Unemployment Benefits Electronic Payment FAQs

1. How does direct deposit work? 
With direct deposit, your benefit payment is electronically deposited into your checking or statement savings account. Once direct deposit is established, your weekly benefit payment will be deposited into your account until you return to work or you cancel your direct deposit.

Important: Please note that direct deposit does not replace your weekly certification of your eligibility for unemployment benefits. You must continue to certify your eligibility for weekly benefits through TeleCert by calling 1-617-626-6338 or through Webcert at www.mass.gov/dua/webcert.

2. Is my financial information kept secure?
Your financial information will be kept strictly confidential.  

3. How long does it take for direct deposit to take effect?
There is a nine (9) calendar day account verification period between the day you sign up for direct deposit and the day that your benefits can be electronically sent to your bank. This time period is used to confirm your account information and the transit/routing number of your financial institution.  If you are eligible for benefits in the period before your direct deposit is established, a benefit
check(s) will be sent to you by mail to prevent payment delays.

4. When will the funds be available for withdrawal? 

Once your direct deposit has been approved, it will take two business days from the day that you claim benefits for those benefits to be directly deposited into your account.

Important:  Procedures are different in each financial institution; therefore it is your responsibility to verify receipt of unemployment benefits with your financial institution before writing checks or accessing funds from your account. The Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is not responsible for any bank charges or other returned check charges related to overdrafts.

5. How will I know if my benefit payment has been deposited?
The checking or statement savings account you selected for direct deposit will reflect a credit amount of your weekly benefit amount. You will only receive communication from the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) if your direct deposit payment is rejected by your financial institution.  Please contact your financial institution to verify your direct deposit payment.   

6. What should I do if my payment is not deposited?
Please contact your financial institution to determine if your deposit was received and when it can be expected to post to your account.  Make sure your financial institution checks all accounts that you have with them.  Call the DUA TeleClaim Center at 1-617-626-6800 (or toll free 1-877-6800 from area codes 351, 413, 508, 774 or 978) immediately if your bank has no record of your direct deposit.

7. What if I have to cancel or change my direct deposit information? What should I do if my account is closed, I change banks or open a new account or want to stop direct deposit?
You may cancel your direct deposit or change your account information by phone. If you cancel your direct deposit, subsequent benefits, if eligible, will be sent via check.  If you make changes to your account information, the same nine (9) calendar day account verification period will apply before benefits can be deposited to the new account; any benefits that are due in the account verification period will be sent to you via check.  Be sure to notify DUA of any changes to prevent delay in payments. >>Step-by-step instructions for canceling or changing your direct deposit information. 

8. Can I have my payments deposited into my savings account?
You may elect to have your unemployment benefit payments directly deposited into a checking or statement savings account, but not a passbook savings account.

9. Can I participate in direct deposit if I have a joint account?
Yes.  However, DUA cannot release unemployment insurance payment information to other holders on the account.  DUA is also not responsible for any liabilities incurred through the shared account.

10. Can I deposit only a portion of my benefit payments to an account? 
If you elect to enroll in direct deposit of your unemployment benefit payment, the full amount must be deposited into a single account.

11. I’m in the 20^th week of my unemployment claim.  Is it too late to sign up for direct deposit? 
It is never too late. We encourage all new and existing eligible claimants to sign for direct deposit.  Direct deposit offers many benefits – it is a fast, safe and convenient way to receive unemployment benefit payments. You only need to sign up once for the duration of your claim.

12. Are WorkSharing, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Trade Readjustment Act (TRA) benefits or Medical Security Program (MSP) Premium Assistance Plan payment reimbursements eligible for direct deposit? 
Direct deposit does not apply to WorkSharing, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Trade Readjustment Act benefits or Medical Security Program (MSP) Premium Assistance Plan payment reimbursements.

13. Are unemployment benefit payments claimed by mail eligible for direct deposit? 
Claims certified by mail are not eligible for direct deposit.

14. Where can I get help with any questions or concerns about direct deposit?
If you have any issues or questions about direct deposit, call the DUA TeleClaim Center at 1-617-626-6800 (or toll free 1-877-6800 from area codes 351, 413, 508, 774 or 978) during regular business hours, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

15. What are the advantages of using Direct Deposit?
Direct Deposit is safe, simple, convenient and reliable. 

Direct Deposit:

• Eliminates the risk of paper checks being lost in the mail, sent to the wrong address or stolen. 
• Ensures you receive your benefit payment on time
• Eliminates the need to make a separate trip to your financial institution to deposit a paper check
• Avoids any check cashing fees at a currency exchange.

16. How do I sign up for direct deposit?
Signing up for direct deposit is easy.  You can sign up by phone or web. 

a) By Phone: Simply call 1-617-626-6800 (or toll free 1-877-626-6800 from area codes 351, 413, 508, 774 or 978), follow the instructions and enter the information using the keypad on your telephone as requested. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the section on “ Set Up Direct Deposit ”.  

b) Via the web: Log in to www.mass.gov/dua/webcert if you are already an Electronic Filer and have registered for UI Online Services.  For step-by-step instructions, refer to the section on “ Set Up Direct Deposit”.   

If you have not registered for UI Online Services, you can learn more or register now.  There is a waiting period before you can log in to use the online services. 

17. Must my financial institution be located in Massachusetts in order for me to sign up for Direct Deposit? 
No. We can deposit to most financial institutions located in the United States. Before enrolling, you should confirm that your financial institution accepts direct deposits.

18. Can part of my weekly unemployment benefit payment be deposited in one account and the remainder deposited into another account?
Direct deposits can only be paid into a single account.

19. What if I close my account, change my bank account or change financial institutions while on direct deposit without notifying the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?
If you close your account, change your account or change financial institutions without notifying DUA, your payments will be delayed.  We will be notified if your payment is not deposited and we will send you a letter indicating that your direct deposit payment was unsuccessful, and to contact us immediately.  Benefit payments, if eligible, will be issued by check.

20. Should I enroll in direct deposit if I have issues pending on my claim?
We encourage all claimants to sign up for direct deposit. You should continue to certify your eligibility for weekly benefits even if there are pending issues on your claim.