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.

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've been lurking on this thread for a while and finally decided to create an account because I'm in the exact same situation as everyone else here. I've been trying to get through to MA DUA for almost 3 weeks now and it's honestly starting to affect my mental health. Reading through all these comments has been both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and overwhelming (seeing how broken this system really is). I'm going to try the combo strategy that @StardustSeeker and @Dmitry Petrov mentioned - calling Tuesday at 10:12 AM with the comma trick and listening for music changes. I've also reached out to my state rep's office today based on @Amina Toure's suggestion. At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips - this community has been more helpful than any official government resource I've found. Here's hoping we all get the help we need soon! 🤞

I've been following this thread religiously and want to share my recent success story to give everyone hope! After 4 weeks of trying everything mentioned here, I finally got through yesterday using what I'm calling the "nuclear option" - I combined EVERYTHING. Here's exactly what I did: 1) Had my state rep submit an inquiry on Monday, 2) Called Tuesday at 10:13 AM using the comma trick (18003005616,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,4), 3) Used a bluetooth headset on low volume to listen for music changes, 4) Had backup phones ready to redial immediately if disconnected, and 5) literally took the day off work to focus entirely on this. It took 2 hours and 47 minutes on hold, but when that beautiful human voice finally answered, I almost cried! The rep was incredibly helpful and resolved my issue in 15 minutes. To everyone still fighting this battle - don't give up! The system is absolutely broken and we shouldn't have to do this, but persistence really does pay off. Also, keep detailed notes of every attempt - it helps with pattern recognition and gives you talking points if you do reach your state rep. You've got this! 💪✨

One more thing to consider - if you're anticipating a layoff, it might be worth reaching out to MassHire (the state's workforce development system) even before you lose your job. They offer free career counseling, resume help, and job search assistance that can complement your unemployment benefits. Some of their workshops and training programs can even count toward your required job search activities once you're on unemployment. I found their services really helpful when I was between jobs last year - they have offices throughout the state and a lot of virtual options too. Getting a head start on networking and skill building while you're still employed could help shorten your time on unemployment benefits.

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who went through the DUA system in Massachusetts last year, I can confirm a lot of what's been said here. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand the difference between your "weekly benefit rate" and what you'll actually receive. Even if you qualify for the maximum $1,015, you might get less if you have any earnings from part-time work, pension payments, or other factors that can reduce your weekly benefit. Also, if you end up needing to appeal any DUA decisions, don't wait - you only have 10 days from the determination date to file an appeal. The appeals process can take months, so it's crucial to file within that window even if you're still gathering documentation. I learned this the hard way when I initially got denied and almost missed the deadline. The system can be frustrating but persistence pays off.