Division of Unemployment Insurance

Thanksgiving Day and American Indian Heritage Day - Holiday Message

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (MDUI) offices and call centers will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, and Friday, November 29, 2024, in observance of the Thanksgiving Day and American Indian Heritage Day holidays. MDUI will resume normal operations on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Please note that due to the holiday and bank closures, benefit payments may be delayed. You may continue to file weekly claim certifications while state offices are closed through the BEACON portal.

If you have questions, please call MDUI at 667-207-6520 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Information for New Claimants

If you are a claimant (an individual who files a claim for unemployment insurance benefits) who is new to the unemployment insurance process, visit the Information for New Claimants webpage

Information for New Employers

If you are an employer who is new to the unemployment insurance (UI) process, visit the Information for New Employers webpage.

Information for New Third-Party Agents

If you are a third-party agent who is new to the unemployment insurance (UI) process, visit the Information for New Third-Party Agents webpage.

Contact Information

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) offers several ways claimants, employers, and third-party agents can contact us. See the list below for our primary contact methods.

Please be assured that Maryland does not have a waiting week for UI claims, like many other states do. Claims are effective the week in which they are filed.

Important Contact Information and Links

Power of Attorney Form and Process

Employers are now required to include the following on the Power of Attorney (POA) form:

• Third Party-Administrator/Agent (TPA) Unemployment Insurance ID number.
• Communication preference for each power that is being granted to the TPA.

Please note that approving a POA designation for a TPA takes up to seven business days. No access will be granted to the TPA before the approval. Once approval is granted, the TPA will receive access to perform the requested functions.

To access the form, see the Power of Attorney Authorization Instructions and Form on the Flyers, Forms, and Publications for Employers & Third Party Agents webpage.

BEACON System

Overview

The BEACON unemployment insurance (UI) system integrates all benefits, appeals, and tax functions. BEACON provides a central portal for claimants, employers, and third-party agents to perform a number of important UI tasks.

• Claimant BEACON portal
• Employer BEACON portal
• Third party agent BEACON portal

Download the Claimant and Employer Mobile Apps

In addition to the online BEACON system, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance created two BEACON mobile apps: MD Unemployment for Claimants; and MD Unemployment for Employers.

BEACON Mobile App for Claimants

MD Unemployment for Claimants is available to download for free from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The mobile app allows claimants to easily file their weekly claim certifications, view and update claimant information, and more directly from their mobile device.

BEACON Mobile App for Employers

MD Unemployment for Employers is available to download for free from the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. Registered employers can use the mobile app to make contribution payments, submit wage reports, file appeals, and more directly from their mobile device.

NOTE: The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance suggests that you set up automatic updates for the BEACON mobile apps, so that you do not need to take any action if the app is updated. The Division released an updated version of MD Unemployment for Claimants in 2023. Individuals who downloaded the app before 2023 and did not have automatic updates set up may be prompted to begin the update. When prompted, one of the following error messages will be displayed:

• App Not Supported Error - This error message includes a Get Update button, which a claimant should select to begin the update.
• SSL Not Matching Error - Claimants who see this message should go to the Google Play Store or iOS App Store to update the app.

Features

The BEACON system offers dozens of features for our stakeholders. Check out the functionalities and features below:

BEACON Resources

• BEACON Claimant Tutorial Videos
• BEACON Claimant FAQs
• BEACON Claimant Portal User Guide
• BEACON Employers and Third Party Agents Tutorial Videos
• BEACON Employer FAQs
• Employer and Third Party Agent Instructions for Submitting Files in BEACON

Need Help?

Claimants who have questions regarding BEACON should call a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Employers or third party agents who have questions should call the Employer Call Center at 410-949-0033.

Work Search Requirements

Claimants must meet several requirements to be eligible for UI benefits, including work search requirements.

To meet Maryland’s work search requirements, a claimant must:

• register in the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) system;
• upload or create a résumé in MWE, make the résumé viewable to employers, and maintain an up-to-date résumé while collecting UI benefits;
  • After you complete your MWE registration, check your MWE inbox frequently for information about weekly tasks or actions that you are required to complete. Failure to complete these activities may result in a delay or denial of your UI benefits
• complete at least three valid reemployment activities each week, which must include at least one job contact; and,
• keep a detailed weekly record of all completed job contacts and valid reemployment activities. Claimants are strongly urged to use the Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log, located in MWE, to keep this record.

Detailed instructions for completing the requirements listed above are available on the Maryland Work Search Requirements webpage. For work search exemptions, see the Work Search FAQs.

NOTE: The work search requirement was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the work search requirements were reinstated.

For additional information, see the:

• Work Search FAQs;
• Maryland's Valid Reemployment Activities list; and,
• Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log video tutorial .

Information about additional claimant requirements is available in the Eligibility Requirements FAQs.

Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Activity

To report unemployment insurance (UI) fraud to the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance, please complete a Request for Investigation of Unemployment Insurance Fraud form and return it: by e-mail to ui.fraud@maryland.gov; mail to Benefit Payment Control, Room 206, 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; or fax to 410-767-2610.

• If you received a 1099-G tax form, but did not receive UI benefits in Maryland during the prior calendar year, complete this Affidavit form and submit it with a copy of your photo ID to dlui1099-labor@maryland.gov.
• If you are an employer and believe a fraudulent claim has been charged to your account, please file a benefit charge protest through your BEACON employer portal.

For detailed information about UI fraud in Maryland and protecting yourself from UI fraud scams, see the UI Fraud Awareness and Reporting Instructions webpage.

Additional State Resources

If you are in need of additional assistance please visit the Assistance from the Maryland Department of Human Services and Other State Resources webpage. This webpage offers information about mortgage relief and foreclosure prevention programs, health insurance coverage, and food purchasing support, among other resources.

NOTE: To reach DHS Child Support Administration, call the DHS hotline (1-800-332-6347). For more, see the Child Support Administration webpage.

For additional resources from the state departments of Labor, Human Resources, and Housing and Community Development, please visit the State of Maryland Financial Resources & Services.