How to File Your Initial Claim for Maryland Unemployment Benefits Online

Recently, like a lot of people in these tough economic times, I had the troubling experience of being laid off from my job. I was living paycheck to paycheck basically, so when it happened I knew I needed to apply for unemployment benefits right away. The process was easy enough, if you know what to do. It is my hope that this article will let you know what steps you need to take if you have to file for unemployment in the state of Maryland.

Filing an initial claim is the first step to receiving unemployment benefits. Whether or not you are eligible for unemployment payments, and how much those payments will be, is a matter that is decided by the state based on information they receive from you and your previous employer. Filing an initial claim is what gets the ball rolling with the state so that those determinations can be made.

So, if you live in Maryland and you recently got laid off, you'll want to head to the Maryland unemployment website at http://www.mdunemployment.com and scroll down until you see a link that says "File Your Initial Claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits." Once you click the link, you'll be asked for some basic information like your name, address, and social security number. Once you enter that information, you'll be presented with a list of all of the employers the state of Maryland has on record for you for the past two years. You'll need to answer questions about your reason for leaving each of the companies listed. After that, you're done. You'll receive a confirmation number that the state of Maryland has received your claim, and you'll also get an e-mail confirmation if you provided a valid e-mail address during the registration process.

It should only take you about 20-30 minutes to file your initial unemployment claim online. Within 3 days of filing your claim, you'll get a letter in the mail that is called the "Determination of Monetary Eligibility." This letter will let you know whether you are eligible for unemployment payments, and how much your weekly benefit amount will be. As soon as your last employer verfies that you were indeed laid off, the unemployment payment for your first week will be issued. You'll need to return to the Maryland unemployment website every two weeks to file continued unemployment claims in order to keep getting checks. Instructions on filing your continued claims, and the due dates for those claims, will be printed on a letter with every check you receive. Make sure you follow the instructions closely or you will stop receiving payments.

The state of Maryland makes filing your unemployment claim online quick and easy. If you have internet access, you can file for unemployment start-to-finish completely over the internet. By following the steps in this article, you can make sure you keep receiving income while you look for a new job.