- This page, Apply for unemployment insurance benefits, is offered by
- Department of Unemployment Assistance
Apply for unemployment insurance benefits
Contacts
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.
Online
DUA Payment Status Line
The Details
What you need
To apply for unemployment insurance benefits, you need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address, 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)
- Former federal employees should follow these special instructions to upload documents
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.
How to apply
To file a claim online, you must create a MyMassGov personal account and link it to Unemployment Services.
- Go to the Unemployment Services system and login using your MyMassGov account.
- Read the claimant agreement, check the box stating you've read it, and select Next.
- When prompted, you will be asked to enter your Social Security number and Date of Birth. Select Next.
- Proceed with the application by following the prompts.
- When completed, you'll be returned to the dashboard.
For every week that you are unemployed and wish to receive unemployment benefits, you must file a weekly claim at the Unemployment Services website. File a weekly claim even if your case is still under review. Learn more about the weekly requirements to get unemployment assistance.
If you have previously filed for unemployment benefits and forgot your password, follow these instructions to reset your MyMassGov password.
This video explains step-by-step instruction for filing an initial claim in Unemployment Services.
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.
For every week that you are unemployed and wish to receive unemployment benefits, you must request weekly benefits. Start requesting weekly benefits the week after you file your claim. Request weekly benefits even if your claim is still under review. Learn more about the weekly requirements to get unemployment assistance.
After filing for unemployment benefits
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Here's what you need to know after filing a claim
If you received a confirmation number, your claim has been successfully submitted, and we are processing it. There’s no need to call for a status update. Claims are typically processed within 3–4 weeks. If we need additional information, we will contact you through the Unemployment Services website, by mail, or by phone.
File weekly claims
For every week that you are unemployed and wish to receive unemployment benefits, you must request weekly benefits at the Unemployment Services website. Your initial unemployment claim will need to be verified before you can request benefits for additional weeks. Typically, you can start requesting weekly benefits the week after you file your initial unemployment claim. Once you are verified, you will have one week to request benefits for the weeks during which you were waiting for verification.
Additionally, to qualify for benefits, you must complete at least three work search activities each week, starting with your first week claimed.
Contact
Address
Boston Re-Employment Center (By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.)2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111Phone
Open 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. Multilingual call agents are available.
TeleCert Line (Automated system is operational*) Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, TeleCert Line (Automated system is operational*) at (617) 626-6338To request weekly benefits, daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Payment Status Line (Automated System is operational*) Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Payment Status Line (Automated System is operational*) at (617) 626-6563To 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)
The Boston Re-Employment Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, The Boston Re-Employment Center atBy appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.
Online
Unemployment Services for Workers Log in as a claimantRelated