Montgomery Unemployment Claims Soar 4,712% In March: Coronavirus

SILVER SPRING, MD — First-time claims for unemployment benefits soared to 9,384 in Montgomery County last week, the state's labor department reported, as businesses shut their doors to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The number of claims is more than double the 3,941 who applied for benefits a week ago. It's also nearly 49 times more than the 195 who filed the first week of March.

Here's a visual:

The number of Maryland residents applying for first-time unemployment benefits was 83,536 for the week ending on March 28, almost double from the prior week's record-breaking number of 42,981.

The state received 42,981 claims around the same time Gov. Larry Hogan ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses to stem the spread of COVID-19.

This month, Montgomery County had the fourth highest number of claims in the state.

Baltimore County tops the list with 21,004 jobless claims. Baltimore City was next with 15,201 claims; and Anne Arundel County was third with 13,927 filings.

The jurisdiction with the fewest number of claims is Kent County. The total stands at 378.

The labor department says the number of claims it received this month created a backlog and longer wait times for customers who wanted to file for unemployment benefits.

Process For Filing A Regular Claim

The department asks claimants to file according to a new system.

To file an initial regular unemployment claim online or through their call centers, file your claim according to your last name as shown below:

• 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.

Current telephone hours are from Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Beginning Wednesday, April 1, Claims Centers telephone lines were extended and open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. To contact a Claim Center, call 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.

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• How To Help Montgomery County Businesses During Outbreak
• Safeway Is Hiring In Montgomery County During Coronavirus Crisis