If you are unemployed, it is very easy to file your initial claim for benefits and you should file as soon as possible because in Maryland unemployment eligibility begins the week in which you file your claim.
If you are unemployed, it is very easy to file your initial claim for benefits and you should file as soon as possible because in Maryland unemployment eligibility begins the week in which you file your claim. You can file your initial claim and begin the process via the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Initial Claim System or by calling your local claim center.
Once you file an initial claim, the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR) will determine whether you are eligible to receive benefits. Generally, to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own (although there are exceptions), be able and available to work, and willing to accept a job for which you are qualified.
A question that I am asked frequently is how much money a claimant can receive in unemployment benefits. The weekly benefit amount (WBA) is based upon the amount you were paid by all employers by whom you were employed during the base period (first four of the last five quarters of a year). The weekly benefit amount is based upon your earnings and could range from $50 to $430 per week.
If you receive a Notice of Benefit Determination denying your unemployment insurance appeal, the Notice will explain why you were denied and will explain that you have only 15-days to appeal this decision and to request a hearing on the facts pertaining to your unemployment. It is very important that you do not miss this deadline to appeal. I recommend that you fax your appeal to 410-225-9781 and keep a copy of the fax confirmation receipt, or send your appeal via US Mail, certified, return receipt requested, so that you will have proof of the date that it was sent.
If you are denied unemployment benefits and wish to have an attorney represent you in your hearing, please be aware that attorneys cannot charge more than twice your weekly benefit amount without first seeking the permission of DLLR. While this may seem like a lot of money, it is money well-spent. Having an attorney represent you at the hearing may make the difference between a finding of gross misconduct or simple misconduct. Further, if you wait until you are appealing the hearing examiner’s decision to the DLLR Board of Appeals, with a few exceptions, the Board will only consider the evidence already submitted to the hearing examiner. Therefore, you want to be sure that the evidence presented at the hearing examiner level is thorough and well argued.
For additional information regarding Maryland Unemployment Insurance Benefits, click here for the DLLR's Claimant's Frequently Asked Questions webpage. If you would like to arrange a consultation with Lynette A. Whitfield to discuss your unemployment case, please call 301.869.8774, or click here make your request for a consultation.
This blog is not intended to provide legal advice or representation, but rather to provide very general information regarding a variety of subject areas. The viewing of the information contained on this blog does not create or establish an attorney-client relationship. Further, this information should not be relied upon without first consulting with an attorney regarding your specific situation.