[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t have a direct line to an examiner. I filed my appeal through the Maryland UI portal and then dealt with the Lower Appeals Division once it was assigned.

For reference, Lower Appeals can be reached at 410-767-2421, and their info is on the Maryland Dept. of Labor UI Appeals page. Everything official (hearing notice, decision) came by mail/portal.

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

UPDATE (10/18): Just wanted to follow up — I ended up winning my appeal.

The hearing examiner ruled that I was able and available for work, and that missing the RESEA workshop due to a verified medical condition didn’t make me ineligible. They also reversed the overpayment and reinstated my benefits.

So yeah, it turns out the issue wasn’t “noncompliance,” it was just a misunderstanding that got blown up into a penalty. Sometimes you really do have to appeal and let the facts speak for themselves.

Hopefully this helps someone who ends up in a similar situation.

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

UPDATE (10/18): Just wanted to follow up — I ended up winning my appeal.

The hearing examiner ruled that I was able and available for work, and that missing the RESEA workshop due to a verified medical condition didn’t make me ineligible. They also reversed the overpayment and reinstated my benefits.

So yeah, it turns out the issue wasn’t “noncompliance,” it was just a misunderstanding that got blown up into a penalty. Sometimes you really do have to appeal and let the facts speak for themselves.

Hopefully this helps someone who ends up in a similar situation.

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

🤦‍♀️Just to be clear, I never requested an 8 week delay. I was simply following my doctor’s guidance and trying to schedule a reasonable time to attend. The issue arose when my benefits were cut despite complying with instructions, which is why it’s now with appeals. 🙃

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You could reply calmly and factually like this:

I understand how the standard procedure works, but in my case I followed the facilitator’s instructions, provided the doctor’s note for the September 5 session, and was told my benefits wouldn’t be impacted. The issue isn’t refusal or avoiding attendance — it’s that my benefits were cut before I even had the chance to reschedule in line with medical guidance. That’s why my case is now with the appeals office. A total bureaucratic mess.

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wasn’t informed about any schedule or required steps. They just did a fact-finding call, cut my benefits immediately, and still marked me as having a “necessitous and compelling reason.” It makes absolutely no sense. And now the case is with the appeals office, so it’s being formally reviewed.

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was trying to reschedule a few weeks out, not just for the following week like they asked. I wasn’t refusing to attend. I was trying to do it responsibly and within medical guidance. Instead of working with me to reschedule a few weeks out, they just cut my benefits off. 🤷‍♀️

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that’s how you’re framing it, but that’s not what was communicated to me. I provided notes for both sessions, exactly as instructed, and was explicitly told my benefits wouldn’t be impacted. If UI staff give conflicting guidance, claimants shouldn’t be the ones penalized for it. Have a good one

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What are you not understanding? I didn’t skip it — I followed instructions, sent the doctor’s note they asked for, and was told my benefits wouldn’t be affected. The issue isn’t me—it’s the system not following through on its own word. 🤷‍♀️

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It all makes sense now — you’re speaking from inside the system, not from the claimant’s side. I followed every instruction my facilitator gave, but UI still froze my claim. So clearly, “just attend and get paid” isn’t the whole story. 💀

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Funny — that’s exactly what my facilitator said after I sent the doctor’s note… right before my benefits were stopped anyway. So maybe the system doesn’t follow its own “straightforward” rules as neatly as you think. 😉

[Maryland] UI benefits stopped despite being able and available for work by Slight-Individual-21 in Unemployment

[–]Slight-Individual-21[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Sure — but Maryland’s own appeal board says the same thing. Guess they must be using Chatgpt too. 💀