Contact Information - Unemployment Insurance

Claimants may file initial claims for unemployment benefits via Maryland’s Division of Unemployment Insurance BEACON 2.0 System or by telephone at 667-207-6520. We cannot accept claims by email.

The Division of Unemployment Insurance offers a number of ways to ask questions and obtain more information.

• Live Agent: If you need to reach a live claims agent to file a new claim or inquire about an existing claim, call 667-207-6520. Live claims agents are available from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday; and from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Hours may be modified during holidays.
   
• IVR: You must continue to file your claim certification each week for which you are requesting benefit payments. You can file your weekly claim certification in your BEACON 2.0 claimant portal or through the IVR system.
  
  To connect with the IVR system, available 24/7, call 410-949-0022 or 800-827-4839, toll free. Please listen carefully as the voice and many prompts, like the weekly certification questions, have changed.
   
• Calling from the Baltimore area or out of state - 410-949-0022
• Calling from Maryland but outside of the Baltimore area - 800-827-4839
• For Hearing Impaired Only - For Maryland Relay dial 711
   
• Virtual Assistant: The Maryland Department of Labor has recently expanded its live chat capabilities to better meet the needs of claimants. Virtual Assistants are able to answer many questions or concerns. To chat with a Virtual Assistant, please visit the Division’s website and select the blue “Chat with us” button in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
   
• Inquiry Form: You may also ask a question through our online Inquiry Form. Simply complete the requested information and enter a brief description of your question. You will receive a tracking number to follow-up on the response to your question.