While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Maryland’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Maryland, you must:
You can learn more about Maryland’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Maryland, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Maryland’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, you can call 1 (877) 293-4125.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Maryland Department of Labor’s customer service at between the hours of 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Saturday and 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Sunday.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Maryland.
To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Maryland Department of Labor uses the base period of all your earnings depending on the month in which you file. Then, it adds $8 per dependent up to 5 dependents.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Maryland is $50. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $430.
Learn more about Maryland’s base period and how benefits are calculated here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. In many states, you are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, Maryland does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you became unemployed. Weekly certification applications must be filed every week to continue receiving unemployment benefits.
You can find Maryland’s claimant portal here. Alternatively, you can certify by phone toll-free at 1 (800) 827-4839.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
You will need to first register with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. You must also keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least three valid contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here. File your Weekly Certification Applications here or by phone toll-free at 1 (800) 827-4839.
It’s important to remember that your benefits may be delayed or denied if you do not file your weekly claim.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal to the Maryland Department of Labor within 15 days of receiving a denial. All appeals must include:
To file an appeal by email, send an email explaining your intent to appeal to UILowerAppeals.Labor@maryland.gov.
To file by mail, send your appeal to:
Appeals Division
1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 505
Baltimore, MD 21201
If you have questions with your appeal or need help filing, you can call the Appeals Division at 410-767-2421.
If you have general questions about Maryland Unemployment Benefits, call the Maryland Department of Labor’s customer service center at (877) 293-4125.
You can also call The Division of Unemployment Insurance’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at 410-949-0022. This line is available 24/7 and can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the FAQs page here.
The Maryland Department of Labor is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Maryland Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Maryland Department of Labor (DOL) toll-free customer service center at (877)-293-4125.
If you have general questions about the Unemployment Benefits provided in Maryland, you can call the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at (410) 949-0022. This line is available 24/7 and can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims.
The Maryland Department of Labor is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 pm.
You may need to contact your local unemployment office for specific application questions or assistance. Find contact information for all unemployment offices in Maryland below. Or, go to the Maryland office location page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | McMullen Building, 138 Baltimore Street Cumberland, Maryland 21502 | 301-777-1221 |
| Baltimore City | 3001 E. Madison Street Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Mondawmin Mall, Suite 302 2401 Liberty Heights Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21215 | 410-396-9030 410-396-7873 |
| Baltimore County | 7930 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, Maryland, 21224 3637 Offutt Road Randallstown, Maryland 21133 11101 McCormick Road, Suite 102, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 | 410-288-9050 410-887-8912 410-887-7940 |
| Caroline County | P.O. Box 400, 300 Market Street, Suite 201 Denton, Maryland 21629 | 410-819-4549 |
| Dorchester County | 627-A Race Street Cambridge, Maryland 21613 | 410-901-4250 |
| Frederick | 200 Monroe Avenue, Suite 1 Frederick, Maryland 21701 | 301-600-2255 |
| Garrett | Garrett College Southern Outreach Center 14 N. 8th Street Oakland, Maryland 21550 | 301-334-8136 |
| Howard County | 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia, Maryland 21046 | 410-290-2600 |
| Kent County | 115A S. Lynchburg Street Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-3525 |
| Montgomery County | 11510 Georgia Avenue Wheaton, Maryland 20902 12900 Middlebrook Road Germantown, Maryland 20874 | 301-929-4350 240-406-5485 |
| Prince George’s County | 1801 McCormick Drive, 1st floor Largo, Maryland 20774 | 301-618-8400 |
| Queen Anne’s County | 125 Comet Drive Centreville, Maryland 21617 | 410-758-8044 |
| Somerset County | Lower Shore Job Center 31901 Tri-County Way, Suite 111, Salisbury, Maryland 21804 | 410-341-8533 |
| Talbot County | 301 Bay Street, Suite 301 Easton, Maryland 21601 | 410-822-3030 |
| Washington County | 14 N. Potomac Street, Suite 100 Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 | 301-393-8200 |
If you have general questions about Maryland Unemployment Benefits, call the Maryland Department of Labor’s toll-free customer service center at (877) 293-4125.
You can also call The Division of Unemployment Insurance’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at (410) 949-0022. This line is available 24/7 and can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the FAQs page here.
The Maryland Department of Labor is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Maryland, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Maryland’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, you can call 1 (877) 293-4125.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Maryland Department of Labor’s customer service at between the hours of 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Saturday and 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Sunday.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your claim by logging in to the Maryland BEACON portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Maryland Department of Labor’s customer service line at (877) 293-4125.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, unlike many other U.S. states, Maryland does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you became unemployed. Weekly certification applications must be filed every week to continue receiving unemployment benefits.
You can find Maryland’s claimant portal here. Alternatively, you can certify by phone toll-free at 1 (800) 827-4839.
Learn more about the waiting period and when to expect benefits payments here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal to the Maryland Department of Labor within 15 days of receiving a denial. All appeals must include:
To file by mail, send your appeal to:
Appeals Division
1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 505
Baltimore, MD 21201
If you have questions with your appeal or need help filing, you can call the Appeals Division at (410) 767-2421.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Maryland Department of Labor at (877) 293-4125.
The Maryland Department of Labor customer service telephone line and all local Unemployment Offices are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM until 12:00 pm.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
For general questions about the Maryland Unemployment Insurance process, you can call
The Division of Unemployment Insurance’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at 410-949-0022. This line is available 24/7 and can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the FAQs page here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.