Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits No Longer Available

 

What you should know about collecting unemployment if you are out of work due to COVID-19.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, job losses skyrocketed, and the unemployment rate reached double digits. Congress responded by creating several temporary unemployment benefit programs. Many employees were eligible for unemployment because they lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and the steps state and local governments took to contain it. Millions more received temporary federal benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program because they were still unemployed when their state benefits ran out. And, many gig workers, contractors, and self-employed people were temporarily eligible for  unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. 

Expired Federal Pandemic Unemployment Programs 

However, these federal programs ended on September 6, 2021. In some states, they ended even earlier: About half the states decided to stop participating in these programs before they expired.

Since September 6, 2021, these benefits have no longer been available. That means:

  • Benefits are no longer available to the millions of gig workers, contractors, and freelancers who were receiving unemployment through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. 
  • Benefits are no longer available through the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which offered additional benefits to those who were still unemployed when they used up their state benefits. 
  • Benefits have been reduced for those who were receiving Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, a program that offered $300 extra per week to those collecting unemployment. 

All told, experts estimate that more than seven million people lost their benefits on Labor Day, 2021. More than two million more saw their benefits cut by $300 per week. 

Information on Maryland Unemployment Benefits and COVID-19

Most states have FAQs, updates, and other resources available for unemployment claimants.

For updates and information on how the Maryland Department of Labor is handling unemployment claims relating to COVID-19, check out the Department's homepage

The best place to find out the current rules in Maryland is the website of the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance. All of us at Legal Consumer wish you and your loved ones good health and economic security through these difficult times.

 


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Jurisdictional relevance: ST

There are versions of this article for each State.