Maryland received the $600 weekly federal supplement, but only for a limited period in 2020
In the spring and summer of 2020, Maryland unemployment recipients got an extra $600 per week on top of their regular state benefit. This money came from the CARES Act, a federal law passed in March 2020 in response to the pandemic. The $600 was not a separate program—it was an add-on to whatever Maryland's Unemployment Insurance (UI) program was already paying you.
The supplement ran from late March 2020 through July 31, 2020. After that date, it ended. No similar $600 weekly payment has been available in Maryland since then, though other federal unemployment programs have existed at different times.
If you are searching for this amount now because you remember receiving it, or because you heard about it and want to know if something similar is available today, the answer is no—that specific program is closed. But understanding how it worked and why it ended can help you understand what other programs might be available to you now.
Key Takeaways
- The $600 weekly supplement was a temporary federal program that ran from late March 2020 through July 31, 2020, and is no longer available.
- The money was added automatically to regular Maryland UI payments for anyone already receiving benefits; you did not have to request it separately.
- This was part of the CARES Act, the first major federal pandemic relief law, and was not repeated in the same form in later relief packages.
- If you received this payment and have questions about what you owe or whether it affected your taxes, contact the Maryland Department of Labor directly.
How the $600 supplement worked in Maryland
If you were receiving Maryland UI benefits between late March and July 31, 2020, the $600 was added to your weekly payment automatically. You did not have to file a separate form or request it. The state's system straightforward added it to whatever amount you were already getting from the regular UI program.
For example, if Maryland was paying you $250 per week in regular UI, your total weekly payment during those months would have been $850. The $600 came from federal funds, not from Maryland's state unemployment trust fund. This is why it required an act of Congress to create it and another act to end it.
The supplement was meant to replace lost wages during the pandemic shutdown. At the time, many people were out of work through no fault of their own, and the federal government decided to provide extra income support while the economy was closed.
Why the $600 ended and what happened next
The $600 supplement was authorized only through July 31, 2020. Congress did not automatically renew it at that level. There was a gap of several weeks with no federal supplement, and then in August 2020, a new federal law created a different program: a $300 weekly supplement that ran through December 2020.
After December 2020, that $300 program also ended. In 2021, Congress created additional federal unemployment programs—Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)—but these were separate programs with their own rules, not automatic additions to regular UI.
The reason these programs kept changing is that each one required a new federal law. Congress had to vote to create them, set an end date, and then vote again if they wanted to extend or replace them. The $600 was never brought back in that exact form.
What to do if you received the $600 and have questions
If you received the $600 supplement and are now wondering about taxes, repayment, or whether you were overpaid, contact the Maryland Department of Labor directly. You can reach them through their website or by phone. They can tell you whether your specific situation requires any action on your part.
The $600 was taxable income, which means it should have been reported on your 2020 tax return. If you did not receive a tax form for it, or if you have questions about how it affected your taxes, the IRS and Maryland Department of Labor can both help clarify.
Do not assume you owe money back. The program was legitimate, the payments were authorized, and most people who received them did not have to repay anything. But if you have specific concerns about your account, the state can review your records and tell you what applies to you.
Other federal unemployment programs that have been available since 2020
After the $600 ended, Congress created several other federal unemployment programs that Maryland residents could access. Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) covered people who were not normally may be able to access for regular UI—self-employed workers, gig workers, and others. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extended benefits for people who had exhausted their regular state UI.
These programs also had end dates set by federal law. PEUC ended in September 2021, and PUA ended in September 2021 as well. Since then, Maryland has returned to its regular UI program, which is the only ongoing unemployment insurance available in the state.
If you are currently out of work, you may be able to receive regular Maryland UI if you meet the state's requirements. That program is permanent and does not depend on Congress passing new laws each year. The amount you receive depends on your prior wages and how long you worked, not on a federal supplement.
Understanding the difference between temporary federal programs and regular state UI
The $600 supplement, the $300 supplement, PUA, and PEUC were all temporary federal programs created by Congress in response to the pandemic. They had specific start and end dates, and they required new laws to create or extend them. This is different from regular Maryland UI, which is a permanent program funded by employer payroll taxes.
Regular Maryland UI exists whether or not there is a pandemic or recession. It pays benefits based on your work history and how much you earned. The amount varies by person and does not include a flat federal add-on like the $600 was.
When people search for "$600 unemployment Maryland" now, they are usually looking for that specific supplement, which is no longer available. But understanding that it was a temporary program helps explain why it is gone and what the landscape looks like now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get the $600 if I was unemployed in 2020 but did not receive it?
No. The $600 supplement ended on July 31, 2020, and Congress has not reopened it. If you were unemployed during that period but did not receive the supplement, you would have needed to have been receiving regular Maryland UI at that time to get it. Contact the Maryland Department of Labor to review your account history if you believe you should have received it.
Do I have to pay back the $600 I received?
Almost certainly not. The $600 was a legitimate federal payment authorized by law. Most people who received it did not have to repay it. If you received a notice from the state saying you owe money, that is a different matter and you should contact the Maryland Department of Labor when ready with that notice.
Is there a $600 supplement available now in 2024?
No. The $600 supplement ended in July 2020 and has not returned. Congress would need to pass a new law to create a similar program. Currently, only regular Maryland UI is available, which pays based on your work history, not a flat weekly amount.
What if I was on PUA or PEUC instead of regular UI—did I get the $600?
PUA and PEUC recipients did receive federal supplements during the periods those programs were active, but the amounts and timing were different from the regular UI $600. If you were on one of those programs and have questions about what you received, the Maryland Department of Labor can review your account.
Where do I find information about unemployment programs available right now?
The Maryland Department of Labor website lists all current programs and how to contact them. You can also call 2-1-1 for a referral to local resources. Regular Maryland UI is the main ongoing program, and may be able to access depends on your recent work history and the reason you are out of work.