Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Citizens' Guide to State Services
Published by
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Citizen Information Service
Employment: Unemployment Compensation
F27 Department of Unemployment Assistance
F28 Fraud Hotline
F29 Interstate Services Division
F30 Employer Contribution Division
F31 Massachusetts Worksharing Program
F27 Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617-626-6800
Toll Free: 1-877-626-6800
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance
Walk-in Hours Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 (Boston only)
The division administers the unemployment insurance program to eligible unemployed workers and promotes employment of the Commonwealth's job seekers. Through their telephone claims center, callers can initiate new claims, reopen existing claims, track the status of a claim, connect with the One Stop Career Centers, or ask questions of DUA employees.
There are two ways to file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim:
File by phone:
If you live in area code 617, 857, 781, or 339 call the TeleClaim Center at 617-626-6800.
If you live in area code 508, 774, 978, 351, or 413, call the TeleClaim Center at 1-877-626-6800.
File in person:
You may file a claim in person at any Walk-in Center, call for the nearest location.
Information to have with you when you call/visit:
You Social Security Number, year of birth, and your home address and telephone number.
Whether an unemployment insurance claim in Massachusetts or in
any other state has been filed during the past 12 months, and your last day of employment.
Other necessary information: the names and addresses of all employers worked for during the15 months prior to filing
a claim and the dates worked for each. If reopening a claim, the same information for
the past 8 weeks; the reason for unemployment reduction in hours; the names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent
children, if applying for dependency allowance; and Alien registration number if not a U.S. citizen.
F28 Fraud Hotline
Program Integrity Department
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 8610
Boston, MA 02114
Toll Free: 1-800-354-9927
www.mass.gov/how-to/report-unemployment-insurance-fraud
E-mail: UIFraud@massmail.state.ma.us
The Program Integrity Department has as its primary function investigating allegations of abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct within the Division of Unemployment Assistance. It has implemented a 24-hour fraud hotline for employees, claimants, and employers to anonymously report any fraud, waste, or wrongdoing in the health insurance payment and collection process of unemployment. Confidential reports may be faxed or e-mailed as well.
F29 Interstate Claims
Division of Unemployment Assistance
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617-626-6800
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance
This office assists Massachusetts unemployment insurance claimants who were employed in Massachusetts and moved away to another state in the U.S. If an individual moves to the Commonwealth from another state and seeks to file a claim for unemployment insurance against the state in which they were previously employed, the individual must contact the DET office in that other state.
F30 Employer Contributions Division
Division of Unemployment Assistance
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617-626-5075
www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-for-employers
Email: workshare@detma.org
Most employers who employ one or more permanent, temporary or part-time workers in Massachusetts must pay unemployment insurance taxes. A new employer, or any employer who has not done business in Massachusetts before, must notify DUA immediately by filing an Employer Status Report enabling them to establish an employer account and receive a DUA number. The QUEST (quality unemployment system transformation) system of online unemployment contribution by employers is managed by this office.
F31 Massachusetts Workshare Program
Division of Unemployment Assistance
Department of Workforce Development
19 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
Worksharing: 617-626-5510
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: 617-626-5353
www.mass.gov/topics/workshare-program
The Massachusetts Worksharing Program allows employers to avoid laying off some or all of their workers by having all of the workers in a department or unit share reduced work hours. Under worksharing, eligible employees can collect the percentage of their unemployment insurance benefits equal to the percentage of reduction in their wages and hours. In addition, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program was created by the Small Business Job Protection Act. It is a federally-funded program which is used to reduce the federal tax liability of private for-profit employers who hire new employees from select "targeted" areas. Contact the U. S. Department of Labor for more information.
