How Do I Claim Unemployment Benefits with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance?

If you've been laid off from work or have had your position eliminated, what do you do now? In Massachusetts, you apply for unemployment benefits with the Department of Unemployment Assistance. This guide will give you advice on what you need to apply, how to apply and some tips to help streamline this process.

Some Basic Tips

1. It's best to apply for benefits in the first week where you have no employment or partial unemployment.
2. Unless there's a problem, your claim should be processed within 21 to 28 days after you've filed.
3. You can file online or over the phone, but there is a schedule to call based on the last digit of your social security number. However, anyone can call to apply on Fridays and there's no such required schedule if you apply online.
4. You can enroll to receive your benefits via direct deposit by providing your bank's name, routing number and your account number. Otherwise, DUA will send you a debit card.

What Everyone Needs to Provide

1. Your Personal information, your social security number, home address, birth date, and phone number. Providing your email address is optional.
2. The last 15 months of your employment history, including names, addresses and phone numbers of those employers, your start and end dates, and reasons for leaving those jobs.

Provide This Information If Any Apply to You

1. Your Recall date, only if you were laid off and were given a return date.
2. Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen.
3. Birth dates and social security numbers of any minor children you have.
4. Union name and local number if you are in a union.
5. Those in the military need their DD 214 Member 4 form.
6. SF8 form if you worked for the government.

How to File Online If You Never Filed Before

1. Go to their UI Portal https://uionline.detma.org/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX
2. Enter your social security number twice and follow the prompts to create your account and begin your application.
3. You will be asked to set up a security question in case you forget your password.

If You Have an Account But Forgot Your Password

1. Enter your social security number twice and then click on Forgot Password.
2. Next, you will be asked to provide your gender, social security number, date of birth and answer to your security question. You should be able to move forward if you remember the answer. If not, you need to call the DUA to verify your identity.
3. You will then create a new password after confirming your identity.
4. Contact them here if you have any questions.

If You Want to File By Phone

1. The phone number you call depends on your area code. Area codes 351, 413, 508, 774 and 978 call 1-877-626-6800. All others call 617-626-6800. Call 711 for voice relay.
2. The day of the week you're allowed to call is determined by the last digit of your social security number. 0 and 1 call on Mondays. Tuesdays is reserved for 2 and 3. 4-6 call on Wednesdays and 7-9 call on Thursdays. Anyone can apply on Fridays.
3. After making sure you have the needed information, follow the prompts to apply by phone.