I'm dedicating this part of my blog to unemployment insurance. This is listed under Step Eight in my Employment blog. Since I live in MA, most of what I've been able to find about this concern specifically is related to the bay state.
Note that this content is fluid, as I research to add new, improve existing, and remove outdated information. Because of this, if you reference my blog, please be sure to include the update date in your source. If your document is important, it's recommended to print out the blog as it is at the moment you access it, and keep in handy in case it is needed for your sources.
A lot of people find themselves in desperate situations because it is so frickin' difficult to get unemployment pay. I don't even mean the many, sneaky loopholes that are designed in the system to disqualify people who should get it (for example, if your employer refuses to give you a day off to see a doctor, then refuses to make any accommodations for a chronic without a doctor's note, you really should be allowed to quit, see a doctor, and get unemployment pay, but usually you'll be automatically disqualified under these circumstances). I mean even finding out who to call or where you can go just to find out if you could be considered.
Whether or not you think you'll be accepted for unemployment, if you're out of work, file immediately. The worst that can happen is they'll say, "sorry, no." If you wait, thinking you'll get another job quick enough not to worry, you could end up in a bad situation. The office takes several weeks to pass your information along to a case worker, who then takes several weeks to contemplate whether or not to review it, eventually looks it over and, if approved, issues unemployment pay backdated to the date you filed. Since it takes so long for approval, if you wait until you realize you aren't going to be hired immediately, you could run out of money before you finally get pay.
First: Applying For Unemployment in Massachusetts
Second: Information Needed to File a Claim
Third: Where to Go For In-Person Assistance
Surviving While Unemployed
1.
Applying for Unemployment in Massachusetts
When you become unemployed, even if you think you don't qualify, call the Office of Labor and Workforce Development / Department of Unemployment Assistance. I found out, much later than would have been ideal, that leaving a job due to a medical condition that could not be accommodated at the workplace means that you aren't disqualified from unemployment assistance. There may be other conditions that urban legend says are disqualifying but aren't: if you don't know, call and ask.
How to call:
From area codes 617 or 781 call 617-626-6800
All other area codes toll free 1-877-626-6800
2.
Information Needed to File a Claim
-Your Social Security Number
-The year you were born
-Your home address and telephone number
-Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in Massachusetts or in any other state during the past 12 months
-Your last day of employment
-The names and addresses of all the employers you have worked for during the 15 months prior to filing your claim and the dates you worked for each of these employers. If you are reopening a claim, be ready with the same information for the past 8 weeks.
-The reason that you are no longer working or that your hours have been reduced.
-The names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent children, if you are going to apply for dependency allowance.
-Your alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
------ If you are not a United States Citizen: You must provide verification that you were legally eligible to work in Massachusetts and that you are currently eligible to begin a new job. Please be prepared with this verification.
Note: do NOT give any of this information to anyone OTHER than officials with the Department of Unemployment Assistance. If there is anything of which you're unsure, confirm at the phone number and/or at the official mass.gov DoUA website.
3.
Where to Go For In-Person Unemployment Assistance
MARLBOROUGH
508-786-0928
Fax 617-727-0676
201 Boston Post Road West, Fl2, Ste 200
Marlborough, MA 01752
(Across from Panera Bread)
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm, Fri 9:30am-5pm
NEWTON
617-928-0530
Fax 617-964-0929
449 Newtonville Avenue, Ste 130
Newtonville, MA 02460
(Corner of Walnut St and Newtonville Ave)
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm, Fri 9:30-5pm
NORWOOD
781-769-4120
Fax 781-551-9648
275 Prospect St, Ste 24 / P.O.Box 740
Norwood, MA 02062
(In the former Junior High North)
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm, Fri 9:30-5pm
NOTE: Most of these locations have unemployment filing on certain days and can patch you through to the phone help number on other days. The rest of the hours are for help with employment resources.
Last updated: 21 Feb. 2012
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