Work Search Information - Unemployment Insurance

To be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, claimants must be able and available for work and must actively search for work (a claimant refers to an individual who submits a claim for UI benefits).

For detailed information about the active search for work requirement, see the Maryland Work Search Requirements webpage.

A claimant may be exempt from the work search requirement if the claimant is:

• On a temporary layoff of 10 weeks of less, with a definite return-to-work date (verified by the employer);

• A member of a union and is only permitted to seek/be assigned work through the union hiring hall;

• In a training program approved by the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance;

• Serving on a jury;

• Participating in the Work Sharing layoff aversion UI program; or,

• On a temporary layoff of 11 to 26 weeks, with a definite return-to-work date (verified by the employer), and the layoff is not due to vacation, inventory, or a labor dispute. To qualify for an exemption in this case, the Maryland Labor Secretary must approve a written request submitted jointly by the employer and the impacted employee(s).

A claimant may log in to BEACON to see if a work search exemption applies (by selecting “Account Profile and Maintenance” from the left menu and then selecting “Claimant Maintenance.” Any exemption that applies will be listed under the “Work Search Requirement” tab under “Exemption”).

Employers who have questions may contact the Employer Call Center at 410-949-0033 or toll-free at 1-800-492-5524 (for call center hours, see the Employer and Third-Party Agent Contacts webpage).