8. One piece of the CARES Act implementation is getting the $600 plus-up payment out to current and new claimants quickly. We hope to have an update on this soon as well.

9. The feds added a server to the SSN valdiation portal this week (this has been one of the things slowing us down) so there is some improvement there.

10. We are in the process of training more state employees to take claims. This isn't something that can be done remotely. Trying to get 10 people in at a time to be trained.

11. Also understand that it takes approximately 25-30 minutes to file one claim, and longer than that if it's a combined wage claim in multiple states or there is some other complication.

12. On average right now, it takes 21 days total to process claims and then get the first benefit payment out, which always includes all payments from the date of eligibility.

13. There is a lot more information on the process, FAQs, e-mail addresses to use here: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/unemployment.shtml

14. We want to assure Marylanders we are working on all of this around the clock. I know it's not enough, but I want you to have the information that I have. Thank you for your patience as we work through all this.