Maryland Unemployment Insurance Complaints - Unemployment Insurance

• If you need to reach a live claims agent to file a complaint or inquire about a claim, call 667-207-6520. Live claims agents are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours may be modified during holidays.
   
• If you are an employer, you may contact the Employer Call Center with complaints/inquiries at 410-949-0033. Employer Call Center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Hours may be modified during holidays.

Solicitud de beneficios del desempleo para la población de hable español 301-313-8000 o 1-667-207-6520

If a claimant receives a determination disqualifying them from receiving benefits, the claimant has the right to file an appeal. An employer may appeal one of those determinations granting benefits to a former employee. determinations will be sent to you via your preferred communication preference and will be available in the Correspondence section of your BEACON portal.

HOW CAN I APPEAL A DETERMINATION TO THE LOWER APPEALS DIVISION?

Claimants and Employers: USE BEACON
To file an appeal (or to see if there is anything that you can appeal), log into your BEACON portal using a standard computer (this will not necessarily work from the mobile app) using one of the links below. Then select the "Correspondence" option, and then select the SEARCH button. If there is a determination which is appealable, there will be a “File Appeal” hyperlink on the end of the row of that determination. If you disagree with that determination, you should select the "File Appeal" hyperlink and then fill out the form. At the end of that process, you will be issued an appeal number.

BEACON for Claimants
BEACON for Employers

Third Party Agents Representing MARYLAND Employers
If you are an agent that has the authorization from a Maryland employer to file appeals on its behalf, you can visit your BEACON Agent account and search for the employer. Once found, select the employer’s “account ID”. You can file the appeal from the employer’s account by searching for the Lower Appeals determination in the employer’s correspondence. Select the “File Appeal” link and follow the prompts.

BEACON for Third Party Agent

Other Representatives, including those who represent claimants or other (including out-of-state) employers
Use the following link to enter BEACON to file an appeal on behalf of the party you are representing. The wizard will walk you through the steps to file an appeal. If you have already used this link before and created an account, please select the “Login to my Account” link.

BEACON for Representatives of Claimant or Employer, and Out-of State Employers

How to File an Appeal Without Using BEACON
Using BEACON is the best way to guarantee that you have prompt access to all appeal-related documents. If, however, you do not have access to BEACON and wish to file an appeal, you may reach out to the Lower Appeals division in several different ways, the best being our e-mail address: UILowerAppeals.Labor@maryland.gov.

Your request for an appeal must include:

1. The precise name and date of the determination you wish to appeal;
2. The claimant’s name as it appears on the determination you wish to appeal;
3. The claimant’s Social Security number and/or your claimant/employer ID number;
4. A telephone number where you can be reached; and
5. A brief statement of why you disagree with the determination being appealed.

You will then receive notification that your appeal has been received. Eventually you will receive a Hearing Notice which further explains your rights and responsibilities as it relates to the appeal.

A claimant for unemployment insurance who has been denied benefits at the Lower Appeals Division may appeal that decision to the Board of Appeals. Likewise, an employer may appeal a decision granting benefits to a former employee.

An appeal may be filed through BEACON. Currently, the Board also accepts appeals by e-mail: dluiboardappeals-labor@maryland.gov

For detailed instructions, see the Board of Appeals webpage.

To submit a complaint to the UI Ombudsman, please fill out the Ombudsman Inquiry Form and e-mail it to ui.ombudsman@maryland.gov

You may also submit a complaint using chat with our Virtual Assistant on the Division of Unemployment Insurance homepage. Simply select the “Chat with us” button in the lower right corner of the homepage and type in your question.

Through the Virtual Assistant, you can receive automated answers to common questions 24/7 or you can live chat with a claims agent during agent hours.

This service allows individuals with certain disabilities (deafness, DeafBlindness, hearing loss, difficulty speaking, limited mobility, or cognitive difficulty) to submit a complaint using a standard telephone. For Maryland Relay, dial 711. Please provide the Maryland Relay operator with the following phone number to reach the Division: 1-667-401-4647.