In order to maintain eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, Massachusetts General Law requires that you conduct an active search for work in each week in which you claim benefits. The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance requires that as a condition of eligibility you must;
- make a minimum of three work search contacts in each week that benefits are claimed;
- keep a written log of those work search contacts;
- provide a work search log to DUA upon request.
The following guidelines describe the types of activities that may constitute a productive work search contact. Productive work search contacts include, but are not limited to:
- Registering for work and reemployment services with a local One Stop Career Center.
- Completing a job application in person or online with employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings for suitable work.
- Mailing a job application and/or résumé, as instructed in a public job notice.
- Making in-person visits with employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings.
- Sending job applications to employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings for suitable work.
- Interviewing with potential employers in person or by telephone.
- Registering for work with private employment agencies or placement services.
- Using the employment resources available at One Stop Career Centers that may lead directly to obtaining employment, such as:
- obtaining and using local labor market information;
- participating in skills assessments for occupation matching;
- participating in instructional workshops; or
- obtaining and following up on job referrals from the Career Center.
- Attending job search seminars, career networking meetings, job fairs, or employment-related workshops that offer instruction in improving individuals' skills for obtaining employment.
- Using online job matching systems, including the Massachusetts One Stop Employment System Internet-based system, to submit applications/résumés, search for matches or request referrals, and/or apply for jobs.
- Reporting to the Union Hall, if this is your primary worksearch method.
- Using other job search activities such as reviewing job listings on the internet, newspapers or professional journals, contacting professional associations, networking with colleagues or friends.
For each week of UI benefits claimed, you must search for work in accordance with these guidelines, and must make at least the minimum number of work search contacts stated above in each such week. You are expected—as a condition of eligibility—to keep weekly records of your work search activities, and to submit to DUA all details about your work search activities when notified by DUA to do so. You may be declared ineligible for any week(s) where you do not meet the requirements of the law. You may be required to repay unemployment benefits received but to which you were not entitled.
Weekly work search records should include a list of all work search contacts made, date of each contact, names and titles of persons contacted, telephone numbers, addresses (mail, e-mail, or Web), and the results of each contact.
Worksearch Audit
DUA is required by Federal law to randomly select and review claimants’ Worksearch Activity Logs to determine whether claimants have met all of the required work search activities for a specific week during unemployment. If you are selected by DUA for a random review, DUA will attempt to confirm the work search activities that are listed on your Worksearch Activity Log.
It is very important that you keep all of your Worksearch Activity Logs because if you are randomly selected for review, you will be required to send them to the DUA. If you fail to provide DUA with a copy of your Worksearch Activity Log when requested, or if DUA is unable to verify the work search activity that you listed on your Workseach Activity Log, you may lose your unemployment benefits for that week.
If you have any questions, please contact the DUA Audit Department at (617) 626-6380.
Work Search Activity Logs
For Regular UI Benefits only:
Work Search Activity Log 
(Do not return this form until you are notified.)
For Extended Benefits (EB) only:
Extended Benefits (EB) Work Search Is Online!
You can submit your work search online or return your completed copy by mail. To download an EB worksearch log, go to www.mass.gov/dua/eb. (Requirements for EB work search are different from the regular UI work search. You must complete and submit your work search weekly.)