How Long Do You Need To Work To Get Unemployment

Important

Because of the Covid-19 emergency, many people are out of work and looking for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Many of the rules have changed because of this emergency. You may be able to get Unemployment faster and more easily than before. See Covid-19 and Unemployment Insurance.

Most workers in Massachusetts are covered by Unemployment Insurance. Getting Unemployment Insurance usually depends on three things:

How much money did you earn at your job?
Why did you leave your job?
Are you ready and able to get another job?

How much money did you earn at your job in the last year?

To get Unemployment Insurance, you must have earned at least $5,100 in the last year, and you must have worked for at least 15 weeks in the last year (in most cases). The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) looks at how much you earned during the time they call a "base period". During the base period, you must have earned at least $5,100. You can find out your base period by looking at the table below. Sometimes, the base periods listed below work out so that it looks like you cannot get unemployment insurance. Sometimes the DUA, will use an "alternate base period" that gives a better idea of your most recent earnings. You can find out more about base periods and alternate base periods on the DUA's webpage Understanding Your Base Period & Benefit Year.

If you apply for benefits in:	You must have earned at least $5,100 in your base period
January, February, March, 2020	From October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019
April, May, or June, 2020	From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019
July, August, September, 2020	From April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020
October, November, December 2010	From July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

Why did you leave your job?

Not everyone who loses his or her job can get Unemployment Insurance. To get Unemployment Insurance benefits, you must have wanted to keep your job or tried to keep it. In other words, losing your job was out of your control.

Example

The company you work for goes out of business. It is not your fault that you no longer have a job. You should be able to get unemployment benefits.

If you quit, you may still be able to get Unemployment Insurance. You will need to show you had a good reason to quit your job and that you took reasonable steps to try and keep your job.

If you were fired because you could not do your job, you may be able to get Unemployment Insurance. You will need to show that you did not break any rules at work on purpose.

Are you ready and able to work and are you looking for a new job?

The DUA only gives unemployment benefits to people who are ready and able to work. To get benefits, you must look for work. To keep getting benefits, you need to tell DUA how you have searched for a job. You must "certify" your job search every week. You can certify your job search either by computer "webcert" or by telephone "telecert."

Domestic Violence

If you quit or lose your job because of domestic violence, you may be able to get unemployment benefits. You may need to explain to DUA that you or your children are victims of domestic violence, and that you lost or quit your job due to the domestic violence.

You do not have to tell your employer about the domestic violence.

If you or your children have suffered domestic violence and you are in danger right now, call 911. If you are not in immediate danger, you can phone SafeLink 1-877-785-2020, or Casa Myrna Vasquez 1-800-992-2600 for help with all kinds of problems.