How to File for Unemployment in Maryland
How to apply for unemployment in Maryland, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: File an initial claim online in BEACON or by calling a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Have your Social Security number, contact details, every employer from the last 18 months with dates and reasons for separation, dependents' information, and any federal (SF-8/SF-50) or military (DD-214)… Maryland Department of Labor, A Guide to Reemployment; Claimants page
| How to apply | File an initial claim online in BEACON or by calling a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Have your Social Security number, contact details, every employer from the last 18 months with dates and reasons for separation, dependents' information, and any federal (SF-8/SF-50) or military (DD-214) forms. Identity verification may be required. File a weekly claim certification for each week, from Sunday through Saturday of the following week, in BEACON, the MD Unemployment for Claimants app or by phone (410-949-0022 or 800-827-4839). A decision can take up to 21 days. |
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| Earnings needed to qualify | You must have earned enough wages in covered employment in at least two quarters of your base period. The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters; if you do not qualify, an alternate base period of the four most recently completed quarters is used. Under the statutory benefit schedule, the lowest qualifying line requires high-quarter wages of more than $1,176 and total base period wages of at least $1,800. |
| Work search requirements | Register once in the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE), and upload a resume that employers can see and keep it up to date. Each week, complete at least three valid reemployment activities, at least one of which must be a job contact (such as submitting an application, an in-person employer contact or a job interview). Keep a detailed record of contacts and activities; the MWE Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log is recommended. You may be selected for a required reemployment (RESEA) workshop. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | Maryland unemployment claims are handled in the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal, called BEACON, run by the Maryland Department of Labor. Log in to BEACON to file your claim and answer the weekly certification questions. To certify your claim or check payment status by phone (24/7), call 410-949-0022 or 1-800-827-4839; claims agents are at 667-207-6520, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. BEACON claimant login: https://beacon.labor.maryland.gov/beacon/claimant-page.html |
Where to get help in Maryland
More Maryland unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Maryland Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Maryland
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Maryland
- Unemployment After Quitting in Maryland
- How Much Unemployment Pays in Maryland
- All Maryland unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in Maryland?
File an initial claim online in BEACON or by calling a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Have your Social Security number, contact details, every employer from the last 18 months with dates and reasons for separation, dependents' information, and any federal (SF-8/SF-50) or military (DD-214) forms. Identity verification may be required. File a weekly claim certification for each week, from Sunday through Saturday of the following week, in BEACON, the MD Unemployment for Claimants app or by phone (410-949-0022 or 800-827-4839). A decision can take up to 21 days.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Maryland?
You must have earned enough wages in covered employment in at least two quarters of your base period. The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters; if you do not qualify, an alternate base period of the four most recently completed quarters is used. Under the statutory benefit schedule, the lowest qualifying line requires high-quarter wages of more than $1,176 and total base period wages of at least $1,800.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Maryland?
Register once in the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE), and upload a resume that employers can see and keep it up to date. Each week, complete at least three valid reemployment activities, at least one of which must be a job contact (such as submitting an application, an in-person employer contact or a job interview). Keep a detailed record of contacts and activities; the MWE Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log is recommended. You may be selected for a required reemployment (RESEA) workshop.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Maryland?
Maryland unemployment claims are handled in the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal, called BEACON, run by the Maryland Department of Labor. Log in to BEACON to file your claim and answer the weekly certification questions. To certify your claim or check payment status by phone (24/7), call 410-949-0022 or 1-800-827-4839; claims agents are at 667-207-6520, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.