New York Unemployment debit card never arrived - what to do?
Filed for unemployment benefits last month and still haven't received my debit card in the mail. Already got approved and can see the money in my account online but cant access it. Called multiple times but keep getting disconnected. Anyone else deal with this and know what to do?
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Diego Vargas
Same issue here! Been waiting 3 weeks for my card. The website shows payments but no way to get the money. This is so frustrating 😤
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NeonNinja
•its been 5 weeks for me. absolutely ridiculous how they expect us to survive with no access to our money
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Anastasia Popov
•Check ur old address if u moved recently. They sometimes send it there even if u updated ur info
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Sean Murphy
Finally got through to someone using claimyr.com - its a service that waits on hold and calls you when an agent picks up. Costs $20 but worth it because they helped me get a replacement card expedited. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Zara Khan
•sounds sketchy. does it actually work?
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Sean Murphy
•Yeah its legit! Got my card 3 days after talking to the agent. Better than waiting weeks on hold
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Luca Ferrari
•$20 seems steep just to talk to unemployment 🤔
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Sean Murphy
•cheaper than losing weeks of benefits tbh. And they guarantee you get through
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Nia Davis
You need to call the debit card company directly! The number is on the unemployment website. They can expedite a new card to you in 3-5 business days
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Chloe Harris
•tried that but keeps saying my info doesnt match their records 😫
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Mateo Martinez
Have you checked if your address is correct in the system? My friend had this issue and turns out they had his old address 🤦♂️
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QuantumQueen
DETAILED SOLUTION: Here's what you need to do: First, verify your mailing address is correct on your unemployment account. Common issue is wrong addresses. Next, you NEED to speak with someone. Best ways to reach them: 1. Use claimyr.com - they'll wait on hold and call you when an agent picks up ($20 fee but works) 2. Call right when they open at 8am 3. Try the debit card company directly Once you get someone, request expedited shipping. They can usually do 3-5 business days. If first card was lost, they'll cancel it and send new one. Keep checking your UI account online to monitor payments. DONT give up - persistence is key! 💪
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Aisha Rahman
•this should be pinned fr fr 📌
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Ethan Wilson
•Wish I knew this earlier... spent 2 months trying to get mine sorted 😭
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Yuki Sato
ny unemployment system is straight trash rn... been dealing with them since january smh
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Carmen Flores
•facts bro they living in 1995 with these systems 🤡
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Layla Sanders
Had the exact same problem! Here's what finally worked for me - I called the KeyBank customer service number (they handle the NY unemployment debit cards) at 1-866-295-2955. Had to call multiple times but eventually got through. They were able to see that my card was "returned to sender" and issued a replacement with expedited shipping. Got it in 4 days! Make sure your address is 100% correct in both your unemployment account AND when you talk to KeyBank - any small difference will cause issues. Don't give up, keep calling! 💪
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CosmicCrusader
I went through this exact same nightmare! What worked for me was going to a local DOL office in person - I know it sounds old school but sometimes face-to-face gets better results than the phone maze. Brought all my paperwork and they were able to contact KeyBank directly from their office. Got my replacement card ordered that same day and received it within a week. The office locator is on the ny.gov unemployment site. Worth a shot if you're still stuck! Also double check that your name matches EXACTLY between your unemployment account and what you tell KeyBank - even middle initials matter.
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Lucas Turner
•This is such good advice! I never thought about going in person but it makes total sense. The staff there probably have direct lines and better access than we do calling the general number. Definitely going to try this if the phone calls don't work out. Thanks for sharing what actually worked for you! 🙏
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Sayid Hassan
I'm dealing with this right now too! Been 4 weeks since approval and no card. What's really frustrating is that I can see my weekly payments being deposited online but can't touch the money. I tried calling KeyBank directly but they said they can't find my account - apparently there's some delay between when unemployment sends your info to them and when it shows up in their system. Has anyone else run into this specific issue where KeyBank can't even locate your account yet? Starting to wonder if I should just wait it out or keep pushing...
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Carmen Ruiz
•I had the EXACT same issue with KeyBank not finding my account! Turns out there's like a 2-3 week delay between when NY DOL sends your info and when it actually shows up in KeyBank's system. Super annoying but totally normal apparently. What worked for me was waiting about 3 weeks after my first payment showed up online, then calling KeyBank again - suddenly they could see everything and expedite a new card. Don't give up, the account will eventually sync! In the meantime maybe try the in-person DOL office suggestion from @CosmicCrusader - they might be able to push things along faster from their end.
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Anastasia Sokolov
Just went through this last month! The trick is to be super persistent with calling KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 - I called literally 15 times over 3 days before getting through to someone who could actually help. When you do get through, ask them to check if your card was "returned to sender" - that's what happened to mine even though my address was correct. They can expedite a replacement for free if the original was returned. Also make sure to verify your full legal name EXACTLY as it appears on your unemployment application - even spacing matters! Got my replacement in 5 business days after that call. Don't let them tell you to "just wait" - be polite but firm that you need immediate help accessing your benefits! 🙏
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Dananyl Lear
•This is super helpful advice! The "returned to sender" thing is something I never would have thought to ask about. Really appreciate you sharing the exact number and being specific about persistence - 15 calls sounds exhausting but if it works it's worth it! Quick question - when you say "full legal name exactly as it appears" do you mean like if my unemployment application has my middle name spelled out but I usually just use my middle initial, that could cause problems? Want to make sure I get this right when I call. Thanks for taking the time to share what actually worked! 💪
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Isabella Brown
Ugh I'm in the same boat! Filed in December and still waiting for my card. The most frustrating part is watching the money pile up online but not being able to buy groceries 😭 Has anyone tried going to one of those check cashing places to see if they can help? I'm getting desperate here and considering any options at this point. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!
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