What card does NYS Department of Labor unemployment use for benefit payments?
I just got approved for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor and I'm wondering what kind of card they use to send payments? Is it a specific debit card or do they mail checks? I want to make sure I'm watching for the right thing in my mail. Also wondering if there are any fees I should know about with whatever card they use.
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MoonlightSonata
NYS Department of Labor uses the KeyBank debit card for unemployment payments. It's called the KeyBank Debit MasterCard and it gets mailed to you automatically once your first payment is processed. No fees for most basic transactions like ATM withdrawals at KeyBank locations or purchases.
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Zara Khan
•Thanks! How long does it usually take for the card to arrive after the first payment?
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Mateo Gonzalez
yeah its keybank but watch out for the fees if you use other bank ATMs. i think its like $2.50 or something. also you can transfer money to your regular bank account for free through their website
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Nia Williams
The KeyBank card usually arrives within 7-10 business days after your first UI payment is issued. You can check your payment history on the my.ny.gov portal to see when your first payment was processed. Once you get the card, you'll need to activate it by calling the number on the sticker.
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Luca Ricci
•What if the card doesn't show up? I've been waiting 2 weeks and still nothing in the mail.
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Nia Williams
•Call KeyBank customer service at the number on the NYS Department of Labor website. They can check if the card was mailed and send a replacement if needed. Sometimes mail gets delayed or lost.
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Aisha Mohammed
I had such a hard time getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor when my card was delayed. Spent hours on hold just to ask about my payment status. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at the department. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.
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Zara Khan
•Never heard of that service but might be worth checking out if I run into problems. The wait times are definitely brutal when calling directly.
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Ethan Campbell
Just want to add that you can also set up direct deposit instead of using the debit card if you prefer. You can do this through your my.ny.gov account under payment options. Takes a few days to process but then your benefits go straight to your bank account.
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Luis Johnson
•That's really helpful to know about direct deposit! @Ethan Campbell Do you know if there are any restrictions on what type of bank account you can use for direct deposit? Like does it have to be a checking account or can you use savings too?
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Edison Estevez
•@Luis Johnson I believe it has to be a checking account for direct deposit - savings accounts typically aren t'allowed for government benefit payments. When you set it up in your my.ny.gov account, it should specify what account types are accepted during the setup process.
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Freya Ross
Just wanted to share my experience - I received my KeyBank debit card about 8 days after my first payment was issued. One thing to note is that the card comes in a plain white envelope from KeyBank, so it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it carefully. Also, make sure your address is correct in your my.ny.gov profile because that's where they'll mail it. I initially had an old address on file and had to update it before they could send a replacement card.
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Isabella Costa
•That's a great point about the plain white envelope! I almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail. @Freya Ross How long did it take to get the replacement card after you updated your address? I m'worried I might have the same issue since I recently moved.
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Marcus Williams
•@Freya Ross It took about 10 business days to get the replacement card after I updated my address. The good news is they automatically cancel the old card when they issue a replacement, so you don t'have to worry about security issues. Just make sure to call KeyBank and let them know you updated your address so they can expedite the replacement if needed.
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Sean Kelly
One thing I learned the hard way is to activate your KeyBank debit card as soon as you receive it! I waited a few days thinking I could activate it later, but then when I tried to use it at an ATM, it was declined. Had to call the activation number and they told me there's a time limit for activation after the card is mailed. Also, if you lose the card or it gets stolen, KeyBank will overnight a replacement for free, which is pretty convenient.
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Edwards Hugo
•@Sean Kelly That s'really good to know about the time limit for activation! I hadn t'heard about that before. Do you remember roughly how long you have to activate it? I m'expecting my card soon and want to make sure I don t'run into the same issue. Also thanks for mentioning the free overnight replacement - that s'reassuring to know they have good customer service for lost cards.
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Omar Zaki
•@Sean Kelly I think it s'around 30 days to activate the card from when it s'mailed, but don t'quote me on that - I d'call the number on the sticker as soon as you get it just to be safe. The customer service rep I talked to was actually really helpful and walked me through everything. Better to activate it right away than risk having to wait for a replacement!
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