Registering and Reporting for Work – Section 8-902 - Maryland Unemployment Decisions Digest - Appeals

Introduction

I. In General

A.Workshop Attendance
The claimant was required to report for a skills assessment and re-employment services meeting on September 13, 2012. The claimant received the notice of this appointment, but forgot about it. The claimant did not attend, but later rescheduled and completed this requirement. Because the claimant did not establish good cause for her failure to attend the initially-scheduled meeting, she cannot be eligible for benefits, regardless of any other consideration, unless and until she meets all of the Agency’s requirements. Once the claimant attended the rescheduled appointment on October 15, 2012, she fulfilled that requirement. The claimant is entitled to benefits as of the week beginning October 21, 2012, if she is otherwise qualified and eligible. Benefits are denied from the week beginning September 9, 2012 through the week ending October 20, 2012. Gale, 175-BR-13.

The claimant was instructed to attend an REA workshop on May 6, 2014. The claimant failed to attend the workshop and failed to reschedule the workshop meeting. When the claimant received a notice to appear at another scheduled workshop, he attended. The claimant produced documentary evidence that he attended the workshop on June 3, 2014. The Board held that the claimant reported to a local employment office when properly directed to do so within the meaning of Section 8-902 and allowed benefits from the week beginning May 4, 2014. Lucio, 2445-BR-14.

The claimant was scheduled to report for a skills assessment and re-employment services meeting on January 17, 2014, but did not report because he was out of town helping his mother. The claimant’s neighbor had been collecting the claimant’s mail and misplaced the notice. The claimant did not receive it until the end of January. The claimant made multiple attempts, over the course of several weeks, to contact someone at the Agency to reschedule this, but was unsuccessful in speaking to any person for quite some time. He ultimately was able to reschedule participation, did attend, and successfully complete the E1 orientation on March 25, 2014. The penalty should have been lifted at that time, but was not. The Board held that the claimant has met the reporting requirements under Section 8-902. Benefits are allowed from the week beginning January 12, 2014. Coburn, 2148-BR-14.