Unemployment Services (UI)
Unemployment Services by Phone
- To apply by phone:
Toll free in Massachusetts: 1 (877) 626-6800
Outside Massachusetts: 1 (617) 626-6800 - (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Unemployment Representatives are available via telephone to assist with Unemployment Insurance matters, including:
- Questions regarding a potential claim
- Filing a new claim
- Questions regarding an existing claim
- Changes to an existing claim
- Reopening a claim
- Filing for an exention
UI Services and Procedures at the Career Center of Lowell
Please note our new unemployment process, effective January 11, 2010:
All customers interested in meeting with an Unemployment Representative to discuss their claim must make an appointment in person at the Career Center of Lowell's office on 107 Merrimack Street in Lowell, MA.
An Unemployment Representative from the Career Center of Lowell will meet with you in person to assist you with Unemployment Insurance matters, including:- Questions regarding a potential claim
- Filing a new claim
- Questions regarding an existing claim
- Changes to an existing claim
- Reopening a claim
- Filing for an exention
Appointments will be made at the front desk every Monday at 8:30 a.m., and will continue through the week until all slots are taken. Appointments will be made on a first come, first serve basis. (Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Fridays 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
We are unable to accommodate anyone without an appointment.
Due to the high demand for services, no telephone appointment requests will be allowed and Unemployment Representatives at the Career Center will not accept incoming telephone calls. (You may call the above listed telephone numbers to discuss your claim by telphone.)
No children are allowed at the Career Center of Lowell, including the Unemployment Insurance Department. Feel free to review our Childrens Policy for more information. If you do not have child care arrangements you can call the Unemployment TeleClaim Center at (877) 626-6800 or (617) 626-6800.
Please Note:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, there is a possibility that even though you have an appointment, you may not be seen on the day/time/week you are scheduled for. The career Center will make every attempt to contact you to let you know if this occurs. If your appointment is cancelled, you may call the TeleClaim Center at (877) 626-6800 or (617) 626-6800 (for area codes 617 and outside of Massachusetts) between the hours of Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
The above procedures are based on current customer traffic and demand. These procedures are subject to change.
After a Claim is Filed
Once a claim for unemployment has been opened, you may be directed to attend a Career Center Seminar (CCS). These seminars are an early intervention approach for providing re-employment services to help speed the return to productive employment.
Training Opportunities Program (Section 30) of the Massachusetts Employment and Training Law allows claimants to have their work search requirement waived while attending an approved training program. Customers must file a Section 30 application with the Division of Unemployment Assistance for program approval prior to starting a training program. A weekly workshop is offered on the Calendar of Events to provide you with information about this program. If you apply by the end of your 15th paid claim week and are approved to participate in training, you may receive up to an additional 18 weeks of UI benefits not to exceed the end date of your training. If you apply after the 15th week and are approved, you may attend a training program but you will not be eligible for the UI benefits extension.
For more information on the Massachusetts Unemployment system, visit the Unemployment section of the DCS/DUA web site