NY unemployment virtual debit card withdrawal issues - anyone successfully got cash?
Has anyone actually managed to get cash from the NY unemployment virtual debit card? I've been trying for THREE DAYS now! Downloaded the app, added it to my digital wallet, everything looks fine but when I go to the ATM it just declines. Tried 4 different ATMs (Bank of America, Chase, and two random ones). Called the support number and got stuck on hold for 45 minutes before getting disconnected. Really need this money ASAP... getting desperate here. Do I need to wait for the physical card or is there some trick to making the virtual one work for cash withdrawals?
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Sean Doyle
did u enable cash withdrawals in the app settings? theres a toggle for it somewhere, took me forever to find it lol
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Wait really? Where exactly? I looked through all the settings and didn't see anything like that...
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Zara Rashid
I had the same issue last month. The virtual card is pretty much useless for ATM withdrawals despite what they claim. You technically CAN use it at ATMs that accept tap-to-pay (contactless), but I've only found 2 in my entire area that actually work with it. Most ATMs still require a physical card to be inserted. Your best options are: 1. Wait for the physical card (takes about 7-10 business days) 2. Transfer the money to your personal bank account through the app (2-3 business days) 3. Use the virtual card for online purchases or in stores with digital wallet It's frustrating they don't make this clear anywhere on the NYSDOL website!
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thanks for the detailed response! I tried transferring to my bank account but it says I need to verify my identity first which could take 1-2 business days... ugh. Do you know which ATMs worked for you with the tap-to-pay?
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Luca Romano
the whole virtual card thing is USELESS!!! ive been on unemployment since january and had nothing but problems with it. the physical card is the only thing that actually works reliably. dont waste ur time with the virtual nonsense
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Nia Jackson
•This isn't entirely accurate. The virtual card works fine for most people, but there are limitations you need to understand. It works at any retailer that accepts digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. It also works for online purchases. The main limitation is ATM withdrawals, which require specific contactless-enabled ATMs.
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Luca Romano
•maybe its "accurate" for YOU but ive had nothing but problems!! and so have lots of other people!!! the system is broken
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NebulaNova
I successfully used the virtual card to get cash last week, but you have to find an ATM that specifically supports contactless withdrawals. Most newer Bank of America and Chase ATMs should work, but they need to have the contactless symbol (looks like a wifi symbol) on them. Also, important to know: there's a daily ATM withdrawal limit of $500 on these cards, and some ATMs charge fees unless you use an in-network ATM (KeyBank ATMs are fee-free with the unemployment card). If you're having trouble with the virtual card, I'd recommend trying to reach a live agent at NYSDOL to troubleshoot. Regular phone lines are almost impossible to get through, but I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE - totally worth it when you're desperate to resolve issues like this.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thanks for the tip! I'll look for the contactless symbol next time. My main frustration is that nothing on the NYSDOL website explained any of this... Did the agent actually help solve your problem when you got through?
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NebulaNova
•Yes, the agent was able to help. In my case, there was actually a hold on my account that was preventing the card from working properly for cash withdrawals. They removed it and everything started working within a few hours. The NYSDOL website is horrible about explaining these details.
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Mateo Hernandez
I was in your exact situation back in March. The virtual card is very confusing! Here's what I learned after much frustration: 1. Most ATMs still don't accept the virtual card, despite what NYSDOL claims 2. Even contactless ATMs can be hit or miss with these government-issued virtual cards 3. The fastest way to access your money is actually to use the card for purchases rather than trying to get cash For me, I ended up just using the virtual card at grocery stores and paying bills online until my physical card arrived. I also called my bank and they said I could deposit money from the unemployment card into my account at their teller window (not ATM), which worked! Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when you need access to your benefits and the system makes it so complicated.
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Aisha Khan
•this is good advice! i did the same thing, just used it for groceries until physical card came
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thanks for understanding how stressful this is! I need to pay rent and my landlord only takes cash or check, so I really need to get actual money off this card somehow. I'll try going to a bank teller tomorrow based on your suggestion. Really appreciate the help!
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Sean Doyle
fyi u can also do cash back at most stores when u make a purchase with the virtual card! like buy something small at walmart or target and ask for cash back. worked for me
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Anastasia Fedorov
•That's a great idea! I didn't even think of that. Definitely going to try this tomorrow. Do you know if there's a limit to how much cash back you can get?
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Sean Doyle
•depends on the store but walmart lets u do like $100 i think, some grocery stores do more
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Nia Jackson
Just to clarify some misinformation in this thread: 1. The NY unemployment virtual debit card CAN be used at ATMs, but only at contactless-enabled ATMs (those with the NFC symbol). 2. There is NO toggle in the app specifically for enabling cash withdrawals - it should be enabled by default. 3. Daily ATM withdrawal limits are $500. 4. The virtual card should work immediately for purchases, but some banks place a 24-hour security hold on ATM withdrawals with new virtual cards. 5. KeyBank ATMs are free to use with the unemployment debit card. If you're still having issues after trying contactless ATMs, your best option is to contact KeyBank (the card issuer) directly at 1-866-295-2955 rather than NYSDOL. They can address specific card problems much faster.
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Zara Rashid
•Good point about calling KeyBank directly. I should have mentioned that in my response. They're much easier to reach than NYSDOL and can resolve most card-specific issues.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Thank you for the clear information! I'll try calling KeyBank tomorrow. Do you know their hours? And I'll look specifically for ATMs with the NFC symbol.
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Anastasia Fedorov
UPDATE: Finally got this figured out! For anyone else with this problem - I ended up doing THREE things that worked: 1. Used the virtual card at Target for a small purchase and got $100 cash back (thanks for that suggestion!) 2. Found a newer Chase ATM with the contactless symbol and was able to withdraw $300 (had to tap my phone to the symbol, then enter PIN) 3. For the rest, I just waited 2 more days for the bank transfer to complete The most frustrating thing is that NONE of this was explained in any of the materials I got from unemployment. You'd think they'd make it easier to actually access our benefits! Thanks everyone for your help!
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