I remember being confused about this too when I filed. The separation date is important because it affects when your benefit year starts and how they calculate your base period wages. Getting it wrong could delay your first payment or mess up your benefit amount calculation.

I went through this same situation a few months ago when I was laid off from my warehouse job. The key thing to remember is that the separation date should match what your employer reports to NYS Department of Labor - they get a copy of your claim and can dispute if the dates don't align. If you're unsure, check your final paystub or any layoff paperwork they gave you, as it usually shows your last work day. December 12th sounds right based on what you described, but definitely keep any documentation just in case they ask for verification later.

Final update: I finally got through to someone! The agent explained that because I had worked and earned enough since my last claim, I was eligible for a new claim even though my benefit year wasn't over. They had to manually override something in the system to let me file a new claim. My weekly benefit amount is higher now too because I was making more at my recent job. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with something similar right now - got laid off last week and the system won't let me file a new claim. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like calling directly is the way to go when the website gets stuck in these loops. @Donna Cline glad you got it sorted out! Did you end up using the callback service or were you able to get through on the regular phone line?

I had the worst time trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim. Spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have this video demo showing exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much frustration dealing with the phone system.

Just wanted to add that if you do quit and apply for benefits, NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer to verify the reason for separation. If your employer disputes your claim and says you quit without good cause, you'll have to go through an adjudication process that can take weeks. Make sure you have solid documentation if you're going to claim constructive dismissal.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS! They ask for pay stubs then half the time they can't even process them correctly. I submitted 6 pay stubs and they still put my claim in adjudication for 'wage verification' issues. Been waiting 5 weeks now with no answers!

From my experience filing in NYS, you'll definitely want to have your most recent 4-6 pay stubs ready, but also keep any documentation from previous employers within the past 18 months just in case. The system calculates your benefit based on your highest earning quarter during that base period, so having comprehensive records helps avoid delays. I'd also recommend scanning everything and keeping digital copies since the online portal can be finicky with uploads sometimes. Don't stress too much about having the exact number - they'll tell you if they need additional documentation during the review process.

This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently dealing with my first unemployment claim after being unexpectedly laid off last month, and honestly, the official NY unemployment website and phone system made me feel completely hopeless. But reading through everyone's real experiences and practical solutions here has given me actual hope and a clear action plan. The fact that there's a whole auxiliary number (888-581-5812) that works better than the main line is something I never would have discovered on my own. And the specific timing strategy of calling at 7:57am? Genius! @Camila Jordan your detailed menu walkthrough is like having a cheat code for the system. @Hunter Edmunds @Yuki Kobayashi @Tyler Lefleur seeing all your success stories using these methods proves they actually work. The identity verification flag issue seems to be a massive problem right now that's affecting tons of people without any notification - that's such crucial information to know about. I'm planning to try the early morning auxiliary number strategy next week (taking detailed notes from everyone's tips here), but I'm also bookmarking all the backup options like contacting state representatives and One Stop Career Centers. It's ridiculous that we need multiple backup plans just to access basic government services, but I'm so grateful this community exists to help each other navigate the chaos. This thread should honestly be pinned as the unofficial but actually useful NY unemployment survival guide!

This thread is incredible - it's like a masterclass in actually getting through NY's unemployment system! I've been dealing with a claim that's been stuck in "pending" status for over three weeks now with zero communication from the state. Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me realize I'm definitely not alone in this nightmare. @Hunter Edmunds @Yuki Kobayashi @Tyler Lefleur seeing your success stories with the 7:57am auxiliary number strategy gives me so much hope! I had no idea about the 888-581-5812 number or that there were specific menu sequences that actually work. @Camila Jordan your detailed walkthrough is pure gold - having those exact steps mapped out is like having a secret playbook. The identity verification flag issue seems to be hitting tons of people right now without any notification. That could definitely explain why my claim randomly went from active to pending. I'm definitely asking about that specifically when I finally get through. Planning to try the early morning call strategy tomorrow with all my documentation ready. It's absolutely insane that we have to become system hackers just to access our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real solutions. This thread has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate the official channels! Fingers crossed the auxiliary number trick works for me too. Will report back with hopefully another success story to add to this amazing collection of actually useful advice!