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Apply for unemployment benefits

Have you lost your job? You may qualify for Unemployment Insurance (UI), which is temporary income to support you while you look for a new one.
You should apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Most claims are processed within 21-28 days after filing. It may take longer if there is an issue with your claim.

Department of Unemployment Assistance

Phone

Open 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Multilingual call agents are available.

To request weekly benefits, daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

To check your claim or benefit payment status (*please do not transfer to an agent while in the system-this is not staffed at this time)

By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.

DUA Payment Status Line

Phone

To check your claim or benefit payment status

The Details   of Apply for unemployment benefits

What you need   for Apply for unemployment benefits

To apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, you need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address (optional), and phone number.

You also need information about your employment history from the last 15 months, including:

  • Names of all employers, plus addresses and phone numbers
  • Reasons for leaving those jobs
  • Work start and end dates
  • Recall date (if you were laid off but have a set date to return to work)

You may need additional information in certain situations:

  • If you are not a U.S. citizen — your Alien Registration number
  • If you have children — their birth dates and Social Security numbers
  • If you’re in a union — your union name and local number
  • If you were in the military — your DD-214 Member 4 form. If you don’t have it, you can request your DD-214 online.
  • If you worked for the federal government — your SF8 form (optional)

To receive payments by direct deposit, you’ll also need your bank name, account number, and routing number. Otherwise, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) will send you a debit card.

If you’re a non-U.S. citizen applying for UI benefits, DUA must verify that you are legally authorized to work in the United States.

If you're not sure that UI is right for you, you can check your eligibility

How to apply   Apply for unemployment benefits

To file a claim online, you must create an account on the UI Online portal. Please follow the steps below to create your UI Online account. For additional tutorials, please click here

If you have never filed a Massachusetts unemployment claim:
  1. Go to the UI Online login screen.
  2. When prompted, you will be asked to enter your Social Security number twice.
  3. Proceed with the application by following the computer prompts.
  4. You will eventually be prompted to set up a password as well as a security verification question in case you forget your password. You will use the password you created every time you log in to UI Online.
If you have previously filed for unemployment benefits and forgot your password:

1. Follow these instructions to reset your UI Online password.

You can also apply for unemployment benefits or get help with your application by calling the TeleClaim Center at (877) 626-6800, Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Next steps   for Apply for unemployment benefits

  1. Request weekly benefits

    You must request weekly benefits every week that you are unemployed. You will make your first weekly benefit request the week after you file your claim for unemployment benefits.

  2. Begin your work search

    You must begin searching for work immediately (3 work search attempts). Track your search for new employment by using the Work Search Activity Log.

  3. DUA will review your application

    DUA will review your application and confirm details of your application with your former employer. If you provided an email address when you filed your claim, you will receive an email from DUA asking you to verify your email address.

  4. DUA will send a Monetary Determination

    This notice tells you how much you’ll potentially receive in unemployment benefits.

  5. Respond to questionnaires from DUA

    If there is a question of eligibility, you'll receive a fact-finding questionnaire from DUA requesting information from you. You must respond to this questionnaire by the deadline specified. Failure to respond may result in a disqualification from receiving benefits.

  6. DUA will send a Non-Monetary Determination

    This notice tells you whether you’ve been approved for unemployment benefits. If your application is denied, you can appeal the decision within 10 days.

  7. Receiving your benefit payments

    If determined eligible, you will receive your benefit payment according to the payment preference that you selected upon applying for benefits. You will receive benefits via the debit card unless you set up for direct deposit to a checking or savings account.

More info   for Apply for unemployment benefits

It can take a few weeks to process your claim. You should continue to request weekly benefits after you apply even if you haven’t heard back from DUA yet.

Downloads   for Apply for unemployment benefits

Contact   for Apply for unemployment benefits

Address
Boston Re-Employment Center (By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.)
2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111
Phone

Open 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Multilingual call agents are available.

To request weekly benefits, daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

To check your claim or benefit payment status (*please do not transfer to an agent while in the system-this is not staffed at this time)

By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.

Phone

To check your claim or benefit payment status

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