same here just applying to anything to check the boxes

I've been dealing with NYS unemployment for about 6 months now and learned the hard way about documentation. Here's what I found works: Online applications absolutely count - just save screenshots or confirmation emails. For job sites like Indeed, make sure you note the specific employer name, not just "applied through Indeed." Also, informational interviews count as networking activities, and so does attending career workshops or webinars. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, employer/contact, position, method of contact, and any follow-up. The key is being able to show genuine effort - they care more about quality searches in your field than just hitting random apply buttons.

I just wanted to add that timing can be really important here. The sooner you file, the sooner the process starts, and you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks before you actually submit your claim. I delayed filing for almost a month because I was worried about the same thing - what my employer would say and whether they'd try to block my claim. That ended up costing me about $1,200 in benefits I could have received during that time. What I wish I had known earlier is that even if your employer contests the claim, you often still receive benefits during the appeal process (called "pending appeal benefits"). So the worst case scenario isn't that you get nothing while fighting - it's that you might have to pay some back if the final decision goes against you, which honestly is pretty rare if you were legitimately laid off or fired without cause. My employer did respond to the NYS DOL form and claimed I was terminated for "performance issues" but they couldn't provide any documentation of progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, or written warnings. The adjudicator saw right through it and approved my claim within two weeks. Don't let fear of your employer's potential dishonesty rob you of benefits you've earned and deserve!

I went through this exact same worry when I filed last year! Yes, NYS DOL does contact employers, but I want to reassure you that the process heavily favors accuracy over employer bias. They send a standardized form (IA 12.3) that asks very specific questions about your separation - dates, wages, reason for termination, etc. It's not a free-form interview where your boss can just badmouth you. What really helped me was understanding that if your employer wants to contest your claim based on "misconduct" or "poor performance," they need actual documentation - write-ups, attendance records, performance improvement plans, witness statements, etc. They can't just say "Nina was a bad employee" and have that hold weight. In my case, my former manager tried to claim I was fired for tardiness, but when pressed for documentation, all they had were some informal notes that didn't follow their own progressive discipline policy. The adjudicator approved my claim within 10 days. My advice: file now and start gathering your evidence while you wait for their response. Every week you delay costs you potential benefits. Even if they contest it, you'll likely receive payments during the appeal process. Don't let fear of your employer's potential lies keep you from benefits you've rightfully earned through your work history!

same boat here! been claiming for 6 months and every week i worry something will trigger a review. the anxiety is almost worse than being unemployed lol

I totally get that anxiety! I've been claiming for about 4 months and constantly second-guess myself even though I know I'm doing everything right. What helps me is keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all my job applications, interview dates, and any freelance work with exact amounts and dates. I also screenshot my weekly certifications before submitting them. Having everything organized gives me peace of mind that if they ever did audit me, I'd have all the documentation ready to go. The way I see it, if you're being honest and following the rules, an audit is just paperwork - annoying but not scary.

i made a spreadsheet to track all my calls to unemployment last year: - 47 calls over 3 weeks - average wait: 1hr 22min - got hung up on: 19 times - reached human: 6 times - problem actually solved: ONCE the system is a joke 🤡

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! Filed in October, got caught up in their verification nightmare for 2 months, and didn't certify during that time because the system kept showing my claim as "pending" and I thought there was no point. Now I'm approved but missing like 8 weeks of payments that I desperately need. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like getting through to someone is a full-time job in itself. I'm definitely going to try that "payment not received" tip when calling the automated system. Has anyone had success getting backdated more than 6-8 weeks? I'm worried they'll say it's been too long even though it was their verification process that caused the delay in the first place. This whole system seems designed to make people give up and walk away from money they're legally entitled to.

This exact same thing just happened to me this week! I've been consistently certifying every Sunday since I started my claim in January, and suddenly this week the system started asking me about a "break in claim" and wanted my employer's EIN. I was so confused because there was no break - I haven't missed a single week of certification! Reading through all these comments is such a huge relief. I was worried I had somehow messed up my claim or that there was fraud on my account. I ended up entering my most recent employer's information like everyone else suggested. Hopefully my payment will just be delayed a few days instead of causing bigger issues. It's really frustrating that this is such a widespread problem but NYSDOL hasn't posted anything about it on their website. A simple notice would prevent so much unnecessary panic for people who are already stressed about being unemployed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

This just happened to me too! I've been certifying weekly since December without any problems, then today I got blindsided with questions about a "break in claim" that definitely didn't happen. The system wanted my return to work date and employer EIN - I'm like, I'm still unemployed, what return to work date?? I was starting to freak out thinking I'd somehow screwed up my claim. Finding this thread has been such a relief - knowing it's a widespread system glitch and not something I did wrong. I entered my last employer's info like everyone else suggested, so fingers crossed my payment just gets delayed a few days. Really wish NYSDOL would acknowledge this issue publicly instead of leaving everyone to figure it out on their own!