First-Time Unemployment Claims Hit A Plateau In Maryland

MARYLAND — First-time claims for unemployment benefits ticked up slightly to 13,575 last week, according to the Maryland Department of Labor, a sign that the economic rebound from the pandemic is losing steam.

The latest figure — which covers the week ending Sept. 12 — represents a 19.8 percent increase from the 11,324 jobless claims that were filed the prior week. It also pushes the total number of filings since early March to more than 1.15 million.

First-time claims seem to have hit a plateau in recent weeks, hovering between 11,000 and 14,500.

The peak for unemployment claims during the pandemic was 109,263, recorded the week ending May 2. While last week's number is more than 95,000 below that, weekly filings are still high by historical standards.

Prior to the pandemic, first-time unemployment filings in Maryland hovered between 2,000 and 6,500 per week.

Here's how many people sought jobless aid during the pandemic:

Of the 13,575 workers who applied last week, 3,698 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 last week was Prince George's County, with 731, 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 1,969.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore City. The total stands at 328.

The state recently began offering an additional 13 weeks of jobless aid to those who have exhausted both their regular unemployment and PEUC benefits.

Last week's filings for extended unemployment benefits (EB) was 781. Most applications came from Baltimore County, with a total of 141.

Modernized Unemployment Insurance System Launches This Month

Maryland's Labor Department is in the process of upgrading its unemployment filing system. The current system, called the BEACON One-Stop application, has been taken offline during the transition process, which is supposed to last until 12:01 a.m. on Sunday.

The upgraded BEACON 2.0 unemployment insurance system will launch for claimants and employers on Sept. 20 and 21, respectively. It's a project dating back to 2015 that integrates all benefits, tax, appeals, and reemployment functions of the unemployment insurance system, according to officials.

Claimants will be able to update their claims, see details of eligibility issues, file appeals, submit supporting documents for appeals or adjudication, and track overpayments.

Employers will be able to submit reports, access their tax rate information, file appeals, respond to requests about claimant separation, submit wage reports and adjustments, and more. The state has either sent employers an e-mail or letter with detailed account activation instructions.