New MD Jobless Claims Hit 1.14M; $300 Extra Payments Start Friday

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

Data released Thursday show 11,324 workers applied for jobless relief in the week ending Sept. 5. That represents a 1.88 percent increase from the 11,115 jobless claims that were filed the prior week.

While the number may be higher, it still follows a pattern of declining claims. With the exception of the weeks ending Aug. 15 and Sept. 5, first-time unemployment filings have been falling since the week ending July 11.

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 how many people sought jobless aid during the pandemic:

Since early March, more than 1.14 million people in Maryland have applied for unemployment benefits.

Of the 11,324 workers who applied last week, 3,008 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 556, 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 1,345.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore City. The total stands at 225.

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 537. Most applications came from Baltimore County, with a total of 99.

Here's a closer look:

Lost Wages Assistance Program

On Wednesday, Maryland Labor Secretary Tiffany P. Robinson announced that the Lost Wages Assistance program — which offers claimants an additional $300 per week in retroactive federal benefits — will be launching ahead of schedule on Friday, Sept. 11. It is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Our department has worked around the clock to implement the Lost Wages Assistance Program ahead of schedule, putting up to $1,800 in the pockets of struggling Marylanders in addition to their regular unemployment benefits," Robinson said.

After initially being approved for three weeks of LWA funding, Maryland has now been approved by FEMA for three additional weeks, for a total of six weeks of $300 payments.

FEMA says no funding will be available past the sixth week.

To receive retroactive federal benefits for the weeks ending Aug. 1, 2020 through Sept. 5, 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 benefits and will be notified of their eligibility for the program in their BEACON One-Stop portal and by e-mail.

Marylanders will then receive a lump sum payment retroactive to their earliest date of eligibility within one to two days. This initial payment may come on a different day than a claimant regularly receives benefits.

Modernized Unemployment Insurance System Launches This Month

On Wednesday, the state also announced that it will launch a fully modernized BEACON 2.0 unemployment insurance system for claimants and employers on Sept. 20 and 21, respectively.

BEACON 2.0 is a project dating back to 2015 that integrates all benefits, tax, appeals, and reemployment functions of the unemployment insurance system, according to officials.

Marylanders currently use the BEACON One-Stop application to file new unemployment claims amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BEACON 2.0, however, will reportedly boast dozens of new online features.

According to officials, claimants will be able 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.

In order to transition to BEACON 2.0, the state's current unemployment system will be taken offline from Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. to Sunday, Sept. 20 at 12:01 a.m.