New Unemployment Claims Tick Up Slightly In MD; Total Tops 1.1M

MARYLAND — First-time unemployment claims ticked up slightly last week in Maryland after five weeks of decline, according to the state's labor department.

Data released Thursday show 14,191 workers applied for jobless relief in the week ending Aug. 15. That represents an 8.1 percent increase from the 13,117 jobless claims that were filed the prior week. While the number may be higher, it still follows a five-week trend of declining claims.

Prior to the pandemic, first-time unemployment filings in Maryland hovered between 2,000 and 6,500 per week. During the public health crisis, however, these numbers have fluctuated between 2,090 and 109,263. The all-time pandemic high was for the week ending May 2.

Here's a closer look:

Since early March, more than 1.1 million people in Maryland have applied for jobless aid.

Of the 14,191 workers who applied last week, 3,876 filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) — a federal program for gig workers, contractors, and other self-employed people who otherwise are ineligible for regular jobless benefits.

The jurisdiction with the most PUA claims was Prince George's County, with 730, according to state data.

Claims filed for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) — a federal program that provides an additional 13 weeks of pay to workers who've exhausted their other benefits — was 1,447.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore County. The total stands at 276.

Several weeks ago, the state began offering an additional 13 weeks of jobless aid to those who have exhausted both their unemployment and PEUC benefits.

Last week's filings for extended unemployment benefits (EB) was 587. Most applications came from Baltimore County, with a total of 106.

On top of those benefits, unemployed Maryland workers may get more cash as early as next month.

On Wednesday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state applied to a federal program that gives people an additional $300 per week.

FEMA has since approved that funding. The payments are expected to be distributed in late September.

"Maryland is doing much better on our health metrics than most of the rest of the country, we are doing much better on our economic recovery than most of the rest of the country, and we want to do whatever it takes to keep it that way," Hogan said. "But far too many Marylanders are still struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. With this critical funding, we can help those struggling Marylanders weather this storm, get back on their feet, and recover."

To receive the extra $300 a week, Marylanders must qualify for a weekly benefit amount of at least $100 and must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. Claimants do not have to file a new application to receive Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) benefits.

According to officials, eligible claimants will receive $300 per week in benefits retroactive to the week ending Aug. 1 and ending no later than Dec. 26.