In Massachusetts, the minimum benefit is $52 per week, and the maximum benefit is $1,015 per week.
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Have Expired
Although additional money -- $300 extra per week -- was available under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, that program expired on September 6, 2021. For weeks of unemployment starting on September 6 or later, these extra benefits will no longer be paid.
A different federal program -- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance -- made benefits available temporarily to workers who were not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, including freelancers, gig workers, and other contractors. That program also expired on September 6, 2021.
How Massachusetts Determines Benefit Amounts
Each state determines how much it will pay in unemployment benefits. Generally, the weekly benefit amount is some fraction or percentage of your earnings in the base period or your highest paid quarter of the base period.
In Massachusetts, you can calculate your weekly benefit by adding up all of your wages during the two highest paid quarters of the base period; dividing this amount by 26 to determine your average weekly wage during this time; then dividing that total by two.
To make sure these amounts are still current when you apply for benefits, contact the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.