Can you get unemployment if you get fired from your job in MA? DUA eligibility questions

Yes, you can potentially get unemployment even if you were fired, but it depends on the reason. DUA will look at whether you were terminated for 'misconduct' or not. Performance issues that aren't due to willful misconduct usually don't disqualify you from benefits. Since you mentioned no formal warnings, that actually works in your favor for your DUA claim.

file immediately! don't wait. I got fired last year for being late too many times and still got approved for UI benefits. DUA approved my claim because they said chronic lateness wasn't severe enough to be misconduct

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I got fired from my last job too but for a totally different reason and I was SO worried about whether I'd qualify. The DUA website doesn't make it super clear what counts as misconduct vs just regular firing

I had a similar situation last month where I couldn't get through to DUA by phone to ask questions about my eligibility after being terminated. The wait times were insane and I kept getting disconnected. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a DUA agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/ok4BhTU0_EI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful when I could actually talk to someone about my specific situation.

honestly getting fired was the best thing that happened to me lol, my old boss was terrible and the unemployment gave me time to find something way better

The whole unemployment system is rigged anyway. They'll find any excuse to deny your claim and then you have to waste months fighting it. I got denied initially even though my firing was completely bogus, had to go through the whole appeal process. Such a nightmare dealing with DUA bureaucracy.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation! As others have mentioned, you can absolutely get unemployment benefits even if you were fired - it really depends on the circumstances. Since you mentioned no formal write-ups or warnings over 2 years, that's actually a strong point in your favor. "Performance issues" without documented misconduct typically don't disqualify you from DUA benefits. I'd recommend filing your claim as soon as possible - you don't want to delay and potentially lose out on benefits you're entitled to. Make sure to be honest about the circumstances when you file, and keep any documentation you might have about your employment. The worst thing that can happen is they deny it and you can appeal. Good luck!

I went through something very similar last year - got let go for "performance reasons" after working at a company for 18 months with no prior warnings. I was terrified about applying for DUA benefits but it turned out fine! The key thing is that Massachusetts has a pretty reasonable standard for what constitutes "misconduct." Simple performance issues or not being the right fit don't usually count as disqualifying misconduct. When I filed, I was completely honest about being terminated for performance and still got approved. The DUA representative I eventually spoke with explained that they're looking for things like theft, insubordination, or willful violation of company policies - not just struggling to meet expectations. Definitely apply right away like others have said, and don't let the fear of potential denial stop you from trying. You've got a good case based on what you've described!

I'm going through something similar right now - got let go two weeks ago for what they called "not meeting sales targets" even though I was only about 10% below quota and the whole team was struggling with the new system they implemented. Reading everyone's responses here is giving me hope that I might actually qualify for benefits. I was so scared to apply because I thought any termination would be an automatic no. It sounds like the key is really whether it was misconduct versus just regular job performance stuff. Has anyone had experience with sales performance specifically being considered for DUA eligibility?

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago - got terminated from my office job for "performance issues" after almost 3 years with no formal warnings or disciplinary actions. I was absolutely terrified to apply for DUA benefits because I thought being fired meant automatic disqualification. But everyone here is right - you should definitely file immediately! The distinction between misconduct and performance really matters. When I finally got through to a DUA representative (took forever on the phone), they explained that Massachusetts looks for willful misconduct like theft, harassment, or deliberately violating clear policies after warnings. General performance struggles, especially without progressive discipline, typically don't count as disqualifying misconduct. I ended up getting approved and received benefits for several months while job searching. The fact that you had no write-ups over 2 years is actually a strong point in your favor. Don't let fear stop you from applying for benefits you may be entitled to - file today and be completely honest about the circumstances. You've got this!

I'm really glad I found this thread because I'm in almost the exact same boat! Got terminated yesterday from my customer service job after 14 months for what they called "not adapting well to new procedures" - but honestly I think it was just budget cuts disguised as performance issues. Reading everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring, especially knowing that performance-related terminations without formal misconduct usually don't disqualify you from DUA benefits. The fact that so many of you got approved even after being fired gives me hope! I was planning to wait and see if I could find another job quickly, but after reading all these responses I'm definitely going to file my claim today. No point in potentially losing out on benefits I might be entitled to. Thank you all for sharing your stories - this community is amazing for support during such a stressful time!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress right now! I was in a very similar situation about 8 months ago - got terminated from my warehouse job for "productivity issues" after working there for over a year with no formal disciplinary actions. Like you, I was absolutely panicked thinking that being fired would automatically disqualify me from unemployment benefits. But everyone here is absolutely right - you should file your DUA claim immediately! Don't wait even one more day. The key thing I learned is that Massachusetts distinguishes between being fired for misconduct versus being fired for performance or other non-misconduct reasons. Since you mentioned no write-ups or formal warnings over 2 years, that's actually really strong evidence in your favor. When I finally spoke with a DUA representative, they explained that they're looking for willful misconduct like theft, insubordination, or deliberately violating company policies after clear warnings - not just struggling with job performance or being let go for business reasons. I ended up getting approved and it was such a relief! Be completely honest when you file about being terminated for performance issues, and don't let fear of potential denial stop you from applying for benefits you might very well be entitled to. The worst case scenario is they say no and you can appeal. You've got this!