In state of Massachusetts can you collect unemployment while receiving severance?
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As long as you sign the waiver, you will get both. Confirmed by my attorney today.
In MA you can indeed collect Unemployment even if you get a severance from Staples.
If you are asked to sign an agreement (called a release of claims) in order to receive your severance, you are allowed to collect full unemployment as well as severance in MA.
Staples didn't follow through with their last round of severance agreements. Even if you signed one, keep a close eye on the payment terms and plan to get a lawyer.
10 minutes to get a live representative
Spoke to mass unemployment today. You can collect while receiving severance. Your weekly amount may go down, but they determine that when you enter your weekly severance pay. They are more than happy to walk through it. It only took 10 to get a live representative.
I was laid off 11 years ago and was able to collect while receiving severance.
Without a written agreement and waiver of rights, severance pay in Massachusetts is considered to be income and the terminated employee would not collect unemployment benefits for the same weeks as the employee received severance pay. Keep in mind that employers may make a lump sum severance payment or pay severance over the course of a number of weeks. The manner in which the severance is paid may affect unemployment benefits if there is no written agreement. Other statements in the agreement may also affect whether you will be eligible for unemployment benefits.