What Businesses Should Know About Expanded and Enhanced Unemployment Benefits

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act expands the state unemployment benefits available to workers.

Maryland will provide all three of the expanded unemployment insurance programs offered through the CARES Act.

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – provides unemployment insurance benefits for workers not typically eligible for benefits (e.g., self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, etc); maximum of 39 weeks of benefits; effective Jan 27, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020
  
  The Maryland Department of Labor website currently is not set up to process unemployment applications from workers typically not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. The State is asking that workers wait to submit claims until the system can be updated. Benefits will be provided back to the earliest date of eligibility. Sign up for email updates on the  Maryland Department of Labor website.
  • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – provides additional $600 per week on top of normal state unemployment insurance benefit; also available to workers in PUA program; effective Mar 29, 2020 - July 31, 2020
  • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – provides 13 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits plus $600 FPUC; effective Mar 29, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020

  See more information about the expanded unemployment insurance benefits in the Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) special report (PDF), dated April 2, 2020.

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