Massachusetts residents filing new unemployment claims this week — along with eligible existing claimants — will now be able to receive benefits for up to 30 weeks, an increase from the previous maximum of 26 weeks. This extension was triggered under state law, which mandates an increase in unemployment benefits when the jobless rate in any of the Commonwealth’s seven metropolitan statistical areas exceeds a 5.1% threshold, averaged over 12 months. According to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), newly released federal data show that the Springfield metro area has reached a 12-month average unemployment rate of 5.2%, surpassing the trigger point. While the other six metro areas currently have unemployment averages below 5%, the extension applies statewide once the threshold is crossed in any one area. Please see the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance’s FAQ for additional information on maximum unemployment insurance benefits.