure you double check your bank info before submitting! I made a typo in my account number and it delayed my payment by almost two weeks while they sorted it out. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't make it easy to fix mistakes like that.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•Oh no, that's exactly what I was worried about. I'll triple check everything before I submit it.
0 coins
Connor Murphy
just set mine up last week, pretty straightforward once you find it in the menu
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
I just went through this process myself a few weeks ago. In addition to what others have mentioned, I'd recommend logging out and back into your my.ny.gov account if you don't see the direct deposit option right away - sometimes it takes a refresh for all the menu items to load properly. Also, keep your bank statement handy when you're entering the info because some banks have different routing numbers for different types of transactions. The whole process took me about 5 minutes once I found the right section, and my first direct deposit came through exactly one week later. Way faster than waiting for that debit card to arrive in the mail!
0 coins
Skylar Neal
•Thanks for the tip about logging out and back in! I was getting frustrated because I couldn't see all the options in my account. That refresh trick is really helpful. Good to know the direct deposit comes through so quickly once it's set up - definitely beats waiting around for mail delivery.
0 coins
Javier Cruz
One thing I'd add - when you're setting up direct deposit, make sure to use your primary checking account that you use regularly. I made the mistake of using a secondary account that I barely check, and when there was a small issue with my first direct deposit, I didn't notice the notification email from my bank for days. Also, some credit unions have specific requirements for government deposits, so if you're with a smaller financial institution, it might be worth calling them first to confirm they can receive NYS unemployment direct deposits without any issues.
0 coins
Sydney Torres
•Great point about using your primary checking account! I hadn't thought about the notification issue. Quick question - do you know if there are any fees associated with receiving unemployment direct deposits? My bank sometimes charges for certain types of government transfers and I want to make sure I won't get hit with unexpected charges.
0 coins