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Unemployment Assistance Updates – COVID-19

The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has integrated state and federal pandemic-related assistance with some key updates to eligibility and benefits, including:

  1. Waiting Period Waived: If your job loss or hours reduction was due to COVID-19, the usual waiting period of one week no longer applies to your case, and you will receive your first payment after application by an average of 9 days if you set up direct deposit, longer for a paper check.
  2. Work Acceptance Consideration: While you can continue with job search activities online to receive benefits, if you are self-quarantining for reasonable fear of exposure, or if you are caring for a family member who is sick or a child who is at home, you do not need to accept work until the issues are resolved.
  3. Benefits Extension: Whether you were already receiving benefits unrelated to the lockdowns or are experiencing job loss/hours reduction now due to the pandemic, your approved benefits will be extended from the usual 26 week to a total of 39 weeks.
  4. Coverage for Children: In addition to the maximum of $823/week of benefits, you can also receive $25/dependent child per week up to half of the actual base amount for which you are eligible.
  5. Benefits for the Self-Employed/Contractors: The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) allows for benefits to those who had not been previously eligible, including self-employed individuals, contractors, and gig-workers who can provide proof of prior payments via 1099, pay stubs, or bank statements. If you have any friends, family members, or vendors who fall into this category and are not able to work due to the pandemic, make them aware that they can receive benefits through this program if they’ve exhausted other eligible programs.  See info here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-pandemic-unemployment-assistance
  6. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) The FPUC program will provide an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular Unemployment Compensation (UC). The Department of Unemployment Assistance has already begun implementing the FPUC program for regular UC claimants. The $600 will be added to all eligible weeks of benefits retroactive to the week beginning March 29, 2020 -April 4th and continuing until July 31, 2020. 

You can find more detailed information at the DUA’s webpage at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-faq-covid-19#claim-related-

 

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