How much does DUA unemployment pay in Massachusetts? Weekly benefit amounts explained

For DUA in Massachusetts, your weekly benefit amount is calculated as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage during your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. There's a minimum weekly benefit of $45 and a maximum of $1,015 as of 2025. So if you were making $18/hour full-time, that's about $720 per week gross, which would put your potential benefit around $360 per week, but it depends on your exact earnings history in the base period.

yeah the DUA calculation is weird, they don't just look at your last job but all your jobs in that base period thing. i got way less than i expected because i had some part time work mixed in

The key thing to understand is that DUA looks at your total wages in the base period, not just your hourly rate. You'll need to have earned at least $5,100 in your base period to qualify, and at least $3,400 of that needs to be outside your highest-earning quarter. When you file your claim, DUA will calculate your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) automatically based on your wage records. You can see this calculation in your determination letter.

This is so confusing! I thought it would just be half of what I was making at my last job. So they're looking at like a whole year of earnings? What if I had a different job before this one that paid less - does that hurt my benefit amount?

Actually, having different jobs can help or hurt depending on the timing and wages. DUA uses ALL covered wages in your base period, so if you had higher-paying work earlier in that timeframe, it could increase your benefit. The system is designed to smooth out fluctuations in income. Your determination letter will show exactly which quarters they used and how they calculated your WBA.

If you're having trouble getting through to DUA to check your benefit calculation or have questions about your determination, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a real person. They have this system that calls DUA for you and gets you connected to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/ok4BhTU0_EI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

omg yes! the hold times with DUA are INSANE. i gave up calling so many times

Thanks everyone! This is really helpful. I guess I'll just have to file and see what they calculate. At least now I understand it's not just a simple percentage of my last paycheck.

Just to add some clarity to what others have said - the base period calculation can be tricky to understand at first. Since you mentioned you've been at your retail job for a year and a half at $18/hour, that should work in your favor since you'll have consistent earnings across multiple quarters. The good news is that retail wages are typically "covered employment" so they'll count toward your benefit calculation. One thing to keep in mind is that your actual weekly benefit might be slightly different than the rough 50% calculation because DUA uses a specific formula that factors in your highest and total quarterly earnings. Don't stress too much about trying to calculate it yourself - once you file, they'll do all the math and send you a determination letter that breaks everything down clearly.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who recently went through this process in MA. I was making about $20/hour at my previous job and my weekly benefit came out to around $385. What really helped me was gathering all my pay stubs from the past 18 months before filing - it made the whole process smoother when DUA needed to verify my earnings. Also, don't forget that you can potentially get the $300 federal supplement if it's still active when you file. The whole base period thing is confusing at first but once you get your determination letter, it actually makes sense how they calculated everything. Good luck with your claim!

One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed, even if you're not 100% sure about all the documentation. Massachusetts has a waiting week, so there's already going to be a delay before you see any benefits. I waited a few weeks thinking I needed to have everything perfectly organized first, and I basically just delayed my benefits for no reason. You can always provide additional documentation later if DUA requests it. Also, when you do get your determination letter, read it carefully because it will show you exactly which quarters they used as your base period and you'll be able to see if they missed any wages that should have been included.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's navigating this same situation right now! I filed my DUA claim about 3 weeks ago after being laid off from my warehouse job. What I found really helpful was using the online calculator on the DUA website to get a rough estimate before filing - it's not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark figure. One thing that surprised me was that my benefit amount was actually higher than I expected because I had worked some overtime during my base period quarters, which boosted my average weekly wage. Also, definitely keep track of your job search activities from day one because you'll need to report them when you do your weekly certifications. The whole process is less scary once you actually start it, even though the base period calculation seems confusing at first. Good luck to everyone dealing with this!

As someone who just went through the DUA process recently, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help! First, when you file online, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer handy - it speeds up the application process. Second, the base period calculation really does take into account ALL your covered wages during those quarters, so if you had any side jobs or temporary work during that time, those wages count too which could boost your benefit amount. One thing that caught me off guard was that after you file, you have to certify for benefits every week (usually on Sunday) and you can't miss a week or you'll lose that week's benefits. Also, keep detailed records of every job you apply for because DUA may ask for proof of your work search efforts. The determination letter usually comes within 2-3 weeks of filing, and once you get it, your first payment typically arrives within a few days if there are no issues with your claim. Hope this helps ease some of the uncertainty!