Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

We Provide a Free Guide

Our FREE guide provides helpful information about how to apply for benefits. Learn more about us here.

Clear & Simple
Information
Free and easy
guide
Personalized
Offers
Get the Guide

The Maryland federal unemployment extensions are additional payments that supplement the standard unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. These UI continuations serve as a financial safety net for workers who have difficulties finding a new job.

The only time the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) activates unemployment compensation extensions in Maryland is during times of high unemployment. In such circumstances, only UI beneficiaries who exhaust their regular 26-week UI benefits may become eligible for unemployment benefits extensions, which will last for a number of additional weeks.

Even though the DLLR administers the programs that grant unemployment extensions in MD, they are funded primarily by the federal government. Unemployment beneficiaries who are wondering, “What can I do to extend unemployment benefits,” must first learn whether or not they qualify for UI continuations.

In general, the same eligibility requirements set for the standard UI program apply for extended benefits. Also, once the DLLR activates the unemployment extension programs, it will contact any eligible recipients to instruct them on how to obtain their emergency UI payments.

Depending on the type of UI extension program, the duration of extended benefits varies.

Maryland Unemployment Resources

How to Get an Unemployment Extension in Maryland

Currently, the Maryland unemployment compensation extension program remains inactive. However, if and when the state initiates the Extended Benefits (EB) program, qualified UI recipients will be able to apply for federal unemployment extensions in MD. The EB program is funded by both the federal and state government, and it follows guidelines similar to the standard UI program.

According to these general rules, only unemployment claimants who meet the following conditions may become eligible for UI extensions:

  • They meet the initial UI work and wage requirements.
  • They are ineligible for other types of unemployment insurance benefits.
  • They are actively searching for employment.
  • They are able and available for a full-time job that suits their abilities.
  • They continually report all earnings.

The main requirement to extend your UI payments, however, is to first obtain the full amount of standard UI benefits for 26 weeks. Note that the Maryland unemployment extension program generally activates once the rate of unemployment within the state rises beyond six percent, and it grants an additional 13 weeks of benefits.

However, because of an extremely high unemployment rate in the past, previous iterations of the program were also offering 20 weeks of unemployment benefits extensions in Maryland.

Note: The conditions of EB unemployment compensation extensions may change with any future versions of the program.

Previous Maryland Unemployment Extension Programs

At times, the federal or state governments establish an unemployment benefits extension program. For instance, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program temporarily gave qualified workers additional weeks of unemployment payment in 2008, but it expired in 2013. And in 2020, the federal government initiated the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which ended in 2021.

Last Updated: February 28, 2023