Unemployment
UnemploymentThe Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting daily virtual town hall meetings. During the call, they will take all who sign up through a step by step process of achieving a successful unemployment claim. They will also be taking questions from claimants across the Commonwealth. They will post each town hall that occurred on its website, so if the times do not work you can still access the information. They are doing this because their call centers are overwhelmed by the current call volume and some offices have had to be closed to the public because of infected employees.
- To apply for benefits CLICK HERE.
- To sign-up for the virtual town hall CLICK HERE.
- For specific web page updates that include the latest guidance for employee qualifications and additional resources like contact forms and a COVID-19 specific unemployment claim handbook CLICK HERE.
- CARES Act Unemployment Assistance
**Please note this will be updated when we receive further guidance from the federal level that will allow independent contractors and some business owners to receive benefits**Greater Boston Legal Services Information
Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceI am happy to announce that claimants can now file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)!You can do so by applying at: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-pandemic-unemployment-assistancePUA is a program open to the following individuals:
- Self-employed individuals, including gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors
- Those seeking part-time employment
- Claimants that have an insufficient work history to qualify for benefits
- And claimants that have been laid off from churches and religious institutions and are not eligible for benefits under state law