By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Boston, MA) Unemployment claims in Massachusetts grew by 80,153 the week of April 12 – April 18. That number is down 22%, although 400,000 individuals receive unemployment benefits in Massachusetts at this time. To serve the vast unemployment claims pouring into the Commonwealth, the Department of Unemployment Assistance has grown from 50 individuals to 1,000 individuals that work remotely. These employees are responsibility for 20,000 contacts per day. This week, Massachusetts launched Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, and has received over 200,000 applications thus far. The Department of Unemployment Assistance website can be found here.