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INTRODUCTION
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This site permits individuals who have worked in the State of Maryland to file initial claims for Unemployment Insurance via the internet each time they become unemployed. Once the claim has been established you must file weekly claim certifications. These weekly claim certifications may be filed via the internet (Webcert) or over the telephone (Telecert). You can find out more about filing weekly claim certifications by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) or in the pamphlet "What You Should Know about Unemployment Insurance in Maryland" that will be mailed to you after you file your initial claim for benefits.
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Read all instructions provided throughout the application. The first page of the application explains what is required to file your claim via this website. If you do not meet the requirements, you must contact a Claim Center by telephone to file your claim. Help for particular areas of the application is provided below or can be accessed while completing the application. Online assistance is also available when completing the employer section. For information concerning eligibility requirements refer to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s).
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If you are visually impaired, have difficulty in positioning a mouse, or experience any other problem with this site you may wish to contact a Claim Center by telephone to file your initial claim.
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WEEKLY CLAIM CERTIFICATION
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After filing your initial claim you must file weekly claim certifications in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits if eligible. A weekly claim certification can be filed by internet (Webcert) or telephone (Telecert). Both methods of filing are available 7 days a week, 24 hours per day. If you do not file weekly claim certifications, benefits cannot be paid.
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You may file a Webcert over the internet at www.mdunemployment.com. In the "Claimant Information" area of the webpage, click on the second bullet "File Your Webcert".
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You may file a Telecert by calling 410-949-0022 from the Baltimore area and Out of State or 1-800-827-4839 outside the Baltimore area but within Maryland.
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W-2 FORM
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Information on your W-2 Form may assist you when entering information about your work history in the employment section of the application. Line 15 on your W-2 form may contain an employer number that could be beneficial when searching for your employer. The form also provides the address for your employer(s) and may provide a corporate name that is different than the name the company uses for doing business.
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DD214
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If you served in the Armed Forces for at least 90 consecutive days during the last 18 months you will need to provide information from Member 4 of your DD214. Each question in the Military Employer Section of the application gives the number that corresponds to the location on the DD214 (Member 4) that will provide the correct response. You must mail or fax a COPY of your DD214 within 7 calendar days to the following address:
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Federal Claims Unit
P.O. Box 17094
Baltimore, MD 21297-7094
Note: DO NOT MAIL THE ORIGINAL, as it will not be returned.
Fax number:
Federal Claims Unit (410)333-5142
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If you do not have Member 4 of your DD214, complete the information requested in the employment section of the application to the best of your ability. Form ETA8-43, Request for Military Document/Information for Unemployment Compensation Purposes – UCX, will be sent to you. This form releases authorization to this agency to request a copy of your DD214. The form must be signed and returned to this agency within 7 calendar days.
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Note: Failure to return the copy of Member 4 DD214 or the ETA8-43 by the due date printed on the form may result in a denial of benefits.
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CITIZEN
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Any one filing for unemployment insurance who is not a U.S. citizen or national must provide this agency with the Alien Registration Number or Departure number assigned to that individual by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Naturalization Service. The alien status is then verified with DHS before unemployment insurance benefits can be paid. If you cannot provide the requested information, you cannot continue filing using this website and must contact a Claim Center by Telephone.
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OCCUPATION
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When answering the question "What is your occupation" a list of standard occupations will be provided. From the list provided, select the occupation that best describes the type of work you do. This information is used for statistical purposes and to provide information that may assist you in becoming re-employed.
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WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS
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At the time you file your claim for unemployment insurance benefits you must be able to work and available to work full time. This is required even if you are not required to make an active search for work. If you indicate you are not able and available for full time work without restrictions you will be scheduled for a telephone fact finding interview to give a detailed statement about the restriction. An appointment notice will be mailed to you indicating the date and time you will be contacted by phone to give the statement.
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SCHOOL OR TRAINING
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If you are attending school or training during hours that would be normal working hours for your occupation you must answer "yes" to this question. A telephone fact finding interview will then be scheduled to determine if the school or training will affect your availability for full time work. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail indicating the date and time to be available by phone for the interview.
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NOTE: Normal hours for your occupation refer to the occupation in general, not the hours you worked on your last job.
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UNION
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If you are a member of a union and you report to a hiring hall to seek work you will need to provide the union hall number (not the phone number). For example, if you are a member of Carpenters Local 1354, you would indicate "1354" as the union number. You will then be required to seek employment by contacting the union hiring hall each week that you file for unemployment insurance benefits.
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NOTE: This does not refer to a union within a company.
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SELF-EMPLOYED
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| If you are self-employed you will be scheduled for a telephone fact finding interview to give more information about the self-employment. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail indicating the date and time to be available by phone for the interview. If you earn wages from self-employment while you are filing for unemployment insurance benefits the earnings must be reported when earned unless you are working on a commission basis. If you are working on a commission basis the earnings must be reported when paid, not earned. |
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INCOME TAXES
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Unemployment insurance benefits are taxable. If you indicate that you want income taxes withheld from your benefits you will receive a W-4 form in the mail. The deduction will not begin until you complete, sign, and return the form to the address indicated on the form. If you elect not to have income taxes deducted you will be taxed at the end of the year when completing your Federal and State income taxes.
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A Form 1099-G, Statement for Recipients of Certain Government Payments, will be mailed to each claimant who received unemployment insurance benefits at the end of the calendar year for which benefits were paid. The Form 1099-G will provide information needed for filing Federal and State income taxes for that year.
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DEPENDENTS
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If you have dependents under the age of 16, a dependents allowance will be added to your weekly benefit amount but will not exceed the maximum benefit amount allowed by law. A total of five dependents can be added, however, only one parent may claim a dependent for unemployment insurance purposes during a one-year period. In order to qualify for the dependent allowance, the dependent(s) must be declared at the time you are filing a new claim. You will be required to provide the name and date of birth for the dependent. The dependent’s Social Security number will be required as verification. If you cannot provide the verification at the time you are completing the application you must provide the verification within 30 days of the date the application was filed. If the dependent does not have a Social Security number, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, baptismal certificate, hospital records, adoption decree, school records, or passport will be acceptable. You will receive a reminder in the mail if you were unable to provide verification at the time the claim was filed.
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MARYLAND EMPLOYER
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For unemployment insurance purposes, employment should be reported based on the state where the work was performed. Therefore, this option is to be used for all work performed at a location within the State of Maryland regardless of where the employer is located.
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OUT OF STATE EMPLOYER
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For unemployment insurance purposes, employment should be reported based on the state where the work was performed. Therefore, this option is to be used for all work performed in a state other than Maryland even if the employer you worked for is located in Maryland. If the out of state employment was performed during the base period of the claim the quarterly wages reported to the state by that employer will be transferred to the state of Maryland.
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MILITARY EMPLOYER
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When completing the employment section of this application select this option if you have served in the Armed Forces during the last 18 months. When this option is selected you will be asked for information concerning your military service which is needed to determine your eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. If you have less than 90 days consecutive service the earnings cannot be used to establish your weekly benefit amount for unemployment insurance. You will be required to send in a copy of Member 4 of your DD214.
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THE REASON YOU SEPARATED
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When answering the question, "Why aren’t you currently working for this employer?", select the most appropriate reason for separation from the list provided in the drop down box. It is not necessary to provide detailed information about the reason for separation when completing the application. If more information is needed to determine your eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits you will receive an appointment notice in the mail for a telephone fact finding interview. The appointment notice will provide the date and time to be available to discuss the reason for separation. The reason for separation will also be verified with the employer.
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FORM ETA8-43
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Form ETA8-43, Request for Military Document/Information for Unemployment Compensation Purposes – UCX, will be sent to you if you have served in the Armed Forces for at least 90 consecutive days in the past 18 months and do not have Member 4 of your DD214. This form releases authorization to this agency to request a copy of your DD214. The form must be signed and returned to this agency within 7 days. Failure to return the form timely may result in a denial of benefits.
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MONTHLY PENSION/RETIREMENT
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A monthly pension/retirement that is being paid or will be paid by an employer from whom you earned wages in the past 18 months may be deducted from your unemployment insurance benefits. It is required that you report any monthly pension/retirement payment that you are currently receiving or will be receiving from an employer that you have worked for in the past 18 months. You will be scheduled for a telephone fact finding interview to give a statement about the payment. An appointment notice will be mailed to you providing the date and time to be available for the fact finding interview.
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Note: Social Security payments are not deductible from unemployment insurance and should not be reported as a monthly pension/retirement payment.
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LUMP SUM PENSION
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If you have received or will be receiving a lump sum pension from an employer you have worked for in the past 18 months answer "yes" to the question concerning lump sum pensions in this application. A telephone fact finding interview will be scheduled if more information is needed. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail indicating the date and time to be available by phone for the interview.
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PROFIT SHARING
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Profit sharing is only deductible from unemployment insurance benefits if it is part of a retirement or pension plan account. If the profit sharing does not meet the criteria, answer "no" to the question when completing this application. If the profit sharing is part of a retirement or pension plan account you will be scheduled for a telephone fact finding interview so that a determination can be made as to whether it will or will not be deducted from your unemployment insurance benefits. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail that will provide the date and time to be available for the telephone fact finding interview.
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BONUS OR SPECIAL PAY
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Bonus or special pay is a payment made to a claimant by an employer that is not holiday pay, vacation pay, severance pay, or pension pay. It is only deductible if it is paid during a week in which services were performed for the employer paying the special pay and unemployment insurance benefits were claimed for the same week. If you indicate you are receiving a bonus or special pay you will receive an appointment notice in the mail for a telephone fact finding interview if more information is needed. The appointment notice will provide the date and time to be available by phone for the interview.
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SEVERANCE PAY
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| Severance pay must be reported by answering "yes" to the question in the application, regardless of the reason for separation. If more information is needed concerning the severance pay you will receive an appointment notice in the mail for a telephone fact finding interview. The appointment notice will provide the date and time to be available by phone for the interview. |
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CONTINUE DURING THE SEVERANCE PERIOD
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| If you indicate you are or will be receiving severance pay from an employer who you were separated from due to lack of work you may be asked if all benefits including accumulation of vacation and sick pay will continue while the severance is being paid. Severance pay must be reported by answering "yes" to the question when completing the application. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail for a telephone fact finding interview if more information is needed. The appointment notice will provide the date and time to be available for the interview. |
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VACATION OR HOLIDAY PAY
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Vacation and holiday payments are only deductible if paid by an employer who has given you a return to work date. If you do not have a return to work date with the employer paying the vacation or holiday pay the question will not be displayed because the payment will have no affect on unemployment insurance benefits. If you are or will be receiving vacation or holiday pay from an employer who has given you a return to work date answer "yes" to the question when completing the application. You will receive an appointment notice in the mail for a telephone fact finding interview if more information is needed. The appointment notice will provide the date and time to be available by phone for the interview.
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