RESEA Resources
Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA)
The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor to help unemployment insurance claimants return to work faster. Permanently separated claimants are required to participate in the RESEA program.
Once you have received your first unemployment check, you will receive notification to participate in the RESEA program. You will be required to register on MassHire JobQuest, attend a Career Center Seminar (CCS) and meet other program requirements, which include completing a Career Action Plan (CAP), conducting labor market research, tracking your work search activities, providing a resume, and participating in ongoing reemployment services.
All of your program requirements will be explained to you at the Initial RESEA Review, following the CCS, where you will meet 1-on-1 with a Career Specialist.
Important note about the RESEA Program
Failure to comply with the RESEA program requirements will result in a delay or loss of your unemployment benefits.
Should you seek guidance, regarding RESEA, or wish to connect with a staff member, reach out to resea@masshirebristol.org. Your journey is our shared narrative, and we're here to support and celebrate every step. Let's re-engage, learn, and continue shaping success stories together!
The major steps involved with successfully completing the RESEA Program are:
Attend a
Career Center Seminar(CCS)
Attend a
One on One
Initial RESEA Review
(Goals will be created for the Final RESEA Review)
Complete an Interim Service with a MassHire Career Center
Attend and Attain all RESEA Goals during a
One on One
Final RESEA Review
Complete a
Future Service with a MassHire Career Center
After attending a Career Center Seminar ( CCS ), watch this video which will help you prepare for an Initial RESEA Review
The slides below are shown in our CCS and pertain to RESEA
What do I need for my Initial RESEA Review and/or Final RESEA Review?
If you've already scheduled an appointment, with a staff member, for an Initial RESEA Review, You should be prepared to show proof of the following during the visits ( Virtual or In-Person ):
Proof of Identity - Photo ID Required
Completed registration on MassHire JobQuest - https://jobquest.dcs.eol.mass.gov/JobQuest/RegisterLanding.aspx - Staff can verify this in our system
Completing your full MassHire JobQuest profile will not only streamline the rest of the process but will also enable our staff to focus more on providing guidance that supports your journey to reemployment.
Complete a RESEA UI Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire ( Found in the RESEA Forms button below ) & Review worksearch activity logs for all weeks that benefits were requested.
During the Initial RESEA Review your assigned staff member will work with you to ensure you have the following completed in preparation for the Final RESEA Review:
A viable Resume
A completed Labor Market Information Worksheet ( or entered into the "Career Action Plan" section of MassHire JobQuest )
Properly filled out Worksearch Activity Logs ( or printouts from the UI Online System if entered there )
Schedule an Interim Service with a MassHire Career Center - There are many verifiable services provided that can count as an Interim Service
***This Interim Service must be completed after the Initial RESEA Review and before the Final RESEA Review***
Staff will create a Career Action Plan ( CAP ) with you and it will be used to guide you through the rest of the RESEA Program
Review and Acknowledgement of the following 2 statements that can be found on the CAP:
I have assisted in developing this Career Action Plan and I agree with goal and actions selected. I agree to the level of cooperation and participation needed for me to complete this plan, including meeting with the Career Center staff. I am able, available, and actively seeking employment. I understand that failure to comply with this plan will result in a loss of my unemployment benefits.
I have been informed about the Training Opportunity Program (Section 30) and understand that I must apply for the Training Opportunity Program (Section 30) by the 20th payable week of my Unemployment Insurance payments to be eligible for Section 30 Unemployment benefits. I have also been informed about the Trade Program, my employer verified as TAA or not and advised of next steps (File MA Form 1666) and deadlines if company is certified.
Schedule a Final RESEA Review
During the Final RESEA Review your assigned staff member will sign off on any completed goals that were created during the Initial RESEA Review and will include:
Certifying that a viable Resume is available and has been review by staff
Certifying that Labor Market Research has been completed for an occupation relevant to your job search
Certifying that a RESEA UI Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire has been completed at both the Initial RESEA Review and the Final RESEA Review and that you are Able, Available and Actively Seeking Work.
This includes certifying additional work search activity logs since the last visit
Certify that the Interim Service was completed and is verifiable
Schedule a Future Service - There are many verifiable services provided that can count as an Future Service
Attain the RESEA Review if all goals have been met
How to complete your Labor Market Research:
Goal: Labor market research is a tool to help you make decisions about your job search. As discussed in the orientation, this research is critical to understanding if there are employers seeking your skills. Completing this worksheet should help you make more informed job searching decisions about your current skills and occupation.
Requirement: As part of your job search requirement, you need to conduct labor market research on your current occupation. Please complete this form and bring it with you to the REA review session and/or your appointment with a career advisor.
Sources: There are various websites you can browse to find the labor market information concerning your occupation. You will find some listed below. Use the information you find to answer the questions on the Labor Market Research Worksheet ( Found in the RESEA Forms button below ).
The staff member assigned to you for RESEA can help guide you through the process of collecting and documenting the Labor Market Information ( LMI ).
The button below contains forms that you may need to complete the RESEA Program:
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long do I have to complete the RESEA Program?
A. You have 5 weeks after enrollment to complete the entire RESEA Program
Q. How long do I have to attend a CCS and Attain an Initial RESEA Review?
A. You have 3 weeks after enrollment to attend a CCS and attain the Initial RESEA Review
Q. When was my "Enrollment Date?
A. The enrollment date is the date that shows at the top-right of the RESEA notification letter. This enrollment date corresponds to the day of your first payment from UI. A MassHire staff member can also verify the date.
Q. Which activities count as an Interim or Future Service?
A. Nearly any activity facilitated by a MassHire Career Center can satisfy the requirements for these services. MassHire Career Centers across the Commonwealth offer a wide variety of workshops, both in-person and virtual, available to all registered job seekers. You’re not limited to services from just one MassHire location—you’re welcome to take advantage of any center’s offerings!
Events can be searched via MassHire JobQuest here: https://jobquest.dcs.eol.mass.gov/jobquest/NewEvents/Events.aspx
Q. Can my UI benefits be stopped if I do not complete the RESEA Program within the deadline?
A. Yes, your benefits may be impacted if deadlines are not met
Q. Do I have to go into your office to complete RESEA?
A. We provide access to services both Virtually and In-Person. If you can connect to a Virtual Meeting ( Google Meet ), with a working camera, you can complete the Initial RESEA Review and the Final RESEA Review without going into the office. Photo ID will be required to be shown for the Initial & Final RESEA Reviews.
We also provide workshops and other events using WebEx, so they can also be completed virtually, if you can successfully connect.
Q. Do I have to complete the RESEA Program if I've already returned to work?
A. That depends on when you returned to work and when you were enrolled in the RESEA Program.
If you returned to work prior to the enrollment date listed on your RESEA letter ( date of the letter ), please contact a MassHire Career Center and speak with a RESEA Staff Member. You may be eligible to be exempted from the entire program.
If you returned to work after the enrollment date listed on your RESEA letter ( date of the letter ), please contact a MassHire Career Center and speak with a RESEA Staff Member. You may be eligible to be exempted from certain parts of the program.
Q. Is there a certain website I have to use to search for jobs while enrolled in RESEA?
A. No. You can search for jobs using any method that lead to gainful employment.
Some common websites for job search can be found here
Q. How can I track/submit Work Search Logs and how often am I required to do so?
A. You can track your work search activity using the form available in the "RESEA Forms" button above or by entering them into UI Online when you are completing your weekly request for benefits. You must provide a minimum of 3 work search activities for every week that you requested benefits from Unemployment. When requesting benefits, you must acknowledge that you are Able, Available & Actively Seeking Work in order to receive payment from UI. The work search activity logs act as documentation that supports that statement made to UI.
For RESEA purposes, a MassHire Career Center would have to validate those logs. If your logs are entered into the UI Online system, a MassHire staff member can instruct you how to retrieve them from UI Online.
Q. How will Unemployment know that I attended a Career Center Seminar(CCS)?
A. Attendance is handled in our system and transmitted to UI electronically.
Q. Will I be assigned a RESEA Staff Member? If so, When?
A. We do our very best to assign you to a RESEA staff member within 2 business days of attending a Career Center Seminar(CCS) or watching the Welcome to the MassHire Career Center Seminar (CCS) On-Demand Video via MassHire JobQuest. While not always possible, we make every attempt to contact you within 2 business days. Our staff will attempt to call/email using the information available to us in our system, so make sure MassHire JobQuest is updated with current information.
Q. If I failed to complete the RESEA Program within the current Benefit Year, what is the first step to get caught up?
A. Reaching out to us @ help@masshirebristol.org is a great start. Each case can be slightly different and a staff member can give the best guidance available. UI works in a weekly manner, so completing the RESEA Program in any week will most likely restart your benefits when requesting the following Sunday --> Saturday. Not all claims can be restarted automatically so please reach out to us or directly to UI @ 877-626-6800
Q. If I live in another state but worked in Massachusetts, do I still need to participate in the RESEA program?
A. If UI enrolls you in RESEA, you must complete RESEA in order to continue to receive benefits.
Q. How can I contact a Program Manager for RESEA?
A. Email our RESEA Program Management Team anytime at resea@masshirebristol.org