Former employees who were denied unemployment benefits in Maryland have the right to file an unemployment denial appeal with the Appeals Division of the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR).

Unemployment insurance (UI) applicants have the option to request a reconsideration of the DLLR decision at several levels of appeals. State workers who have had their unemployment compensation benefits denied in MD with the initial Notice of Benefit Determination must start the appeals process at the lowest level.

Then, if they fail to obtain a favorable outcome at the first level, they can move on to the next. Note that, however, during the entire Maryland unemployment denial appeal process, UI claimants must continue filing for weekly UI payments in order to receive all due benefits if and when they win their appeal.

State employees with denied unemployment coverage must adequately prepare for the appeals procedure in order to ensure the success of their request. Toward that goal, unemployment petitioners can review the reasons for which the department typically denies UI benefits.

Also, UI applicants can collect all necessary evidence and witnesses that will support their case before commencing the procedure.

We have compiled helpful information, hints, and tips about appealing an unemployment benefits denial in Maryland on this website and FAQs and our free guide.

Learn more about this process in Maryland by reading below, checking out our Maryland FAQs, and reading our free guide.

How to Prepare to File an Unemployment Denial Appeal in Maryland

State claimants who have had their unemployment benefits denied in Maryland can increase their chances of winning an unemployment denial appeal by completing several tasks prior to initiating the process. First, UI applicants must review the causes that lead to denied unemployment payments.

By doing so, they will be able to determine their chances of winning the appeal. For example, if the DLLR determines that you are monetarily ineligible based on both the standard and the alternate base period, you will have little chance of winning the appeal.

On the other hand, if you were let go as a result of wrongful termination and you were still denied unemployment benefits in MD, you can ensure the success of your appeal once you provide the necessary evidence.

In general, the reasons that lead to denied unemployment in Maryland include:

• Submitting an incomplete unemployment denial appeal.
• Leaving employment without good cause.
• Being separated from work due to misconduct.
• Failing to meet the UI program’s monetary requirements.
• Not meeting the weekly recertification requirements.

Apart from reviewing the state UI laws regarding claim denials, former workers who have had their unemployment compensation benefits denied can start gathering all relevant documentation and witnesses, as they may have only one chance to present them.

Note: UI petitioners must remember to file their MD unemployment denial appeal within 15 days of receiving a determination regarding their claim. Otherwise, the DLLR decision will become final.

How to Appeal Denied Unemployment Benefits in Maryland at the First Level of Appeals

The first step for claimants who were denied unemployment benefits in Maryland is to request a DLLR hearing of the facts for their UI case. This initial appeal must be filed in writing to the address of the department’s Appeals Division via one of the following methods: in person, by mail or by fax.

After filing their first-level unemployment denial appeal in Maryland, UI applicants will be informed of the audit’s time and place by the department’s hearing officer. During the hearing, the judge will give all interested parties a chance to present their witnesses, submit their own testimonies and supply all relevant paperwork.

The judge’s decision will be based upon the evidence presented during the audit, and state workers will receive the notice by mail as soon as possible. The hearing officer’s determination will also contain information about the next level of appeals, in case the UI claimant was denied unemployment coverage at this level.

Note: The DLLR hearing will be recorded for the purpose of future reviews of the submitted evidence.

How to Submit a Maryland Unemployment Denial Appeal at the Second Level

Former employees who get their unemployment benefits denied in MD after the conclusion of the first-level DLLR audit can submit a request for reconsideration with the department’s Board of Appeals.

Note that the appeals committee does not accept appeals for the initial Notice of Benefit Determination. Only petitioners who were denied unemployment benefits at the first level of appeals can request a review from the board.

To appeal at the second level, UI applicants must write a letter in which they include:

• The reasons for appealing the hearing officer’s decision.
• Their full name and contact information.
• Their Social Security Number.

The second-level unemployment denial appeal can be filed via the same methods used to submit an appeal at the first level. The commission will make a ruling as soon as possible, and if two out of the three board members rule in your favor, you will receive all benefits for the weeks during which you filed claims.

Last Updated: February 28, 2023