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Home My Public Portal AboutCOVID-19 Unemployment Information 3-23-20Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-19 I Mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... EMERGENCY ALERTS Coronavirus Update Stay informed about coronavirus - COVID-19. Learn more. Mar. 261h, 2020, 9:00 am Read more COVID-19 Essential Services: Details on Governor's Order Mar. 23rd, 2020, 70:00 am Read more s Mass.gov Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVI D-19 Answers to frequently asked questions about filing for unemployment during the COVID-19 emergency. In order to assist unemployed workers, and in order to address the many drastic impacts the current COVID-19 emergency is having on Massachusetts employers and workers, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) enacted emergency regulations on March 16, 2020, and has taken a number of other steps to assist you during the current COVID-19 emergency. Additionally, this week Governor Baker signed new legislation waiving the waiting week for unemployment benefits in cases related to COVID-19. The following questions and answers explain the recent changes at DUA and clarify some other questions you may have regarding DUA during this difficult time. TABLE OF CONTENTS My employer has shut down because of the coronavirus? Should I apply for unemployment? (#my-employer-has-shut-down-because-of-the-coronavirus?-should-i-a pply-for-unemployment?-) If I'm approved, how much will my weekly benefit be? 1 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-19 I Mass.gov https://www.ntass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... (#if-i'm-approved,-how-much-wi I I -my -wee kly-benefit-be?-) For how long can I collect benefits? (#for-how-long-can-i-collect-benefits?-.) Will I get benefits for the first week I am unemployed? (# wi l l-i-get-benefits-fo r-th e-first-week-i -a m -unemployed?-) My employer has reduced my hours because of COVID-19. Should I apply for unemployment benefits? (#my -em p l oye r-has-reduced-my-hours-because-of-covi d -19. -should -i-apply-for-unemployment-benefits?-) I have been quarantined, and my employer has told me to return after quarantine. Should I apply? (#i -have-been-q ua ra nti ned,-a n d -my-e m pl oye r -ha s -told -m e -to -return -after -q ua ra n ti ne.-sh ould-i-apply?-) I have been quarantined, and my employer has told me not to return after quarantine. Should I apply? (A -have -been -qua rantined,-and-my-employer-has-told-me-not-to-return-after-quarantine.-should-i-apply?-) I was already collecting UI due to a reason unrelated to COVID-19. What do I do about work search? (#i-was-a I read y -co I I ecti ng-u i -d u e-to-a-rea so n -u n re fated-to-covi d -19. -what -d o-i-do-a bout -work -sea rc h?-) I was late responding to DUA questions, or late appealing a denial due to coronavirus. Am I excused? (#i-was-late-responding-to-dua-questions,-or-late-appealing-a-denial-due-to-coronavirus.-am-i-excused?-) What if my workplace is shut down, and I am working from home? (#w hat-if-my-workp I a ce-i s -shut -d own,-and-i-a m -working -fro m -home?-) Show More -9.)- 0 My employer has shut down because of the coronavirus? Should I apply for unemployment? Yes. Apply as soon as possible. Please apply online (/unemployment-insurance-ui-online). 2 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-I91 Mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... Additional Resources Unemployment Insurance (UI) Online (/unemployment-insurance-ui-online) If I'm approved, how much will my weekly benefit be? You will get approximately half of your average weekly wage up to a maximum of $823. You also get $25 per dependent child up to an amount that is half of your UI check. Calculate your weekly benefit amount by using the benefits calculator (/info-details/how-your-unemployment-benefits-are-determined). Additional Resources How your unemployment benefits are determined (/info-deta i I s/how-you r -unemployment -benefits -are -determined) For how long can I collect benefits? You can receive up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, total, in a benefit year. Will I get benefits for the first week I am unemployed? Yes. If you applied on or after March 10, 2020, you will get unemployment benefits for the first week of unemployment. My employer has reduced my hours because of COVID-19. Should I apply for unemployment 3 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-191 Mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... benefits? Yes, if your employer has reduced your hours of work or your wages, you may be eligible for partial unemployment benefits. I have been quarantined, and my employer has told me to return after quarantine. Should I apply? Yes. Workers who are temporarily unemployed due to lack of work because of COVID-19 will be eligible for unemployment benefits. They will be considered unemployed due to lack of work regardless of whether they are quarantined, laid off, furloughed, or if their workplace is fully or partially shut down temporarily. This status is granted automatically for the first 4 weeks, and then, your employer may request that this status be extended to 8 weeks. If necessary, DUA has authority to allow for longer periods. Instead of looking for other work, you must remain in reasonable contact with your employer, and be prepared to go back to work when the employer has hours for you and you are able to do so. I have been quarantined, and my employer has told me not to return after quarantine. Should I apply? Yes. A worker is who is quarantined due to an order by a civil authority or medical professional or leaves employment due to reasonable risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member and does not intend to or is not allowed to return to work is eligible for unemployment benefits. The worker need not provide medical documentation and need only be available for work when and as able. I was already collecting UI due to a reason unrelated to COVID-19. What do I do about work search? 4 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-19 I Mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... You should continue to do an online work search as you are able. Many things that can be done remotely count as work search activities. For example, continue to monitor job boards and post resumes. You only need accept suitable work, however. If you are quarantined, are self - quarantining due to a reasonable fear of exposure, or you must care for a family member who is sick, or a child who is at home, you do not need to accept work until those conditions resolve. I was late responding to DUA questions, or late appealing a denial due to coronavirus. Am excused? Yes. If you or a member of your immediate family or household is ill with a suspected or confirmed case of the virus, or you have been directed to quarantine by your employer, medical professional, or health official or government authority, DUA will consider this to be good cause for not meeting the deadline, whether or not you or a member of your immediate family or household has been actually diagnosed with the coronavirus. What if my workplace is shut down, and I am working from home? You are not eligible for unemployment if you are working full-time hours in any given week, even from home. If you were a full-time employee before your workplace shut down and you now are working part-time hours from home, you may be eligible for partial unemployment benefits. My employer laid me off temporarily but offered part-time work. Can I work and collect benefits? Yes. But you must report any earnings. Once the earnings reach a certain amount, your unemployment benefits will be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis until you reach the amount of your weekly benefit, in which case, you will be ineligible for that week. This calculation is 5 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM Employee Unemployment FAQ: COVID-19 I Mass.gov https:/Avww.mass.gov/info-details/employee-unemployment-fa... done on a weekly basis, so you need to accurately report your earnings to DUA each week. I was already receiving benefits when the COVID-19 crisis hit. What will happen when I hit 26 weeks? Unfortunately, under current law 26 weeks is the maximum amount of benefits to which you're entitled. Once you reach that limit you are not entitled to more weeks, even if you began your claim before the current crisis. I'm self-employed but no longer able to work due to COVID-19. Am I eligible for benefits? Currently, self-employed individuals and properly -classified 1099 contract employees are not eligible for unemployment benefits. RELATED Unemployment assistance contact form (/forms/covid-79-department-of-unemployment-assistance-contact-request) Did you find what you were looking for on this webpage? Yes 0 No 6 of 6 3/27/2020, 8:49 AM