Coronavirus Employment Information

GBLS Services During the Coronavirus

Unemployment Benefits/Beneficios de Desempleo (also see flyers in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Nepali)

Unemployment benefits are the best source of support for workers who have recently lost their jobs, had hours reduced, or been temporarily laid off because of Coronavirus/COVID-19. 

Benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are available for workers who are self-employed or independent contractors (paid with a 1099), who have used up regular unemployment benefits, who have not earned enough ($5100 in the past 15 months) for regular unemployment benefits, or who are part-time workers including full-time students with part-time jobs, religious workers, workers in the gig economy and others customarily not eligible for unemployment benefits. If you are in these categories, apply on the Department of Unemployment Assistance website at www.mass.gov/pua. 

The fastest and best way to file an unemployment benefits claim is online: www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online. 

If you have difficulty with the online claim form because you do not read English or do not have access to a computer, you can request Unemployment Benefits Assistance from GBLS by filling out this short form. You can also leave your name and phone number at (617) 603-1530 (Spanish) or (617) 603-1639 (English and all other languages). Someone connected with GBLS will call you to provide assistance. 

For more detailed information about Coronavirus/COVID-19 and eligibility for unemployment benefits, please read the fact sheets available at www.masslegalservices.org/covid-19-and-ui.