MD's New Unemployment Claims Surpass 350K Amid Coronavirus Crisis

MARYLAND — Another 47,545 Marylanders applied for jobless benefits last week, the Maryland Department of Labor reported Thursday, bringing the five-week total to more than 350,000.

The number of new unemployment insurance claims in the state has declined the last two weeks, but still remains well above the 2,090 that was reported the first week of March before business shutdowns happened as Gov. Larry Hogan ordered residents to stay at home to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

For the week ending April 18, the jurisdiction with the highest number of claims is Baltimore County with 7,189. Montgomery County is second with 6,938, and Prince George's County is third with 6,216. Kent County has the fewest number of claims. Its total stands at 121.

Here's how each jurisdiction fared (for the week ending on April 18):

Here's how many Marylanders filed new unemployment insurance claims each week:

Process For Filing A Regular Claim
File your unemployment claim according to these instructions:

• If your last name starts with A - F, file your claim on Monday.
• If your last name starts with G - N, file your claim on Tuesday.
• If your last name starts with O - Z, file your claim on Wednesday.
• Claim filing is open to all last names by phone on Thursday and Friday and online Thursday through Sunday.
• Filing later in the week will not delay your payments or affect the date of your claim.

Residents are asked to use the online NetClaims application to file their claim. This online application is available 24/7, but the office asks Marylanders to file during non-peak hours, like early in the morning and late in the evening (8 p.m. - 7 a.m.), for faster processing speeds.
Starting Saturday, April 18, Claims Centers will also be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The number is 410-949-0022.

If you have difficulty placing a call or accessing our website, claimants can e-mail questions to ui.inquiry@maryland.gov. Employers can e-mail questions to dluiemployerassistance-labor@maryland.gov or contact 410-767-2412. Claims may only be filed by phone or online; claims cannot be filed by email.

SEE ALSO:

• 'I'm Worried:' Business Owners Apply For Grants To Stay Afloat
• MD Buys 500K Coronavirus Tests From South Korea: Hogan
• Reopen Maryland Protest Illustrates Divide Over Coronavirus
• MD Coronavirus: 4 Ways To Make Face Masks

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