No. This is an independent informational guide. Use labor.maryland.gov and official Maryland Department of Labor portals for filing claims, weekly certifications, appeals, employer accounts, tax payments, wage complaints, notices and legal decisions.

The official Maryland Department of Labor website is labor.maryland.gov.

BEACON is Maryland’s 24/7 unemployment insurance portal for claimants and employers. Claimants can apply, complete weekly certifications, check action items, review payment history, update account details and file appeals.

Claimants log in through the official Maryland Unemployment Insurance Portal, BEACON, at beacon.labor.maryland.gov/claimant.

Gather your personal information and last 18 months of employment history, then file in BEACON online or by phone using the official Maryland unemployment process.

Prepare personal identification, contact information, employer names, employer addresses, phone numbers, dates worked, gross wages, separation reason, federal or military documents if applicable, and any relevant pay or severance records.

The claims agent phone number is 667-207-6520, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The automated phone system is 410-949-0022 if calling from the Baltimore area or out of state, and 800-827-4839 if calling from Maryland but outside the Baltimore area. It is available 24/7.

Maryland weekly unemployment payments range from $50 to $430, depending on your wages and other factors such as severance or other income.

Regular Maryland unemployment insurance can provide up to 26 weeks of benefits in a 52-week benefit year if the claimant remains eligible.

Maryland says it aims to have a decision within 21 days after you file, but employer challenges or missing information can make the process take longer.

Yes. After filing an initial claim, you must complete weekly certifications to request benefit payments for each week.

Maryland requires at least 3 job search activities each week, documented in the Maryland Workforce Exchange before completing weekly certification in BEACON.

The Maryland Workforce Exchange is the state job-search portal used to look for work, create a resume and document weekly job-search activities for unemployment requirements.

Yes. If you cannot complete weekly certification online, Maryland’s automated phone system at 410-949-0022 or 800-827-4839 is available 24/7.

A claimant or employer normally has 15 days after the mailing date of a benefit determination to file a timely appeal.

The easiest way is usually through BEACON. Maryland also lists Lower Appeals Division options including mail, fax and email instructions.

The Lower Appeals Division phone number is 410-767-2421.

Yes. Continue filing weekly certifications and documenting job search while an appeal or eligibility review is pending.

The statewide Maryland minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, but Montgomery County and Prince George’s County may have higher local minimum wage rates for certain employers.

Employees under 18 years of age must earn at least 85% of the State Minimum Wage Rate.

Most employees must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all work over 40 hours per week, with certain exceptions such as agricultural workers.

Generally, Maryland law does not require breaks or lunch breaks unless the worker is under 18 or covered by certain retail rules or employer policy.

Yes. Minors under 18 must receive a 30-minute break for every 5 consecutive hours of work.

Minors 14 and 15 have limits on school-day hours, weekly hours, late-night work and consecutive hours, and must receive a 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours.

Minors 16 and 17 may not spend more than 12 hours in a combination of school and work hours each day, must have at least 8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school time, and must receive a 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours.

Use Maryland Department of Labor wage payment and employment standards resources if you believe wages, overtime, tips or pay for leave were illegally withheld.

Employers use BEACON to submit wage reports, pay unemployment contributions, access tax rates, update account details, file appeals, upload documents, view correspondence and authorize third-party agents.

Maryland UI Tax Table A is in effect for 2026, the same table used for 2025.

For 2026, Maryland contributory employer unemployment insurance tax rates range from 0.30% to 7.50%.

Maryland UI taxable wages are the first $8,500 earned by each employee in a calendar year.

Maryland employers file reports and pay UI tax within 1 month after each calendar quarter, generally April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.

For unemployment tax-rate questions, employers can call 410-949-0033 or 1-800-492-5524, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Yes. An employer may request review of a tax rate within 30 days of the Date of Notice shown on the Experience Rate Notice.

Maryland says overpayments can often be repaid through BEACON by going to Action Items and selecting Pay Now under the overpayment balance.

Use the official Maryland fraud and identity-theft instructions if your 1099-G is incorrect or you believe benefits were issued in your name by mistake or fraud.

Maryland lists select in-person unemployment assistance locations and American Job Centers. Check the official contact page before visiting because hours and services vary.

Yes. This guide includes an embedded map for Maryland Department of Labor, American Job Center and workforce-service direction planning, plus links to official Maryland Labor pages.

Workplace injury and workers’ compensation issues generally go through the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission, not the unemployment BEACON portal.

Workplace safety issues may involve Maryland Occupational Safety and Health or federal OSHA, not unemployment insurance.

Write your name, issue type, claim week or employer quarter, notice date, exact question, and the action you need. Keep private information out of normal email unless an official secure process requests it.

No. Do not send Social Security numbers, BEACON passwords, PINs, full employer account numbers or private identity documents through normal email unless an official secure process specifically asks for them.

Bring photo ID, BEACON login details if available, correspondence, action-item screenshots, employer history, weekly certification details, job-search records, appeal documents and a short written timeline.