Your Work Search Responsibilities
You must request benefits for each week during which you are in partial or total unemployment. Sunday is the first day of the week that you can request benefits for the prior week. You may request benefits for the prior week at any time beginning Sunday through Saturday of the current week.
To receive assistance, you must file a weekly certification for each week that you want to get unemployment benefits and answer questions about:
- Work search activities
- Any wages you earn
- Being able and available to work
File your certifications every week. You should file even if you are still waiting to see if you will get benefits. This will allow you to get payments for weeks that you were eligible.
Work Search Examples
- Submitting an application, resume, letter of interest, etc., through the employer or an employment website, such as MassHire JobQuest.
- Making in-person visits with employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings.
- Attending private or MassHire Career Center sponsored job fairs, networking events, or employment workshops, such as Resume Writing, Interviewing Preparation, Salary Negotiations, and much more.
- Interviewing with potential employers in person, by phone, or online.
- Registering for work with private employment agencies or placement services.
Keeping a Record of Your Work Search
You are required to keep a detailed record of your work search activities each week. You will receive a blank Work Search Activity Log that you can use to document your work search activities.
You must complete at least three (3) work searches per week. and provide your work search information to DUA upon request. Keep all work search documents for 1 year after you stop requesting benefits.
File Your Weekly Claim
Certify For Your Weekly Benefits Online
- Go to your UI Online account.
- Enter your username and password.
- Select Request benefit payment on your account home page.
- Follow the prompts to request a benefit payment.
- Print the confirmation page for your records.
Certify For Weekly Benefits by Phone
- Call the TeleCert line at (617) 626-6338. The TeleCert hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- Have the following information handy:
- Your Social Security number
- Your TeleCert 4-digit pin. If you don't one, learn how to create your TeleCert PIN.
- Your wages earned if you worked during the week claimed
- Answer the prompts.
- Stay on the line until you are told that your weekly claim filing is complete.
Report Changes in your Employment Status
You must report any changes in your unemployment status while you are receiving benefits.
It is your responsibility to:
- Stop requesting benefits once you return to full-time work. You do not need to call DUA, but you must stop requesting weekly benefits. You cannot receive benefits after you have started work, regardless of when you get paid.
- Report all your earnings when requesting weekly benefits if you get a part-time job. Earnings greater than 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount will be deducted from your weekly benefit payment.
- Inform DUA if you are sick, injured, attending school, travel outside of the area or are otherwise unable to work during any week for which you request benefits. You are not eligible for benefits for any period of time you are outside of the United States, its territories, or Canada.