In order to collect unemployment benefits, you must meet the following requirements.
Non Monetary Eligibility
- Must be unemployed through no fault of your own
- Must be able, available and willing to work
- Must not quit or fired from a job until it’s a just cause
- Must not attend school, college or training full-time without obtaining DUA approval
- Must not Receive vacation pay, Workers’ Compensation
- Must not be self-employed
- Must not have a previous overpayment
- Must not apply for or receive UI benefits from any other state or federal program
Monetary Eligibility
The “monetary” amount of your unemployment insurance (UI) claim is determined by the earnings paid to you over a period of time of up to 52 weeks, as defined by Massachusetts law. This is known as your “base period.”
- You must have worked in Massachusetts and earned at least $3,500 during the last four quarters (base period) and at least 30 times the amount you would be eligible to collect weekly in UI benefits
- Your benefit credit is $18,381 or less
After you initiate a claim, you will receive a Benefit Determination Form indicating your weekly benefit rate.
Note: The benefit credit is the total amount of benefits you are potentially eligible to receive during your “benefit year” if you meet all the other eligibility requirements of the law.
Your “benefit year” is the 52 weeks following the effective date of your claim.
The maximum “benefit credit” is $20,220—$674 for 30 weeks.
Eligibility Questions
Can I get unemployment benefits If I am fired?
Massachusetts General Laws administers the unemployment insurance program. As per the law, you may be entitled if you were fired for poor performance. However, if your employer is able to show that you were fired for intentional misconduct or breach of a company rule, you may be disqualified.
If you feel like you were fired unjustly, or there were justifying circumstances, be sure to tell your unemployment counselor about them. If your unemployment application is denied because you were fired, you also have the right to appeal the decision.
Will I be eligible for UI benefits if I quit my job?
There are circumstances under which a worker can leave a job voluntarily and receive unemployment. If the law determines that the claimant quit for good reason, and that this was the fault of the employer, unemployment compensation may be granted. The worker would still be subject to all other eligibility requirements, however, including availability to work.
If you are disqualified for any reason, you have the right to file an appeal.
Can I get UI benefits if I am Laid off?
In general, in Massachusetts you have to have lost your job through no fault of your own in order to collect unemployment. When you get laid-off, it is not your fault.
In almost all cases, this means that if you get laid-off, you are qualified to receive unemployment benefits.
If you get laid-off from your job, you must directly apply for unemployment benefits.
Getting laid-off doesn’t mean that you did something wrong or you were fired. It simply means that the company with which you worked did not have sufficient work for you and could no longer pay you.
Want to know about how much you will receive?? —–> Calculate Benefits
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