"Apply for Benefits" in BEACON Portal if Missing Weekly Certification

Subject: “Apply for Benefits” in BEACON Portal if Missing Weekly Certification 

Dear Unemployment Claimant,

If you are not able to file your weekly claim certification this week, please check your BEACON portal to see if you have an “Apply for Benefits” button. If you have this button, there could be several reasons including, but not limited to: 

• You did not apply for benefits last week,
• Your benefit year has expired (52 weeks), or
• Your monetary eligibility needs to be redetermined.

Even if your account is active and you have a balance, if you have an “Apply for Benefits” button, then you need to re-apply for benefits to be able to file your weekly certification as required by Maryland unemployment law and federal program rules.  

If you wish to re-apply for benefits, you should access your BEACON portal from an internet browser, click on the “Apply for Benefits” link on your home page, and follow the steps. You cannot complete this process from the MD Unemployment for Claimants Mobile App. 

Reminder: Claimants have through Saturday, June 12 to file their weekly certification for the week. If you have successfully filed your weekly certification this week, please ignore this email. There are no issues with the BEACON system. 

Please note that the federal unemployment insurance programs have not ended and will continue until July 3rd. If claimants are waiting to receive an eligibility determination for any federal programs, the Division will ensure that they receive all payments owed to them for all weeks prior to July 3 that they are determined eligible for.

• Babel Notice.pdf