There is a disconnect here. It does NOT matter where you file a claim . No matter where you file it, you draw the wages from the state(s) that collected the employer taxes in the base period quarters. You get THEIR amount, their adjudicators, their laws, their processes, you do NOT get to pick which state to file from based on what you want unless you have a certain situation of multiple employers and enough wages in the state to set up there. Thousands and thousands of people file interstate claims every week. Florida workers are going to have to "touch" your claim if you are going to live in and draw unemployment in Florida, even though it will be a Massachusetts claim. Yes, federal employees are a different issue, and may sometimes actually choose which state their federal wages are assigned to. But they had better have an address to receive claims material in that state, at least to begin with, and be prepared to go in to in person contacts and do their work searches where they've chosen to file.
People who have federal wages, or multiple states wages in the base period, for example people who travel in the construction trades, they'll often know exactly how it all works,and which state to file in to their advantage, too. I dealt with those issues for thirty four years and have heard more stories than you can imagine. But bringing up all this is complicating something that isn't complicated. This particular person needs to go on and file a claim on line or by phone, somewhere. Even if he files it in Colorado, it will be a Massachusetts claim. If he's going to be living in Florida, they'll get him to the interstate unit, and the interstate unit will coordinate with Florida's interstate unit, regardless.

