The Unemployment Insurance (UI) rate schedule for Massachusetts employers increased in 2024 from Schedule A (lowest) to Schedule C. Contact your lawmakers today to express your concern! In conjunction with the rate schedule change, the COVID-19 assessment portion of UI bills will decrease, theoretically keeping first quarter bills somewhat flat.

While this was expected, a schedule change is still technically a tax increase raising UI tax rates. While it may not be noticeable as the COVID-19 assessment drops, lawmakers should be reminded that UI rates are in fact increasing, and had they provided more financial support from ARPA, CARES, or excess revenue, UI taxes would not be as high. They should also be reminded that the COVID-19 assessment is for layoffs that were not the fault of Massachusetts employers, rather due to state-mandated shutdowns and restrictions.

It is important to keep the UI issue on lawmakers’ radar screens because there is still uncertainty surrounding a $2.5 billion UI error that the federal government may decide the state is responsible for repaying. In no way should small business owners be liable for paying for this massive state error on top of a $2.7 billion COVID assessment.

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