The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) offers several ways claimants, employers, and third-party agents can contact us. See the list below for our primary contact methods.
Please be assured that Maryland does not have a waiting week for UI claims, like many other states do. Claims are effective the week in which they are filed.
Online BEACON UI System
You can complete several unemployment insurance tasks, including filing an initial claim, in our online BEACON system, which is available online 24/7.
Claimant Phone Number and Hours of Operation
Employer and Third-Party Agent Phone Number and Hours of Operation
Automated IVR Phone System
Virtual Assistant and Live Chat
You can use the 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 during claims agent hours (see the Claimant Contact Information webpage for agent hours).
To use the Virtual Assistant, select the “Chat with us” button at the bottom right corner of this page. To use the chat feature, access the Virtual Assistant and type "speak with an agent.”
VRI, VRS, and Maryland Relay
Individuals with certain disabilities (Deafness, Deafblindness, hearing loss, difficulty speaking, limited mobility, or cognitive difficulty) may communicate with the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) via scheduled VRI services, Video Relay Services (VRS), Maryland Relay, and other forms of effective communication.
Maryland Relay allows individuals with certain disabilities (listed above) 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.
Ombudsman Inquiry Form
To submit an inquiry 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 Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance is offering limited virtual kiosk appointments to take claimant questions about their unemployment insurance claims. Please call a claims agent at 667-207-6520 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to schedule an appointment.
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 your BEACON portal.
Child Support Withholdings from UI Benefits E-mail
For inquiries about child support withholdings from your UI benefits or adjustments to these withholdings, e-mail ui.childsupportassistance@maryland.gov.
NOTE: This e-mail address should only be used to inquire about child support withholdings from your UI benefits, and any necessary adjustments.
For questions about child support obligations that are not related to your UI benefits, call the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Support Administration at 1-800-332-6347.
Employers are now required to include the following on the Power of Attorney (POA) form:
Please note that approving a POA designation for a TPA takes up to seven business days. No access will be granted to the TPA before the approval. Once approval is granted, the TPA will receive access to perform the requested functions.
To access the form, see the Power of Attorney Authorization Instructions and Form on the Flyers, Forms, and Publications for Employers & Third Party Agents webpage.
The BEACON unemployment insurance (UI) system integrates all benefits, appeals, and tax functions. BEACON provides a central portal for claimants, employers, and third-party agents to perform a number of important UI tasks.
In addition to the online BEACON system, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance created two BEACON mobile apps: MD Unemployment for Claimants; and MD Unemployment for Employers.
MD Unemployment for Claimants is available to download for free from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The mobile app allows claimants to easily file their weekly claim certifications, view and update claimant information, and more directly from their mobile device.
MD Unemployment for Employers is available to download for free from the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. Registered employers can use the mobile app to make contribution payments, submit wage reports, file appeals, and more directly from their mobile device.
NOTE: The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance suggests that you set up automatic updates for the BEACON mobile apps, so that you do not need to take any action if the app is updated. The Division released an updated version of MD Unemployment for Claimants in 2023. Individuals who downloaded the app before 2023 and did not have automatic updates set up may be prompted to begin the update. When prompted, one of the following error messages will be displayed:
The BEACON system offers dozens of features for our stakeholders. Check out the functionalities and features below:
Features for Claimants
Features for Employers
Features for Third Party Agents
Claimants who have questions regarding BEACON should call a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Employers or third party agents who have questions should call the Employer Call Center at 410-949-0033.
Claimants must meet several requirements to be eligible for UI benefits, including work search requirements.
To meet Maryland’s work search requirements, a claimant must:
Detailed instructions for completing the requirements listed above are available on the Maryland Work Search Requirements webpage. For work search exemptions, see the Work Search FAQs.
NOTE: The work search requirement was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the work search requirements were reinstated.
For additional information, see the:
Information about additional claimant requirements is available in the Eligibility Requirements FAQs.
To report unemployment insurance (UI) fraud to the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance, please complete a Request for Investigation of Unemployment Insurance Fraud form and return it: by e-mail to ui.fraud@maryland.gov; mail to Benefit Payment Control, Room 206, 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; or fax to 410-767-2610.
For detailed information about UI fraud in Maryland and protecting yourself from UI fraud scams, see the UI Fraud Awareness and Reporting Instructions webpage.
If you are in need of additional assistance please visit the Assistance from the Maryland Department of Human Services and Other State Resources webpage. This webpage offers information about mortgage relief and foreclosure prevention programs, health insurance coverage, and food purchasing support, among other resources.
NOTE: To reach DHS Child Support Administration, call the DHS hotline (1-800-332-6347). For more, see the Child Support Administration webpage.
For additional resources from the state departments of Labor, Human Resources, and Housing and Community Development, please visit the State of Maryland Financial Resources & Services.
