Your Complete Guide to Claiming Unemployment Benefits in Maryland

Maryland’s unemployment benefits program can provide critical financial support during income disruptions. Whether you’ve lost your job or had hours drastically reduced due to unforeseen circumstances, understanding the application process and eligibility requirements is your first step toward securing assistance.

Getting Started: Key Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for unemployment benefits in Maryland, you’ll need to satisfy three core conditions. First, your income loss or reduced hours must have occurred through no fault of your own. Second, you must demonstrate that you’re actively able and willing to work (though this requirement was temporarily waived starting March 21 during the pandemic period). Third, your prior earnings must meet specific thresholds established by the state.

Maryland examines your earnings across a base period—typically the first four of your last five completed quarters. For applicants filing in March, this covers October 2018 through September 2019, while April filers look at January through December 2019. You’ll need to have earned at least $1,176 in your highest-earning quarter and at least 1.5 times the standard benefit-line threshold across two quarters combined. For example, if your peak quarter brought in $1,800, you’d need a combined $2,700 from two other quarters to meet the requirement.

If the standard base period doesn’t work in your favor, Maryland offers an alternate option: using your four most recently completed quarters, with identical income requirements applied.

Submitting Your Application for Unemployment Benefits

The Maryland Department of Labor streamlined its application process by implementing a filing schedule based on last names to manage high application volumes:

Online Filing Schedule:

• Monday: Last names A through F
• Tuesday: Last names G through N
• Wednesday: Last names O through Z
• Thursday-Sunday: Anyone can file online

Phone Filing:

• Available Thursday and Friday for all applicants

You’ll need to create an account on the Maryland Department of Labor website and have these details ready:

• Social Security number or Alien Registration Number
• Current address and contact number
• Dependent information (names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers if claiming dependents)
• Complete employer details (name, address, phone) for the last 18 months

After approval, you’re required to submit weekly certification claims. Currently, Maryland offers payment via debit card or mailed check—direct deposit to bank accounts isn’t yet available.

Understanding Your Benefit Amounts

Weekly unemployment benefits in Maryland range from a minimum of $50 to a maximum of $430, determined by your base-period earnings and your highest-earning quarter. You can reference Maryland’s Schedule of Benefits table to estimate your specific amount.

Adding dependents increases your weekly benefit: you can claim an additional $8 per dependent per week, up to five qualifying dependents. Eligible dependents are biological, adopted, or stepchildren under age 16 for whom you provide care. However, your total weekly payment—combining your base benefit and dependent allowances—cannot exceed $430.

The federal CARES Act expanded benefits temporarily, providing an extra $600 per week through July 31, 2020, layered on top of Maryland’s maximum $430 allowance.

Duration and Extension of Benefits

You can typically collect unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks in Maryland, assuming you remain unemployed during this period. The CARES Act provided an additional 13-week extension, effective through December 2020, potentially allowing qualified claimants to receive benefits for up to 39 weeks total.

If Your Claim Gets Denied

Rejection isn’t necessarily final. You have 15 calendar days from receiving your Notice of Benefit Determination to file a written appeal. The notice should outline the specific appeal procedures and submission requirements. Acting within this window is crucial to protecting your eligibility claim.

Navigating unemployment can feel overwhelming, but Maryland’s unemployment benefits program exists precisely to bridge gaps during income disruptions. If you meet the eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits, completing your application promptly ensures you don’t miss out on available support during this challenging period.