Anyone know if gig work (like Uber or DoorDash) affects unemployment eligibility? I've been doing some deliveries to make ends meet while job hunting.

Just went through this process myself! A few things to add that might help: For severance pay - the key thing is HOW it's structured. If your employer calls it "severance in lieu of notice," it might be treated differently than regular severance. Also, some states have a "severance deduction period" where they calculate how many weeks your lump sum would cover at your regular salary, and you can't claim benefits during that time. One thing that caught me off guard: if you worked in multiple states during your base period, you might need to file an interstate claim. It gets complicated but can sometimes work in your favor if one state has higher benefit rates. Also, keep ALL your documentation - pay stubs, termination letter, severance agreement, everything. The system might seem automated but there's a good chance you'll need to provide proof of your earnings at some point. Good luck with your claim! The process is frustrating but hang in there 💪

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been stuck for about 2 weeks and it's so incredibly frustrating. This thread has been a goldmine of helpful tips though - I had no idea about uploading PDFs instead of photos, or trying during off-peak hours. Definitely going to give those strategies a shot along with the better lighting approach. It's both maddening and somewhat reassuring to see so many people dealing with identical issues - really shows this is a systemic problem, not something we're doing wrong. The fact that we all have to crowdsource solutions and become verification experts just to get benefits we're entitled to is absolutely ridiculous. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - it helps so much to know we're not alone in this mess! Going to stay persistent and hopefully have good news to report back soon 🙏

I'm also stuck in identity verification hell right now - going on week 3 with multiple rejections! This thread has been incredibly helpful though. I've been taking photos with my phone but hadn't thought about the PDF format or off-peak upload timing. The natural lighting tip from @Andre is brilliant too - I've been struggling with shadows and glare on my documents. It's honestly both frustrating and reassuring to see so many of us dealing with the exact same issues. Really shows how broken this system is when we all have to become verification experts just to get basic benefits we're entitled to. Going to try all these strategies tomorrow - PDFs, better lighting, off-peak hours, and maybe even that calling service if I get desperate enough. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - knowing I'm not alone in this nightmare actually helps a lot! 💪