Ugh, I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! It's been about 8 weeks for me with absolutely zero communication from DUA - no letters, no emails, nothing. I was honestly starting to think I was the only one going through this hell, so finding this thread is such a relief! @Jade O'Malley your step-by-step breakdown is amazing - I'm screenshotting that and working through each point. And @Lucas Bey that calling service actually sounds tempting at this point because I've literally spent entire days on hold just to get disconnected. The most frustrating part is not knowing if there's some hidden issue holding everything up or if I'm just stuck in the endless queue. I've been doing my weekly certifications religiously but everything just shows "pending" forever. Going to try logging in super early tomorrow to dig for any hidden pending issues, and if that doesn't work I might actually try contacting my state rep. Never thought I'd need to become a detective just to get unemployment benefits! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - we're all going to get through this mess eventually! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing and it's so frustrating! Been waiting about 4 weeks now with zero communication from DUA. I was starting to think maybe I missed some important step in the application process, but reading everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring that it's not just me. @Jade O'Malley that step-by-step list is incredibly helpful - definitely saving that! And the tip about checking contact info is something I hadn't even thought about. I'm going to log in first thing tomorrow morning and go through everything with a fine-tooth comb. Has anyone else noticed if the time of day you log into the portal makes a difference? I usually check in the evenings but wondering if the system updates overnight or something. Also really curious about that calling service @Lucas Bey mentioned - $20 seems worth it if it actually works! Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and advice. At least we know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare! 🤝

Don't forget that you can also do some preliminary research on the DUA website even before you file - they have a benefit calculator tool that can give you a rough estimate of your weekly benefit amount based on your wages. Also, if you're in a union or have any kind of employment contract, check if there are specific provisions about layoffs or unemployment that might affect your situation. One last tip: when you do file, try to do it early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) rather than Friday - if there are any issues with your application, you'll have more time during the business week to get help before the weekend hits.

I went through unemployment in MA back in 2022 and wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me. First, set up your direct deposit info correctly from the start - any mistakes there can really delay your payments. Second, keep a dedicated email folder for all DUA communications because you'll get a lot of emails and some contain important deadlines. Third, if you're planning to do any freelance or gig work while collecting benefits, make sure you report ALL income when you file your weekly claims - even $20 from a side job needs to be reported or you could face penalties later. The income might reduce your weekly benefit but it won't disqualify you entirely. Also, consider signing up for job alerts on multiple sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, state job board) right away so you can start building that job search log from day one. The whole process is definitely stressful but it's manageable if you stay organized and follow the rules exactly as they're written.

I'm in a really similar boat - just got laid off from my part-time job at a local grocery store last week and I'm trying to figure out this whole DUA process. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been super helpful! One question I have that I haven't seen addressed yet - does it matter if you were working part-time versus full-time during your base period? I was only working about 25-30 hours per week at $16/hour, so I'm worried my benefit amount might be pretty low. Also, I had a brief period where I was working two part-time jobs at the same time about 8 months ago - will DUA automatically pick up wages from both employers during that time, or do I need to specifically mention the second job when I file? I'm planning to file this weekend after getting all my paperwork together, but want to make sure I understand how the part-time work factor affects everything.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through the DUA process about 4 months ago! Reading through all these responses brings back memories of how overwhelming it felt at first. One thing I learned that might help everyone here is that Massachusetts actually has pretty generous unemployment benefits compared to many other states - that $1,015 maximum weekly benefit is actually quite good. For those wondering about timelines, I got my determination letter in exactly 14 days after filing, and my first payment came 3 days after that via direct deposit. The key thing that made my process smooth was filing online late at night (around 10-11 PM) when their servers weren't as busy - the system was much more responsive than during peak hours. Also, don't panic if your first payment seems delayed - there's often a lag between when you certify and when the money actually hits your account, especially for your very first payment. Keep your confirmation numbers for everything and screenshot important pages during the filing process. The whole experience taught me that while the DUA system has its quirks, it generally works as intended once you get the ball rolling!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare - been on hold for almost 8 weeks now with zero communication from DUA! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and honestly therapeutic knowing I'm not alone in this mess. A few things I've learned from my own experience that might help others: **The "callback request" system actually works sometimes** - Instead of waiting on hold for hours, I've had better luck using their callback option. Still takes days but at least you're not glued to your phone. **Check if your employer filed correctly** - I found out through calling my HR department that they had submitted incorrect dates for my last day worked, which was holding up my entire claim. Once they corrected it, things started moving. **Document upload is key** - Even if they haven't specifically requested something, upload every piece of documentation you have related to your job separation. I uploaded my resignation email, final paycheck stub, and even my employee handbook termination policy section. **Local unemployment office strategy works** - I finally got through to my local office after trying the main line for weeks. They couldn't fix everything immediately but gave me a direct email address for follow-up. The financial and mental stress of this is absolutely crushing. I've been surviving on credit cards and borrowing from family, which is humiliating. But seeing all the success stories here about people getting their back pay gives me hope we'll all eventually get through this broken system. Thanks to everyone sharing tips and keeping each other sane - this community is honestly better than any official DUA resource! 💙

I'm dealing with this exact same situation - 5 weeks on hold and it's been absolutely maddening! This thread has been a lifesaver though, seriously. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you have a local state senator (not just representative), their offices sometimes have more pull with state agencies. I reached out to mine last week and their constituent services person actually knew someone at DUA who could look into stuck claims. Still waiting to see if it helps, but they seemed way more knowledgeable about the unemployment system than other political offices I've contacted. Also, for anyone keeping track of all these amazing tips - I created a simple checklist from everything mentioned here: - ✓ Check Messages section separately - ✓ Upload docs to hidden Document Upload section - ✓ Try local office vs main line - ✓ File AG complaint - ✓ Try late night chat (11PM-12AM) - ✓ Check employer filing accuracy with HR - ⏳ State senator contact (in progress) The anxiety about bills while waiting is crushing, but seeing people get $4K-5K in back pay once resolved gives me hope! We really shouldn't have to become unemployment claim detectives just to access basic benefits, but here we are. Keep filing those weekly claims everyone - seems like that's the golden rule from all the success stories! 💪

Whatever you do, don't quit until you've documented everything thoroughly and maybe consulted with an employment attorney. Also consider filing complaints with HR or appropriate agencies first - DUA wants to see that you tried to resolve the issues before quitting.

I went through this exact situation last year and want to share what I learned. The key is building a paper trail BEFORE you quit. Start by documenting incidents with dates, times, and any witnesses. If possible, report issues to HR or your supervisor in writing (email is perfect because it creates a record). Save all responses or lack thereof. Massachusetts DUA looks for patterns showing you made good faith efforts to resolve problems before quitting. They also want to see that the working conditions were objectively unreasonable, not just personally frustrating. Things like health and safety violations, illegal discrimination, or substantial changes to your job terms carry more weight than personality conflicts. One thing many people don't realize is that you can also quit for "compelling personal reasons" in some cases - like domestic violence, caring for a family member, or following a relocating spouse. The requirements are different but it's another path to consider. Bottom line: don't quit impulsively. Build your case first, then quit if you must, and be prepared for a potentially lengthy adjudication process. Having documentation makes all the difference.