Initial Claim

Given the current state of the economy, many individuals are finding themselves separated from work for the first time and unfamiliar with the unemployment insurance process. To make filing for unemployment insurance as easy as possible, please follow the steps outlined below.

1. If you have been separated from work, you should file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
   
2. You can file your initial claim by calling the TeleClaim Center. Unfortunately, you cannot file an initial claim online at this time.
   
3. Have all your information ready before filing your claim. See Information We Need From You
   
4. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, so it is still important to call to file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment. 
    
5. If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment in 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. The first week of your claim for which you are eligible to collect benefits is your “waiting period”.  Massachusetts law requires this waiting period and you will not be paid benefits for that week.  You serve only one waiting period during your benefit year. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week. Once a determination is made, and if you are eligible, you will get retroactive checks for the weeks that you previously claimed. If you do not claim benefits while your claim is being processed, you will have to speak with a representative to re-open your claim, and you may not be eligible to collect benefits for those weeks.