What Do You Need To Know?
The Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training is responsible for running the MA Unemployment Insurance program. The program is mutually funded by the federal government and the state. The Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance program ensures employment opportunities to workers temporarily.
The state of Massachusetts has its own laws regarding the unemployment program and provides benefits to its citizens according to those Massachusetts rules and guidelines. The goal of the program is to help unemployed citizens with jobs to help them support their families. In this way, the program helps keep the unemployment rate under check and creates a balance in the economic condition in the country.
Are You Eligible?
The eligibility for the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance program depends on several factors but before looking into the eligibility criteria, it is important to apply for the insurance claim within your state.
Certain factors determine your eligibility for the insurance program and if you fulfill those requirements you can qualify for the Unemployment insurance program like
- The applicant has a permanent US citizenship
- The applicant is a resident of the state of Massachusetts
- The applicant must have earned at least a minimum wage during the past 12 or 18 months of their employment period. If you were earning below the minimum wage you are not eligible to apply.
- Currently not working
- The applicant must ensure their availability
- The applicant must be actively looking for employment opportunities in their state
- The applicant must not be a part of any dispute
- The applicant must be healthy and strong enough to do any physical work
Other than that, the applicant cannot directly apply for the program but must wait for one week before receiving their Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance benefits. Hence, it is advisable to wait at least a week. The candidate can start the filing process once,
- It has been more than a week since the applicant has been unemployed
- the applicant earns below 140% of the benefit amount per week (in case of part-time employment)
It is important to understand that you should make an effort to constantly look for jobs according to your expertise and educational background. In case you are unable to find a job that matches your skillsets and interest then there are chances of you end up getting a job that may not match your professional abilities completely.
One thing that the applicant should keep in mind before applying for the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance benefit is that it is not a full-time job. You will be provided a job for a certain period and you will be required to find a full-time job so that you can take it up once the program duration is over. You can take certain steps including
- Meet the HR managers and employers of different companies
- Fill out job applications as much as possible
- Continuously search for jobs in the market
How To Apply?
There are more than one ways to apply for the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance program. You can either,
- Submit your claim online by going to the official Massachusetts UI page. It has all the required information regarding the MA Unemployment Program. The Division of Employment and Training ensures the online safety of the applicant. The website also answers any queries that the candidate might have regarding the unemployment benefits.
- You can also submit the application form for the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance program via phone call by using the toll-free cell phone number at any time during the weekdays
- 1-877-626-6800( for area codes 351, 413, 508, 774, and 978) or
- 617-626-6800
- Visit a nearby unemployment insurance program office to get first-hand information regarding the application process and guidelines of the Massachusetts Unemployment program. You can locate a UI office in your locality by going to the following link,
If the applicant is interested in applying in person then they will have to bring the following documents to the unemployment insurance office,
- Driver’s license
- INS identification
- Passport
- Non-drivers picture identification
- Personal Identification Number(PIN) for verification purposes
- Employment status/history
- Social Security Number (SSN)
The office representatives ensure that the application process is carried out smoothly by providing sufficient information about the program. After you submit your application form you will have to wait till you are further notified by the employment insurance office in your state.
For Further Information
If you want to learn more about the program you can visit the Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training website. The website provides detailed information regarding the MA Unemployment Insurance program and covers all the major topics including program details, goals, and eligibility criteria.