Get ready for an unemployment benefits appeal hearing

Learn how to prepare for an appeal hearing. You should start getting ready as soon as you file a request.

Table of Contents

What you need for the hearing

If you filed an appeal with DUA, you need to prepare for your hearing as soon as possible. 

Do not wait until your hearing is scheduled to complete these tasks.

Hearing notices

You'll get two letters about your appeal: Confirmation of your appeal and Notice of Hearing. Both include information you need for your hearing, including:

  • Hearing date, time, and location
  • Instructions for attending your hearing
  • Your Claim ID and Issue ID, which you will need to join a phone or virtual hearing

Add evidence to your appeal

If you have evidence to support your appeal, you (or your lawyer) must add it to your case file before the hearing.

Evidence might include:

  • Attendance records
  • Payroll records
  • Pay stubs
  • Emails, letters, or business documents related to your case
  • Employee evaluations
  • Performance warnings
  • Names and addresses of witnesses you want to testify

Documents or photos 

  1. Log in to your Unemployment Services for Workers account
  2. From your dashboard, select View appeal
  3. Select Upload appeal documentation
  4. Follow the prompts to upload your documentation

Video or audio

Contact the Hearings Department as soon as possible. They need to approve the technology to show this evidence.

Attend your hearing

Virtual hearings

Phone hearings

  • About 5 minutes before your hearing, call the number on your Hearing Notice and enter the PIN to join the call
  • Share the phone number and PIN with any witnesses so they can join
  • If you can't join the call because of a technical problem, or you wait on hold for more than 10 minutes, call the Hearings Department

In-person hearings

  • Arrive at your hearing location at least 15 minutes before it is scheduled to begin
  • Everyone attending the hearing must show a photo ID
  • Directions to your hearing location are included in your Notice of Hearing

Please do not bring children to the hearing. If you need to change the location or time of the hearing because you need childcare, contact the Hearings Department as soon as possible. 

After the hearing

The review examiner will make a decision about your case as soon as possible. If you have not received a decision after 30 days, call the Hearings Department to ask about the status of your appeal. Updates will be sent by mail or email, depending on your communication preferences.

If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Board of Review.

Reschedule or withdraw the appeal

More information

Fair hearings

You will be assigned a review examiner who doesn't have any previous knowledge of your case other than the documents in your file. This ensures they are impartial and everyone gets a fair hearing.

Your right to a lawyer

You can hire a lawyer for your hearing. To find one, contact your local bar association or legal assistance organization.

DUA does not pay legal fees and does not provide legal representation. If a lawyer represents you at your hearing, they need to submit a request for fee approval to DUA.

They need to do this after the hearing, but before they bill you.

The information presented on this site is not legal advice. It should not replace advice from a lawyer. Reference to specific organizations, attorneys, law firms, corporations, or websites does not constitute endorsement or recommendation.

Contact

Address

Boston Regional Hearings Office
2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111
Northeast Regional Hearings Office
360 Merrimack St., Bldg 9, Entry I, Suite 327, Lawrence, MA 01843
Southeast Regional Hearings Office
226 Main St, Brockton, MA 02301
West/Central Regional Hearings Office
88 Industry Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback