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.
By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI), you need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, birth date, home address, email address (optional), and phone number. As a recently separated service member, you need to be physically present in Massachusetts in order to file a claim for benefits.
You also need information about your employment history from the last 15 months, including:
You may need additional information in certain situations:
As a member of the military, you need to submit your DD-214 Member 4 form. If you don’t have it, you can request your DD-214 online.
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.
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.
1. Follow these instructions to reset your UI Online password.
Don’t have a computer? Visit a Career Center where you can use one of theirs to file your claim and get help finding a job.
You can file for unemployment benefits or get help with your application by calling the TeleClaim Center. The number you call depends on your area code:
The TeleClaim Center hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.
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.
You must begin searching for work immediately (3 work search attempts on 3 separate days). Track your search for new employment by using the Work Search Activity Log.
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.
This notice tells you how much you’ll potentially receive in unemployment benefits.
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.
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.
If determined eligible, you will receive your first benefit payment in the form of a paper check approximately 3-4 weeks after applying for benefits. After your first payment, you will receive benefits via the debit card unless you set up for direct deposit to a checking or savings account.
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.
Your eligibility for unemployment benefits will be primarily based on the information provided from the military and/or on your DD-214 including your length of service and separation reason.
If you need assistance looking for a job, contact a Veteran Employment Representative located in all of our MassHire Career Centers.
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.
By appointment only, visit mass.gov/RECappointment to make an appointment.
