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NY unemployment direct deposit keeps rejecting my valid routing number

I got laid off in September and applied for unemployment benefits right away. Everything was going fine until I tried setting up my direct deposit. Every time I enter my routing and account number, the system keeps telling me my routing number is incorrect. This is ridiculous because this is the exact same bank account I used for my unemployment benefits last year! I've triple-checked the numbers and they're definitely correct. I've tried entering the info on different browsers, clearing my cache, even used my phone instead of computer. Nothing works. It's been almost 3 weeks and I still can't get my payments deposited directly. Anyone else having this issue or know how to fix it? I really don't want to use the debit card option because of all the fees.

Have you tried calling your bank to make sure your routing number hasnt changed? Some banks updated their routing numbers recently. I had this same issue in August and turns out my bank changed their routing number and didnt bother to tell anyone 🙄

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Yeah I actually did call my bank first thing and they confirmed my routing number is correct. The rep even said other customers haven't had any issues with direct deposits from other sources using that same routing number.

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i once had a similar issue and it turns out the unemployment system doesn't accept certain banks or accounts. had to use my checking instead of savings. do u have another account u could try?

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I only have one checking account unfortunately. Been using it for years with no problems including with my previous unemployment claim.

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After 2 months of trying to fix my direct deposit problems, I finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected with a live agent who fixed everything in minutes! Talking to the agent directly was what I needed - they manually updated my banking info and my payments started flowing within 48 hours. Best decision I made after wasting so much time with the online system. They have a cool explainer video too: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

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wait this sounds too good to be true... does it actually work? I've been trying to talk to someone for weeks

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Not a hack, just a service that connects you with a real unemployment agent. They just handle the hold time for you. My issue actually got solved unlike when I tried calling myself for weeks.

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just checked out their site, looks like they basically wait on hold for you and then call you when they get an agent on the line. thats actually pretty smart ngl

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I used this last month! worked perfectly. after 3 weeks of failed attempts to reach ny unemployment I was ready to give up, then my cousin told me about claimyr

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Its DEFINITELY a system glitch on their end. The NY unemployment website has been a dumpster fire since they updated it last spring. Try entering ur routing number WITHOUT the leading zero if there is one. Thats what worked for me.

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Hmm my routing number doesn't have a leading zero, it starts with 3. But thanks for the suggestion, I'll try entering it differently to see if that works.

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have you tried using a different browser? the site is garbage on chrome but works better on firefox or edge for me

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Sometimes the issue isn't actually the routing number but the account number format. Some banks include the check digit in the account number and some dont. Try adding or removing the last digit of your account number.

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Interesting, I hadn't thought of that. Will give it a try tomorrow. Thanks!

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This! When I worked for Chase we saw this ALL THE TIME with govt systems. They want the account # without the check digit but don't tell you that anywhere 🤦‍♀️

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ok so this is gonna sound weird but try typing the numbers REALLY SLOWLY. I swear the system has some kind of timing issue. When I entered my info super slow with like 2 seconds between each number it finally went through.

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That's bizarre but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point lol

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omg this actually WORKED for me!! I thought u were trolling but I tried it and it went through!

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The NY unemployment system is COMPLETE TRASH. I literally had the exact same problem in October. Ended up having to take the stupid debit card option and then just transfer the money to my bank manually each time which takes 3-4 business days. Such a waste of time.

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I went thru this exact hell a few months ago. The system would accept my routing number if I called in to the automated phone system, but rejected the same number on the website. Try setting it up by phone instead of online.

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Really? I'll try the phone system tonight. What number did you call to access that?

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1-888-209-8124 then press options for direct deposit setup. Fair warning tho, their phone tree is a nightmare to navigate 💀

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Look at your bank statement or check. Sometimes the routing number printed on checks is different from the one used for direct deposits/ACH transfers.

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This happened to me and turns out my bank (TD) had different routing numbers for different regions. Had to use the specific NY regional routing number even though my account was originally opened in CT.

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I bank with Chase, so I don't think they have regional routing numbers, but I'll double check with them. Thanks for the tip.

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I was in the same boat for weeks! I FINALLY got through to someone on the phone after trying for FOREVER and they told me there was a flag on my account because of 'suspected identity verification issues' that was preventing direct deposit setup. Had nothing to do with my bank info being wrong. Maybe check if you have the same problem?

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how did you actually get through to someone on the phone? i've been trying for ages and can never get past the automated system 😤

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I used claimyr.com after seeing someone recommend it here. They got me connected to an agent in about 45 minutes after I'd spent literal DAYS trying on my own.

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Here's a comprehensive solution to your direct deposit problem with NY unemployment: First, let's troubleshoot the most common issues: 1) Double-check both your routing AND account numbers. Sometimes it's not the routing number that's the problem, but a mismatch with account details. 2) Call your bank directly and ask specifically for their ACH routing number. Some banks have different routing numbers for different transaction types. 3) Try entering your info during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). The system sometimes glitches during high traffic periods. 4) Clear your browser cache completely, or try using an incognito/private browsing window. 5) If you have access to a different device (tablet, different computer), try that. If none of these work, you need to speak with an actual NYSDOL representative. The fastest way I found was using Claimyr.com - they wait on hold for you and connect you with an agent when one is available. The agent can override the system and manually input your banking details. As a last resort, you may need to temporarily accept the debit card option, then switch to direct deposit later after speaking with a representative. Hope this helps! The NY unemployment system is frustrating but fixable with persistence.

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Thank you so much for this detailed response! I'm going to try all these steps and will definitely check out claimyr if I still can't get it working. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain all this.

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This needs to be pinned or something. Best advice I've seen on this sub in months.

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does your routing number show 9 digits? sometimes people miss a digit at beginning or end

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Yes, it's definitely 9 digits. I've even held it up side by side with what's printed on my checks and what's in my online banking profile.

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if youve been on unemployment before, they might have your old bank account info saved in their system which could be causing a conflict. U need to call and have them completely remove the old account before adding the new one (even if its same account

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honestly just use the debit card for now, then transfer the money out. its annoying but at least youll get paid while u fix the direct deposit part

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those debit cards are THE WORST tho. So many hidden fees and the customer service for them suuuuucks

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true but better than $0 in your account 🤷‍♂️

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bet you $20 if u create a whole new claim from scratch the direct deposit will work fine. the system is so broken that sometimes starting over is literally the only fix

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Are you using copy/paste to enter the numbers? Try typing them manually instead. Their system has weird validation that sometimes fails with copied text.

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I've been typing them in manually every time, but thanks for the suggestion!

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i know this sounds crazy but my friend worked for NY unemployment and said sometimes adding a space at the beginning or end of the routing number tricks the system into accepting it when there's a glitch 🤯

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Just wait til you finally get direct deposit working and then they randomly switch you back to the debit card with no warning 😫 happened to me TWICE last year

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omg same. I lost like $90 because I didn't realize they switched me and the card was sent to my old address 🤬

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