If you're trying to reach Maryland's unemployment agency, you're dealing with the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (DUI), which operates under the Department of Labor. Knowing the right contact number — and understanding when and how to use it — can save you significant time and frustration.
The primary claimant contact number for Maryland unemployment insurance is 667-207-6520. This line connects claimants to the Division of Unemployment Insurance for questions about existing claims, filing issues, payment problems, and account access.
Maryland also maintains a Maryland Unemployment Insurance BEACON portal, which is the state's online system for filing claims, submitting weekly certifications, and managing your claim. Many routine tasks can be handled online without a phone call — which matters because phone wait times at state unemployment agencies are often long, especially during periods of high unemployment.
📞 If you're calling, expect longer waits during morning hours and early in the week, when call volume tends to peak.
Before calling, it helps to understand what the phone line is and isn't equipped to resolve.
Claimant services representatives can typically assist with:
What phone representatives generally cannot do:
For appeals, Maryland uses a separate process through the Office of Lower Appeals (OLA) — a formal request that must typically be submitted in writing within a specific deadline printed on your determination notice. The phone line will not substitute for that process.
Maryland's unemployment system offers several contact channels beyond the main phone number:
| Contact Method | Use Case |
|---|---|
| BEACON Online Portal | File claims, certify weekly, upload documents |
| 667-207-6520 | General claimant questions, payment issues |
| Maryland Relay (711) | Hearing-impaired claimants |
| Secure message via BEACON | Written inquiries with a paper trail |
| In-person American Job Centers | In-person assistance with unemployment issues |
Maryland also has a Spanish-language service option available through the main claimant line.
The reason someone contacts the unemployment office usually falls into one of several categories — and each one involves different parts of the system.
Claim status or payment delays are the most common reason. Maryland, like every state, processes claims through an adjudication system that can pause payments when questions arise about eligibility. If your payment is delayed, it may be under review — not necessarily denied.
Eligibility determinations happen when the agency needs more information about why you left your job, whether you're actively seeking work, or how your wages were reported. Maryland makes these determinations based on state law, and the outcome depends heavily on the specific facts of your separation and work history.
Overpayment notices are another common reason people call. If Maryland determines you were paid benefits you weren't entitled to, the agency will issue a formal overpayment notice. How that gets resolved — waiver, repayment plan, or appeal — depends on the circumstances.
Appeals require more than a phone call. If you've received a denial and want to challenge it, Maryland's formal appeal process runs through the Office of Lower Appeals, with deadlines that begin the day your determination is mailed.
How your claim moves through Maryland's system — and how useful a phone call will actually be — depends on a number of factors that the phone representative won't fully be able to assess:
When you do call, having the following ready will make the conversation more productive:
Maryland's unemployment system, like every state's, is administered under a federal framework but governed by state-specific rules. The contact number connects you to representatives who work within those rules — they can explain what's happening with your claim, but the outcome of that claim depends on your individual work history, the reason for your separation, and how Maryland's eligibility criteria apply to your specific circumstances.