Four New BEACON One-Stop Video Tutorials

Subject: Four New BEACON One-Stop Video Tutorials 

Good evening,

In response to the positive feedback we received from claimants, the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance has created a second series of video tutorials to help Marylanders navigate their account on the BEACON One-Stop portal. All four new video tutorials can be found directly on our homepage at MDunemployment.com. 

The first video tutorial provides an overview of the features and information available for claimants in their account. To watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/OdEBipYJ5sA. 

Please note that if you applied for PUA or PEUC benefits, it will initially say in your account that you have applied for Regular UI benefits. This is because in order to be eligible for CARES Act benefits, you must first be determined ineligible for Regular UI benefits per federal government guidelines. If you see that you are "Ineligible/Pending", this means that you are ineligible for Regular UI benefits, but pending for CARES Act benefits. If you are determined eligible for PUA benefits, your program name will change from Regular UI to PUA.

There is no minimum monetary requirement for an individual to be eligible for PUA benefits. However, the base period wages and income you report on your application are considered when calculating your weekly benefit amount (WBA). The minimum WBA is $176 for claimants who are determined eligible for PUA, depending upon the amount of income that you earned in 2019. This minimum amount will not decrease. If you did not provide proof of CY2019 wages or net income when filing your claim, you must provide it within 21 calendar days or your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on whichever is greater—the record of wages/income already on file or the minimum PUA WBA.

You may submit additional documentation at any time during the Pandemic Assistance Period (February 2, 2020 to December 26, 2020) to substantiate wages earned or paid during CY2019. We will redetermine your weekly benefit amount using the new documentation. Acceptable documentation of proof of earnings or self-employment net income paid during the calendar year 2019 includes, but is not limited to, W2s, employer letter, Form 1099, Schedule K-1, Summary of Quarterly Payments, State agency wage records, pay check stubs, bank receipts, business records, ledgers, contracts, invoices, tax returns and billing statements. Payment processing should begin shortly after that. You will also receive $600 per week from the week ending 04/04/2020 to the week ending 07/25/2020 as long as you continue to be eligible and file your weekly claim certifications.

The second video tutorial provides instructions for viewing and completing an action item. You may have an open action item in your account if you need to upload additional documentation, have a weekly claim certification available to file, etc. To watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/Yk2Amq8iIbw. 

The third video tutorial provides instructions for viewing messages. Messages are sent to your claimant portal when there is a transaction related to the claim. These messages are generated by the system and cannot be responded to, but will confirm when your payment is being processed, your weekly claim certification has been completed, etc. To watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/FM-e_eSIBtY.

The fourth video tutorial provides instructions for viewing correspondence. In the correspondence section, you can download and print a copy of your initial claim application, claimant responsibilities, weekly claim certifications, eligibility notices, etc. To watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/OKs1bGUMVt8. 

If you are experiencing technical issues, please e-mail BEACON.support@maryland.gov. In your e-mail, please make sure to include your full legal name, complete address, phone number, e-mail address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, claimant ID number, and/or a brief description of the issue you are experiencing. 

Thank you,

Dayne M. Freeman

Assistant Secretary