What Happens After Unemployment Benefits Run out in Maryland?
The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance is responsible for administering unemployment benefits to eligible applicants. During the initial application process, the Division of Unemployment Insurance requires applicants to submit information about their employment history over the last 18 months before filing for unemployment. After the division approves an applicant's claim for benefits, claims begin the Sunday of the week of filing.
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Benefit Year
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In Maryland, a benefit year is exactly 52 weeks beginning with the Sunday of the first week an applicant files her claim for unemployment. Claimants can receive regular unemployment benefits for 26 weeks during one unemployment benefit year. In order to receive approval for benefits after the first year, Maryland law requires claimants to have been employed before receiving benefits for another year, and claimants must have earned 10 times or more of their weekly benefits during their employment.
Base Period of Employment
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The state limits benefits to unemployed claimants who have accrued a sufficient amount of earnings during the base period of employment or the first four quarters of five immediately preceding the application for benefits. As a general guideline, applicants who worked full-time during their base period of employment are eligible to receive a weekly benefit check for about half of their gross weekly earnings during employment, limited to the state's maximum allowance.
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Basic Extended Benefits
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The first tier of benefits allows claimants to receive an addition 20 weeks of benefits if they exhausted their 26 weeks of Maryland benefits. After receiving 20 weeks of Tier 1 federal benefits, eligible claimants could receive another 14 weeks of Tier 2 federal benefits. However, if they exhausted their state and federal benefits in 2010, they will not qualify for an additional 34 weeks of federal benefits in 2011.
State Extension
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Beginning on October 1, 2011, Maryland will provide an additional 13 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits to claimants that were no longer eligible to receive state and federal benefits. In addition to the 26 weeks of state benefits, eligible recipients received 20 weeks of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits available through the federal government. Since Maryland was considered a higher unemployment state, eligible claimants could receive up to an addition 13 weeks of federal Tier 3 benefits. The benefits provide claimants with an additional 34 weeks of Tiers 1 and 2 benefits and 13 weeks of Tier 3 benefits. After exhausting their 26 weeks of state benefits, 47 weeks of federal benefits, Maryland allows certain claimants to receive 13 weeks of extended state benefits until December 31, 2011.
Considerations
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Since state laws can frequently change, do not use this information as a substitute for legal advice. Seek advice through an attorney licensed to practice law in your state.
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References
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: General Information
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Extended Benefits Program in Maryland; Oct. 1, 2011
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Emergency Unemployment Compensation Update; Dec. 17, 2010
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Extended Benefits Program in Maryland; Oct. 1, 2011
- U.S. Department of Labor: Emergency Unemployment 2008 (EUC) Program Overview
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