Unemployment Insurance Questions

[Chris0nllyn]

It's the first time I've ever applied. In my 60 years. I thought you needed to say you're looking for work - that's what I was "told" by someone who has done this before said to do. Anyhoo, due to the COVID-19 situation, there are a lot of different issues that needed clarifying. Since you don't have to search for work -they've waived that and I only saw later in the 1,000's of pages of information (and I've printed out a crap ton of them. ) Consequently, I thought I filed my 2nd WEBCERTcorrectly, but I realize I answered two of the questions wrong, and I need to correct.

I see somewhere in the 1,000's of pages of information that they will call you if they see a descrepancy. I've tried to be proactive and found an email address - and sent an email. I also tried to call. I finally got thru after an hour of trying once you get thru to the number and select the options to speak to someone - they say if you're calling to speak to someone - try later.

sigh I know it's a high volume call time, and all that. So I guess I just wait. Do they call you?

Just fill it out and wait. That's all you can do. You'll hear back. Took my wife something like 2 weeks. She's getting the max allowed but even wiuth the additional $600/wk it's a big dent in our income.

FYI, the unemployment website says you don't need to search for work if laid off due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 WORK SEARCH EXEMPTION INFORMATION

Due to the state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor of Maryland, and the labor conditions across the state of Maryland, the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor (Labor) has ordered, effective March 20th, 2020, a temporary exemption from the work search requirement for individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

Labor will exempt all current and new unemployment insurance benefit recipients from the requirement to actively seek work for a ten (10) week period. The temporary exemption from the work search requirement will begin the week ending on March 21st, 2020. However, recipients still need to continue to file their weekly certifications, either through the online Weekly Claim Certification or by calling 410-949-0022.

Claimants who are selected to participate in a federally-required reemployment workshop during this period will be required to complete a one-on-one telephone session with a reemployment facilitator. However, claimants will not be required to complete the activities detailed in the their Individual Reemployment Plan (IRP) until the state of emergency has been lifted.

Despite the order exempting claimants from completing the work search each week, YOU MUST STILL FILE A WEEKLY CLAIM CERTIFICATION in order to receive benefit payments. You may file your weekly claim certification by Internet or telephone. Each weekly claim certification covers a one-week period. When you file your certification, you will be asked whether you have searched for work. Please respond accurately. Because of the exemption, even if you answer “No,” you will still receive your benefits.

If you have questions about filing your weekly claim, please visit our Weekly Claim Certification frequently asked questions.

We strongly encourage you to complete Reemployment Activities that you can perform virtually at the Maryland Workforce Exchange. By completing these activities, you can maintain and increase your skills and training and position yourself to be hired quickly when the labor market stabilizes.

For more information about the exemption from the work search requirements and a list of virtual Reemployment Activities, please visit the Work Search Exemption frequently asked questions page.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml

 

[awpitt]

Just fill it out and wait. That's all you can do. You'll hear back. Took my wife something like 2 weeks. She's getting the max allowed but even wiuth the additional $600/wk it's a big dent in our income.

FYI, the unemployment website says you don't need to search for work if laid off due to COVID-19.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml

I know the Website say you don't have to submitted work search contacts if it because of COVID-19 but there was no place in the actual application for my son to actually specify that his place of work shut down because of COVID-19. So how will MD DLLR know that's the reason for the furlough?

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I know the Website say you don't have to submitted work search contacts if it because of COVID-19 but there was no place in the actual application for my son to actually specify that his place of work shut down because of COVID-19. So how will MD DLLR know that's the reason for the furlough?

They don't know. They likely won't know. Just click "No", he hasn't looked for work. He can do that for 10 weeks and they essentially won't ask any questions for those 10 weeks.

Despite the order exempting claimants from completing the work search each week, YOU MUST STILL FILE A WEEKLY CLAIM CERTIFICATION in order to receive benefit payments. You may file your weekly claim certification by Internet or telephone. Each weekly claim certification covers a one-week period. When you file your certification, you will be asked whether you have searched for work. Please respond accurately. Because of the exemption, even if you answer “No,” you will still receive your benefits.

 

[Bann]

Just fill it out and wait. That's all you can do. You'll hear back. Took my wife something like 2 weeks. She's getting the max allowed but even wiuth the additional $600/wk it's a big dent in our income.

FYI, the unemployment website says you don't need to search for work if laid off due to COVID-19.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml

yes, thanks - I knew most of that. I just had the question abt that stuoid yes/no Webcert.

I prepared myself for if I ever lost a job because I'm the primary caretaker in this house. So, I'm not hurting , yet. I do want my money don't make any mistake about that!

I'm more or less reporting my circumstances so others can compare theirs to it.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

yes, thanks - I knew most of that. I just had the question abt that stuoid yes/no Webcert.

I prepared myself for if I ever lost a job because I'm the primary caretaker in this house. So, I'm not hurting , yet. I do want my money don't make any mistake about that!

I'm more or less reporting my circumstances so others can compare theirs to it.

I hear ya. This is a first for my wife also. It's better than nothing and quite frankly this is what UE should be for.

Best of luck with everything and stay safe!

 

[Bann]

I hear ya. This is a first for my wife also. It's better than nothing and quite frankly this is what UE should be for.

Best of luck with everything and stay safe!

Exactly!

Thank you - and you as well!

 

[vraiblonde]

So my mail service sent me a notice that I had something from Maryland Labor. YAY! It has to be my debit card!

Nope. It was my notice of eligibility and wage statement.

So anyway, still waiting for the debit card...

 

[awpitt]

So my mail service sent me a notice that I had something from Maryland Labor. YAY! It has to be my debit card!

Nope. It was my notice of eligibility and wage statement.

So anyway, still waiting for the debit card...

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're going to have that resource available for you. I wasn't sure how people in your type of situation would be treated. Just glad to hear it's on its way. My son got an email saying that his BoA card was charged up with the first week's payment but the card hasn't come yet.

 

[vraiblonde]

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're going to have that resource available for you. I wasn't sure how people in your type of situation would be treated. Just glad to hear it's on its way. My son got an email saying that his BoA card was charged up with the first week's payment but the card hasn't come yet.

I am fortunate that I can live on savings for a few months. My concern is for those who don't make a lot of money, live paycheck to paycheck, and are now suddenly unemployed with no relief in sight. They can't wait a month or more to feed their kids and pay their electric bill.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Heads up, another $600 per week is coming out, starting this Friday, for some folks and benefits under CARES Acts gets extended another 13 weeks (max 39 weeks now)

On Friday, April 24, Labor will be launching a new, one-stop unemployment insurance application to allow Marylanders to file claims for all unemployment programs entirely online. This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, and those who were previously required to file by phone like federal employees, members of the military, individuals who have worked in multiple states, and those who have worked for more than 3 employers in the last 18 months.

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• Individuals who are not usually eligible for regular UI and who cannot work due to COVID-19 are eligible for a maximum of 39 weeks of benefits, which includes $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
• Effective January 27, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020.
• Starting Friday, April 24, those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, or have insufficient work history will be able to apply online. To receive an e-mail with additional information and instructions once the new application is ready, please sign up here.

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

• $600 per week on top of current regular UI benefits.
• Effective March 29, 2020 through July 31, 2020.
• Starting Friday, April 17, everyone eligible for benefits ending the week of April 4 will begin receiving an additional $600 per week as part of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program on top of current regular benefits. Marylanders will begin to see the increase in their next regularly scheduled payment.

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• 13 additional weeks of UI benefits, plus $600 FPUC.
• Effective March 29, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020.
• Starting Friday, April 24, new claimants and those who are already receiving benefits will automatically receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits under the CARES Act. Current eligible claimants do not need to take any additional steps to receive these extended benefits. Labor will be directly contacting claimants who have recently exhausted their benefits, so they can reapply for the additional 13 weeks.

http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/unemployment.shtml

 

[vraiblonde]

None of that does us any good if we don't get our debit cards.

 

[awpitt]

I am fortunate that I can live on savings for a few months. My concern is for those who don't make a lot of money, live paycheck to paycheck, and are now suddenly unemployed with no relief in sight. They can't wait a month or more to feed their kids and pay their electric bill.

Yes. Very true.

 

[Bann]

So my mail service sent me a notice that I had something from Maryland Labor. YAY! It has to be my debit card!

Nope. It was my notice of eligibility and wage statement.

So anyway, still waiting for the debit card...

All the mail is screwed up! I got a letter on Saturday 4/18 that was dated 3/30 instructing me to make sure I started filing my WEBCERTS. Which I was doing.

This is so damn annoying.

 

[Bann]

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're going to have that resource available for you. I wasn't sure how people in your type of situation would be treated. Just glad to hear it's on its way. My son got an email saying that his BoA card was charged up with the first week's payment but the card hasn't come yet.

When did he file?

 

[Bann]

Heads up, another $600 per week is coming out, starting this Friday, for some folks and benefits under CARES Acts gets extended another 13 weeks (max 39 weeks now)





http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/unemployment.shtml

I sure as heck hope those of us who have been waiting almost a month will get ours before they go adding other people. I swear.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I sure as heck hope those of us who have been waiting almost a month will get ours before they go adding other people. I swear.

The plus side, when you do get it, it's retroactive so you should have a nice balance when you do get it. I think my wife had something like $4k in hers.

 

[awpitt]

When did he file?

His furlough started on Apr 2nd. He did his initial filing on Apr 8th. He got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 5 - 11 which showed only the $600 federal money. Last night, he got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 12 - 18 which showed the $600 federal money plus the regular MD money (for both weeks). Still hasn't received the actual BoA card though.

 

[Bann]

Hos furlough started on Apr 2nd. He did his initial filing on Apr 8th. He got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 5 - 11 which showed only the $600 federal money. Last night, he got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 12 - 18 which showed the $600 federal money plus the regular MD money (for both weeks). Still hasn't received the actually BoA card though.

Wow.

I applied the same day I was furloughed. 3/24.

 

[Bann]

His furlough started on Apr 2nd. He did his initial filing on Apr 8th. He got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 5 - 11 which showed only the $600 federal money. Last night, he got BoA card charging notices for the week of April 12 - 18 which showed the $600 federal money plus the regular MD money (for both weeks). Still hasn't received the actual BoA card though.

Wow.

I applied the same day I was furloughed. 3/24.

There is nothing on my WEBCERT page STILL, as of this morning. No email notices, no USPS mail - nothing. There is no order to any of this.

 

[awpitt]

Wow.

I applied the same day I was furloughed. 3/24.

Oh wow. I guess BoA got slammed and is back logged on printing debit cards.