Bill > H2033

This bill aims to increase unemployment insurance benefits for low-wage workers in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Calculating unemployment benefits based on the total wages reported in the two highest quarters of the base period, rather than just the highest quarter, to prevent individuals from becoming ineligible for benefits. 2. Reducing the minimum base period wages required to qualify for unemployment benefits from 30 times the weekly benefit rate to 15 times the average weekly wage, or 13 times the average weekly wage if the individual is rendered ineligible under the previous requirement. 3. Increasing the maximum weekly unemployment benefit rate to 57.5% of the average weekly wage for all covered employees, and setting the minimum weekly benefit rate at 20% of the average weekly wage or 75% of the individual's average weekly wage, whichever is lower. 4. Reducing the total benefits an individual can receive during their benefit year from 30 times the weekly benefit rate to 26 times the weekly benefit rate, but only if the state's average local unemployment rate is below 5.1% in each of the 10 metropolitan statistical areas for the last 12 months.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H2033