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Contact Information - Unemployment Insurance

A claimant (an individual who submits a claim for unemployment insurance benefits) may apply for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits (also called filing an initial claim) via the online BEACON UI System or by telephone at 667-207-6520. Initial claims are not accepted by e-mail.

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) offers a number of ways for claimants to ask questions and obtain more information about their UI claims and the UI process.

Online BEACON UI System
You can complete several UI tasks, including filing an initial claim and weekly claim certifications, in the online BEACON UI system, which is available 24/7. To learn more, see the BEACON section of the Claimant Most Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Claims Agent
If you wish to:
  • file an initial claim by phone, instead of online in BEACON; or,
  • ask a question(s) about an existing claim;

call 667-207-6520.

Claims agents are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours may be modified during holidays.

Español
Solicitud de beneficios del desempleo para la población de hable español 301-313-8000 o 1-667-207-6520

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Phone System
You must file your claim certification for each week you are requesting benefit payments. You can file your weekly claim certification in BEACON or through the IVR system. You can also use the IVR to reset your PIN or check your payment status.

To connect with the IVR, available 24/7, call 410-949-0022 or 800-827-4839, toll free. Please listen carefully as the prompts may change periodically.

  • Calling from the Baltimore area or out of state - 410-949-0022
  • Calling from Maryland but outside of the Baltimore area - 800-827-4839

Virtual Assistant
You can use the online Virtual Assistant to receive immediate, automated answers to common inquiries or to chat with a claims agent. The Virtual Assistant is available 24/7. However, the chat feature is available from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To use the Virtual Assistant, select the “Chat with us” button at the bottom right of the Division website. To use the chat feature, access the Virtual Assistant and type "speak with an agent.”

Chat with Us

Maryland Relay
This service allows individuals with certain disabilities (deafness, DeafBlindness, hearing loss, difficulty speaking, limited mobility, or cognitive difficulty) to communicate using a standard telephone.

For Maryland Relay, dial 711. Please provide the Maryland Relay operator with the following phone number to reach the Division: 1-667-401-4647.

See the Special Accommodation Information and Resources webpage or the Maryland Relay FAQS to learn more.

Ombudsman Inquiry Form
To submit an inquiry about a claim and reach the UI Ombudsman, please fill out the Ombudsman Inquiry Form and e-mail it to ui.ombudsman@maryland.gov.

Virtual Kiosk Services by Appointment
The Division is offering limited virtual kiosk appointments to take questions about UI claims. To schedule an appointment, call a claims agent at 667-207-6520 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Please ensure that at the time of your appointment, you are in a location where you will not be interrupted and that you have access to BEACON.