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I've been getting my unemployment benefits for about 6 months now and I can confirm what others are saying - it's typically Wednesday morning between 3-6 AM on the KeyBank card. The timing can vary a bit depending on bank processing, but Wednesday is pretty consistent as long as you certify by Monday evening. One tip: if you have the KeyBank Way2Go mobile app, you can set up notifications so you'll get an alert as soon as the deposit hits your account. That way you don't have to keep checking manually!
I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months now and can share my experience with timing. For the KeyBank Way2Go card, I usually see my deposit hit between 2-4 AM on Wednesday morning, but I've had it come as late as 8 AM a few times. The key thing is making sure you certify by Monday evening - if you wait until Tuesday, it might delay your payment by a day. Also, keep in mind that if there are any banking holidays or system maintenance, it could push the deposit to Thursday. I'd recommend checking your my.ny.gov account to make sure your weekly claim shows as "processed" - that's usually a good indicator that the payment is on its way.
This is really helpful information! I'm new to collecting unemployment benefits and wasn't sure about the timing. Good to know about checking the my.ny.gov account to confirm the claim is processed - I'll make sure to do that. Quick question: if my claim shows as "processed" but the money doesn't show up by Thursday morning, should I be concerned or is that still within the normal range?
I've been documenting my job search for 8 months now and here's what works for me: create a folder on your phone/computer for each week, then save screenshots of every application confirmation page, job posting, and any emails you receive. For LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs, I screenshot both the job posting and the "application sent" confirmation. For company websites, I save the confirmation email and take a screenshot of the application form before submitting. I also write down the time I spent on each application since NYS Department of Labor considers time spent as part of the work search activity. Haven't been audited yet, but my case worker told me this level of documentation would definitely satisfy their requirements if I ever am.
From my experience dealing with NYS Department of Labor audits, they don't specify a minimum time requirement per application, but they do look for evidence of "genuine work search efforts." What matters most is that you can demonstrate you actually reviewed the job posting, tailored your application appropriately, and made a legitimate attempt to secure employment. I usually spend at least 15-20 minutes per application (reading the job description, customizing my cover letter, etc.) and I note this in my log. The key is showing quality over quantity - three well-documented, thoughtful applications per week will satisfy their requirements much better than rushing through applications just to hit a number. They're really looking to see that you're actively and seriously seeking work, not just going through the motions.
That's really helpful insight about quality over quantity! I've been worried I wasn't applying to enough jobs per week, but it sounds like focusing on making each application meaningful and well-documented is more important. The 15-20 minute timeframe per application seems reasonable too - that gives enough time to actually read through everything and customize materials. Thanks for sharing your audit experience, it helps ease some of my anxiety about the whole process.
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just changed my bank info from Chase to a local credit union about a week ago and my payment shows "paid" but hasn't appeared in either account. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea this verification delay was even a thing! The NYSDOL website makes it seem like changing bank info should be instant. I've been checking my accounts obsessively and starting to panic about my car payment. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I need to be patient and maybe try that Claimyr service if nothing shows up in the next few days. Also going to start checking my mail more carefully in case they switched to sending a paper check. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories - it's such a relief to know this is normal and not some catastrophic error with my claim!
I feel your stress! I'm actually new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now. Changed from Bank of America to Navy Federal about 4 days ago and my payment is showing as "paid" but completely missing. I was starting to think I somehow messed up my claim or lost the money forever. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief - I had no clue about this verification limbo period that apparently can last weeks! It's crazy that NYSDOL doesn't warn you about any of this when you change your banking info. I've been refreshing my accounts constantly and checking my mailbox twice a day now hoping for a paper check. Definitely going to try that Claimyr service if I don't see anything soon. Thanks for sharing your story - it really helps to know we're all going through this together!
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Changed my direct deposit from Wells Fargo to a local credit union 5 days ago and my payment shows "paid" but hasn't shown up anywhere. I've been checking both accounts constantly and was starting to panic that I'd somehow lost my benefits. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had absolutely no idea that there was a verification period that could last weeks! The NYSDOL website gives zero indication that changing your bank info could cause these kinds of delays. I've tried calling the helpline about 10 times but can't get through to anyone. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should try the Claimyr service and also keep checking my mail for a possible paper check. It's so frustrating that we have to learn about these processes from community forums instead of getting clear information from the state. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it really helps to know this is a common issue and not just me!
Make sure u get everything in writing and keep copies of EVERYTHING. Also the hearing might be by phone now instead of in person so that makes it easier
I went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago - also got denied for "misconduct" when it was clearly a layoff due to company restructuring. The appeal process was intimidating at first but totally worth it. A few key things that helped me: 1) File your appeal ASAP - you really do only have 30 days, 2) Keep filing your weekly certifications even though you're not getting paid (this was crucial advice I got here), 3) For the hearing, I wrote out a timeline of exactly what happened with dates and kept it simple and factual. The judge was actually very fair and asked good questions. I won my appeal and got all the back pay. Don't let them intimidate you - if you were truly laid off due to downsizing, you have a strong case. Stay organized and stick to the facts!
This is super helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm feeling a bit more confident now knowing that others have been through this and won. Did you have to get any statements from former coworkers or was your documentation enough? I'm trying to figure out if I should reach out to people who were laid off at the same time as me.
Joshua Hellan
I'm currently going through this same process with Amazon JFK8 - been waiting about 2 weeks for adjudication and starting to get anxious about it. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though! It sounds like Amazon's detailed documentation process, while slow, actually tends to work in favor of legitimate layoffs. I was also laid off due to reduced volume (they cut our entire night shift), so hopefully my case will be straightforward like the others mentioned here. The financial stress is real while waiting, but it's good to know that most people eventually got approved with full backdated payments. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this process!
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Natalie Wang
•Hang in there! I'm also dealing with the same situation - got laid off from Amazon about a month ago and my claim has been in adjudication for 3 weeks. Reading all these experiences from other Amazon employees has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the 2-4 week timeframe is pretty standard, and since you were legitimately laid off due to volume reduction just like the rest of us, you should be in good shape. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're watching your savings dwindle, but everyone here seems to have gotten approved eventually with full backdated benefits. Keep doing those weekly certifications and try to stay positive - we'll get through this!
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Javier Torres
I'm in a similar situation - got laid off from Amazon DBK1 in New York about 3 weeks ago and my unemployment claim has been stuck in adjudication ever since. Reading all these experiences from other Amazon employees is incredibly reassuring! It sounds like the 3-4 week wait time is completely normal and that Amazon's detailed documentation actually helps legitimate layoff cases rather than hurting them. I was also part of a volume-reduction layoff where they eliminated multiple shifts, so hopefully my case will be as straightforward as everyone else's. The financial anxiety is real when you're waiting this long, but knowing that others have successfully gotten their claims approved with full backdated payments gives me hope. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know this is just part of the normal process and not something to panic about!
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Oliver Weber
•I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got laid off from Amazon's Staten Island facility about 3 weeks ago and my claim has been in adjudication this whole time. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to think something was wrong with my case. It's really helpful to know that the 3-4 week timeline is standard for Amazon employees and that their detailed documentation usually supports legitimate layoffs like ours. I've been keeping up with my weekly certifications even though it feels pointless while waiting, but now I understand those backdated payments will be worth it once everything gets approved. The financial stress is definitely getting to me, but hearing all these success stories from other Amazon workers gives me confidence that this is just a normal part of the process. Hoping we both hear good news soon!
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