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I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been going through the exact same thing - it's been about 5 weeks since I applied and I haven't received a single payment or even any communication from DUA. I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong with my application. Reading everyone's experiences here is both terrifying (some people waiting 3-4 months?!) and reassuring at the same time. I'm definitely going to try that 8:01 AM calling strategy and dig deeper into my online account to look for hidden pending issues. Has anyone had success with contacting their local state rep? That seems like it might be worth trying if the phone calls don't work out. This whole situation is such a mess but at least we're all in it together! 💪
@Cole Roush I m'so relieved to see your post! I was literally just thinking the same thing - this thread has been such a lifesaver for my sanity. I m'at about 6 weeks myself and was convinced I must have messed up my application somehow. The state rep idea is actually brilliant - I hadn t'even thought of that option. My cousin used her state rep for a different issue with another government agency last year and said they were surprisingly helpful. Might be worth trying that route if the phone calls don t'pan out. It s'crazy that we all have to become detective/advocates just to get basic unemployment benefits, but hey, at least we ve'got each other s'backs in this mess! Keep us updated on what works for you! 🤝
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! 🤞
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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.
Thanks for the tip about the benefit calculator - I'll definitely check that out! Filing early in the week is smart advice too. I'm not in a union but I should probably review my employee handbook to see if there's anything about layoff procedures or notice periods that might be relevant. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I feel like I actually understand the process now instead of just panicking about it. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their knowledge and experiences!
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.
This is all fantastic advice, especially about reporting ALL income - I wouldn't have thought about reporting even small amounts like $20. The email folder tip is really smart too. I'm definitely going to start setting up those job alerts now so I have that system in place. One question - when you say "follow the rules exactly as they're written," are there any specific rules that people commonly mess up that I should be extra careful about? I want to make sure I don't accidentally do something that could cause problems with my claim later on.
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I was in a very similar situation and successfully got UI benefits after quitting due to workplace harassment. The documentation piece is absolutely critical - I kept a detailed journal with dates, times, what happened, and any witnesses present. Also saved screenshots of nasty emails and texts from my supervisor. When I applied, I made sure to emphasize that I had tried multiple internal solutions first (HR complaints, requesting different shifts, etc.) before quitting became my only option. DUA approved my claim because I could prove the work environment was genuinely hostile and not just a personality conflict. Start documenting NOW if you haven't already - even if you decide not to quit, having that record could be valuable. Your mental health is important and Massachusetts does recognize that toxic workplaces can force people to leave. Feel free to ask if you want more specifics about the process!
This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely going to start keeping that journal right away - I wish I had started documenting things months ago when this all began. Can I ask what kind of timeline you experienced from when you quit to when you got your first benefit payment? I'm trying to plan financially for potentially being without income during the adjudication process. Also, did DUA contact your former employer during their investigation, and if so, how did that go? I'm a bit nervous about potential retaliation even after leaving.
I'm going through something very similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My situation involves a supervisor who's been creating a hostile work environment through constant criticism, unreasonable demands, and what I can only describe as bullying behavior. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there might be a way out that doesn't leave me completely without income. I've already started documenting incidents after reading the advice here - wish I'd known to do this sooner. Has anyone dealt with a situation where the toxic behavior is more subtle/psychological rather than obvious harassment? I'm worried DUA might not see my case as strong enough since there aren't any explicitly offensive emails or clear-cut violations, just a pattern of behavior that's making me dread going to work every day.
I can definitely relate to the subtle psychological harassment - it's actually more common than you might think and DUA does recognize these patterns. In cases like yours, focus on documenting the cumulative effect rather than individual incidents. Keep track of unreasonable deadlines, excessive criticism compared to other employees, exclusion from meetings or opportunities, and any changes in your work conditions that seem targeted. Also note physical symptoms you're experiencing (stress, sleep issues, anxiety) as these show the impact on your wellbeing. The key is showing a pattern of behavior that would make any reasonable person want to leave. Consider getting statements from coworkers who've witnessed the treatment, even if they're subtle about it. Sometimes the "death by a thousand cuts" approach is actually stronger than a single dramatic incident because it shows sustained hostile conditions.
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I'm so sorry you're going through this - the whole DUA system is completely broken right now and it's infuriating that they leave people hanging with zero communication. A few things that helped me when I was stuck in a similar situation last month: 1. Try calling the DUA TTY line at (800) 439-2370 - it's meant for hearing impaired but sometimes has shorter wait times. Just explain you couldn't get through the regular line. 2. Check your online account for any "Pending Issues" section - sometimes there are unresolved flags that aren't obvious from the main dashboard. 3. If you were laid off or terminated, make sure your former employer didn't contest your claim. You can check this under "Determination Status" in your account. 4. Try the DUA chat feature on their website around 11 PM - 12 AM. I know it sounds weird but the system seems less overloaded during those hours. The "on hold" status is usually waiting for some kind of verification or review, but the system is so backlogged that even simple cases are taking forever. Keep filing your weekly claims no matter what - that's super important for when it finally gets resolved. Hang in there! I ended up getting 6 weeks of back pay once my case finally moved. The wait is brutal but most people do eventually get their money.
The TTY line tip is genius - never would have thought to try that! I've been banging my head against the wall with the regular lines for weeks. Also really appreciate the late night chat suggestion, that's such a clever workaround. I'm definitely going to check for that "Pending Issues" section too - I've been so focused on the main dashboard that I might have missed something important buried in the menus. It's reassuring to hear you got 6 weeks of back pay eventually, that gives me hope this nightmare will end. Thanks for sharing these creative solutions - this community is seriously carrying me through this process! 🙏
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the frustration is absolutely real and you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar about 8 months ago and it was one of the most stressful experiences I've had. Here's what finally worked for me after 7 weeks of being on hold: 1. **Document everything religiously** - I created a spreadsheet tracking every call attempt, email sent, and document uploaded with dates and times. This became crucial later. 2. **Check your employer's unemployment account** - This might sound weird, but ask your former employer if they've received any requests for information from DUA that they haven't responded to yet. Sometimes the hold is on their end, not yours. 3. **File a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office** - They have a specific unemployment complaint form online and they actually follow up. I got a response within a week and my case moved shortly after. 4. **Try the "Request Callback" option** - Instead of staying on hold, use the callback system. It's still slow but at least you're not tied to your phone all day. The mental health toll of this is no joke - I was having panic attacks about bills too. Please don't hesitate to reach out to local assistance programs in the meantime. I eventually got all my back pay (over $5,000) and it came through within days once the hold was lifted. Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - that's super important! You've got this! 💪
This is incredibly thorough and helpful - thank you for taking the time to write all this out! I love the spreadsheet idea for tracking everything, that's going to save my sanity and probably help if I need to escalate further. The employer angle is something I hadn't considered at all - I just assumed if there was an issue on their end, DUA would tell me. Shows how broken the communication is! The Attorney General complaint route seems to be mentioned by a few people here as actually effective, so I'm definitely going to try that next. And wow, $5,000 in back pay must have been such a relief after all that stress! Thanks for the encouragement and practical steps - this gives me a real action plan instead of just endless phone calls to nowhere. 🙏
Ingrid Larsson
I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to add a couple things that really helped me. First, have your bank account info ready for direct deposit - it's way faster than waiting for checks. Second, when you're filling out the application, be really specific about your separation reason. Since you were laid off, make sure you select "lack of work" or "reduction in force" rather than anything that might sound like you quit. Also, once you file your initial claim, you'll get a confirmation number - screenshot that or write it down! You'll need it if you have to call DUA later. The whole process took me about 40 minutes but it was worth taking my time to make sure everything was accurate.
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Luca Greco
•This is really thorough advice, thank you! I definitely want to set up direct deposit - do you remember if they ask for routing and account numbers during the initial application, or is that something you set up separately after your claim is approved?
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Isabella Silva
Hey Giovanni! I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from my marketing job. Here's my step-by-step process: 1) Go to mass.gov and create a MyMassGov account if you don't have one 2) Look for "Apply for Unemployment Benefits" - it's pretty prominent on the page 3) Have your SSN, license, and employment info for the last 18 months ready like Aaliyah mentioned 4) When it asks about separation reason, choose "laid off due to lack of work" or similar - be honest but make sure it's clear you didn't quit 5) Set up direct deposit during the application if possible 6) After submitting, you'll get a confirmation number - save this! The whole thing took me about 45 minutes. Also, start thinking about your work search strategy now since you'll need to log job search activities weekly once benefits start. The waiting period is just one week in MA, so you should see your first payment about 2-3 weeks after filing if everything goes smoothly. You've got this!
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