I started my unemployment journey on May 17th after being laid off from my retail job. Since then, I've been applying for jobs and trying to get my unemployment benefits sorted out. It's been a frustrating process with multiple hurdles. First, I had to verify my identity, which I did quickly. Then, they requested more information about my case. My hours were cut for about three weeks before I was fully terminated, and my employer confirmed there was no misconduct on my part. However, there was some confusion because my employer claimed I reduced my own hours, which was not the case. Every time I reached out to my manager, they told me the cuts were out of their control and just what the system dictated. I communicated this to my claims representative, and they verified it as well. Now, this is my fifth time requesting payment this week, and it still shows that nothing will be released. I received a message saying I CAN be paid benefits if I complete the remaining steps, but I'm still waiting. This is my first experience with unemployment benefits, and I had no idea it would be this complicated. If I had landed a job by now, my claim would be canceled, but the whole process has turned into such a hassle.