Maryland.

The Department of Economic and Employment Development recently announced tougher disqualification provisions for the Maryland unemployment insurance program that are slated to go into effect Jan. 1.

Currently, individuals who voluntarily quit work are eligible in most cases for unemployment insurance benefits only if they become reemployed, earn at least 10 times what they would have received in unemployment benefits, and then become unemployed through no fault of their own.

Beginning in January, the earnings requirement increases to 15 times the weekly benefit amount. And should an employee lose a job because of gross misconduct, the individual would be required to earn 20 times the weekly benefit amount in a subsequent job, and then be let go through no fault of his own in order to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.

Charles O. Middlebrooks, assistant department secretary for employment and training, said, "Workers who consider leaving their jobs voluntarily because of employment circumstances should explore with their employer all available alternatives before deciding to quit. "

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