How to file for unemployment with DUA - complete beginner needs help

DUA stands for Department of Unemployment Assistance - that's Massachusetts' unemployment agency. You'll file your initial claim through the MyMassGov website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment, and your most recent pay stub. The process takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready.

File as soon as possible! There's a one-week waiting period in Massachusetts, but your claim date starts when you file, not when you were laid off. Log into MyMassGov, create an account if you don't have one, and look for the 'Apply for Unemployment Benefits' section. Make sure you have your separation reason ready - if you were laid off due to lack of work, that's straightforward.

ugh the DUA website is such a pain sometimes. I tried filing mine last week and it kept timing out. Make sure you do it during off-peak hours, like early morning or late evening. And save your progress frequently! I lost everything twice before I figured that out.

One thing to mention - if you have trouble getting through to DUA by phone for questions (and trust me, you probably will), I found this service called Claimyr that actually connects you to DUA agents. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/ok4BhTU0_EI. It was a lifesaver when I had issues with my claim status.

just wanted to say good luck!! being laid off sucks but at least MA has decent unemployment benefits. you got this 💪

When I filed mine back in March I totally forgot about the work search requirements. Make sure you understand those from the start - you'll need to do job searches and keep a log. The DUA website has all the details but basically you need to make a certain number of work search contacts each week and report them when you file your weekly claims.

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.

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!