How to file for unemployment in Maryland
The fastest way to file for unemployment in Maryland is online through Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance at beacon.labor.maryland.gov. Maryland pays up to $430 per week, has no waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 26 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $430 / week
Based on your highest-earning recent quarter, with every check between $50 and $430; an $8-per-dependent add-on exists but can never push the check past the cap.
Minimum: $50/week. Effective July 2026. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance calculates it when you file.
OFFICIAL STATE PORTAL
Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance
File your claim in Maryland
Official site: beacon.labor.maryland.gov
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
Maryland unemployment at a glance
Agency
Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance
Official portal
beacon.labor.maryland.gov
Ways to file
Online · Phone
Max weekly benefit
$430/week
Waiting week
No waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 26 weeks
Claims are filed through the BEACON portal, available 24/7; a claims agent can be reached at 667-207-6520 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.).
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: beacon.labor.maryland.gov.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
Maryland unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in Maryland?
File online through Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance at beacon.labor.maryland.gov. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone.
How much is unemployment in Maryland?
Maryland pays up to $430 per week. Based on your highest-earning recent quarter, with every check between $50 and $430; an $8-per-dependent add-on exists but can never push the check past the cap. Figure effective July 2026; confirm your exact amount with Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in Maryland?
Maryland allocates severance (lump sum or increments) to the weeks after separation at your regular wage, postponing benefits until those weeks run out. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance.)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Maryland?
Maryland: no waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Maryland?
Maryland pays regular state benefits for up to 26 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance.
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking Maryland to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official Maryland portal (beacon.labor.maryland.gov) before you rely on them.