Over 96% of Unemployment Insurance Claims Processed

Over $3.6 Billion in Regular and CARES Act Federal Benefits Paid

BALTIMORE (July 2, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Labor (Labor) today provided its weekly update about the significant progress the department is continuing to make in the processing and payment of unemployment insurance claims during the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 96% of Unemployment Insurance Claims Now Processed. Of the 624,978 complete claims received from March 9 to June 27, 601,208 (96.2%) have been processed with 492,789 (78.8%) receiving benefit payments and 108,419 (17.3%) being denied benefits for not meeting state and federal program requirements. Of the claims that have already been denied, the large majority were denied because claimants had issues related to the separation from their most recent employer or were determined to be monetarily ineligible.

Adjudication Backlog Reduced to 3.8%. Despite continuing to receive a high volume of new claims each week, Labor further reduced the adjudication backlog and there are currently 23,770 (3.8%) claims pending in adjudication. These claims have one or more issues blocking claimants from receiving payment that are in the process of being resolved by UI professionals.

Paid Over $3.6 Billion in Benefits. From March 9 to June 27, the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance paid a total of $3,642,243,364 in regular and CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits to claimants. This total amount includes $2,126,846,214 in regular benefits, $1,468,112,926 in PUA benefits, and $47,284,224 in PEUC benefits.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Fallon Pearre