What Is the Maximum Amount of Weekly Unemployment Benefits in Massachusetts?
Unemployed workers may qualify for unemployment benefits if they lost their job through no fault of their own. Unemployment benefits give the worker a source of income so that he can support himself while he looks for new work. Massachusetts calculates unemployment benefits based on how long the employee worked, and how much money he made.
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Weekly Benefit Amounts
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As of 2011, unemployed workers in Massachusetts may get up to half of their average weekly wage from their last job as an unemployment benefit. However, the maximum benefit amount is $625 per week, regardless of how much the worker earned per week during his period of employment. The unemployment department determines averages by examining the worker's wages over his base period --- the last four of the last five quarters.
Length of Time
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Massachusetts offers unemployment benefits to workers for a maximum of 30 weeks under most circumstances. However, during periods of high unemployment, the federal government may elect to extend unemployment benefits past the 30-week period. When this happens, the state of Massachusetts pays benefits for up to 26 weeks, after which the federal government takes over payments. Federal extensions can last for up to 96 weeks from the date a claim is filed, as of 2011.
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Job Training
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The Massachusetts unemployment department offers job training to workers receiving unemployment benefits. If a worker takes an approved job training program, his benefits may be extended for up to 18 weeks beyond his maximum number of weeks of unemployment benefits. To qualify for this program, an employee must attend job training by the 15th consecutive week of receiving unemployment benefits.
Part-Time Work
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People receiving unemployment benefits may earn up to one-third of their weekly benefit amount via part-time work without losing any of their unemployment benefits. If a worker earns more than this amount, her benefit is reduced by one dollar for each dollar she earns. For example, if a worker's unemployment benefit is $333 per week, she may earn up to $111 per week before losing any of her benefits. If she earns $115 one week, she will lose $4 from her unemployment benefit that week.
Child Care Credit
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If you have dependent children, you can get an extra $25 per week per child as a dependency allowance. For example, if you have three children, you can get an extra $75 on top of your maximum weekly amount. However, you cannot receive a dependency allowance of more than half your weekly benefit amount. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $200, you cannot get a dependency allowance of more than $100 even if you have five children.
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