Maine Unemployment Benefits

Are you physically able to work?

Are you willing to actively look for a job?

Did your employer pay unemployment taxes ("Covered Employment")?

Did you earn at least $4148 in the base period in Maine?

Base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you are filing today, base period is Jan 2012 - Mar 2012 to Oct 2012 - Dec 2012

How did you lose your job?

Did you quit your last job due to unsafe working conditions, not being paid, discrimination and / or health and safety risks?

Were you fired for no fault of your own?

Were you laid off for no fault of your own?

Your State : Maine

   Wages Earned:

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Apply Online:
Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to claim benefits. Check for more specific details such as timings and requirements to claim benefits in your state.
CALL: 1-800-593-7660.TTY (for Deaf and hard of hearing):Maine relay 711 Unemployment Tax Related Queries: (207) 621-5120;
Visit UC Center:
You can’t seem to find assistance on call? No worries. Visit one of the UC center and let the specialist help you out. Please note that wait times can be longer but assistance is guaranteed.

you are not eligible

Disclaimer: The estimates are given in good faith and accuracy is not guaranteed. We are not liable for loss or damage caused by the tools on our website.

    State: Maine (ME)
    Phone Number: 1-800-593-7660.TTY (for Deaf and hard of hearing):Maine relay 711 Unemployment Tax Related Queries: (207) 621-5120;
    File Online: http://www.maine.gov/labor/unemployment/benefits.html
    Major Towns: Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor

    Current Unemploymnet Rate in Maine

    What is the Eligibility Criteria in Maine?

    There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.

    1. Must have lost job with no fault of his theirs
    2. Must be totally or partially unemployed.
    3. Must have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim
    4. Must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.
    5. Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed.

    To learn more check unemployment eligibility article

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    Claim your benefits

    How to File Your Initial Claim in Maine?

    1. If you have been separated from work, you can file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    2. You can file your first claim in one of the two ways: by calling the TeleClaim Center or visiting a One-Stop Career Center close to you. Unluckily, you cannot file an initial claim online at this time.
    3. Have your entire information ready before filing your claim.
    4. If you have received severance pay upon your separation from work, you may still be eligible for unemployment benefits, so it is still important to call to file your initial claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment.
    5. If eligible for unemployment benefits, you can expect to receive your first payment in 3-4 weeks if there are no issues with your claim.
    6. In general, it takes approximately 3 weeks to process a claim; however, you will still need to claim benefits every week.

    Information needed is as follows:

    1. Your Social Security Number
    2. The year you were born
    3. Your home address and telephone number
    4. Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in your state or in any other state during the past 12 months
    5. Your last day of employment
    6. The names and addresses of all of the employers you have worked for during the 15 months prior to filing your claim and the dates you worked for each of these employers. If you are reopening a claim, be ready with the same information for the past 8 weeks
    7. The reason that you are no longer working or that your hours have been reduced The names, dates of birth and social security numbers for any dependent children, if you are going to apply for dependency allowance
    8. Your alien registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen

    If You Are Not a United States Citizen

    You must give verification that you were legally eligible to work in your state and that you are presently eligible to begin a new job.

    How to File Your Weekly Claim?

    After you file your application for unemployment benefits, you must start filing your weekly claims. You require filing each week, even though you are:

    1. Waiting for a verdict about benefits,
    2. Waiting for your claim to become valid, or
    3. Appealing a denial of benefits

    You can file your weekly claim:

    1. Through the Internet - You can file your weekly claim online. You must have a User ID and PIN in order to file your weekly claim online.
    2. By phone – You must call the number given to you during the registration process.

    File every week that you want to claim benefits and keep on filing until you go back to work, run out of benefits or stop seeking work. You should claim at least one week before we can make a decision on your eligibility.

    How to Claim for an Extension?

    If you are presently filing weekly claims for unemployment benefits; carry on filing your weekly claim if you are jobless or working reduced hours. You will be informed by mail of your eligibility for the added benefits.

    In case you have been filing weekly claims and are still laid off or working reduced hours, you will have to file an application for these extra benefits online or by telephone. You will be alerted by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits.

    To be eligible for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits you must:

    1. Have an unemployment claim that began on or after May 07, 2006
    2. Have base period wages in the base period of this claim that is equal to at least 40 times your usual benefit rate
    3. Tired your usual benefits or your benefit year has ended and not be eligible for a new claim in any state
    4. Be unemployed or working reduced hours
    5. Be able and available for work and looking for work

    To be eligible for EB benefits you must:

    1. Qualify for EUC and then
    2. Exhaust all customary UI benefits and all available EUC Tiers
    3. Be out of a job or working reduced hours
    4. Be seeking work and submitting evidence of work search to DWD
    Recent Questions
    How long can I collect the benefit in Maine State?

      View all questions

    Maine Unemployment Questions



    What is the base period?
    The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of your benefit year. We will use the last four completed quarters if you are not eligible using the regular base period quarters.

    How long will I receive unemployment benefits?
    The law establishes the maximum amount you may draw during your benefit year. This amount depends on your individual earnings and is limited to a maximum of 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. Not all individuals qualify for all 26 weeks. You may also qualify for up to 20 additional weeks of benefits under a temporary Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Benefit program. (Additional benefits may also be available under Special Programs.)

    Does Maine offer Employment Training Help?
    Training is available. The Maine Department of Labor is a workforce development agency and uses a variety of federal and state programs. Workers who lose their jobs due to foreign imports may be eligible for training and other services if their employers have been "certified" under the Trade Adjustment Assistance laws (TAA). A list of certified employers is available under the Special Programs section. Contact the CareerCenter for more information.

    Emergency Unemployment and Extended Benefits
    Two temporary programs are providing extra weeks of unemployment benefits to workers who have run out of their up to 26 weeks of Regular Unemployment. Emergency Unemployment Compensation for workers who have run out of Regular Unemployment and are still unemployed. It provides additional weeks of benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4) Extended Benefits for workers who have run out of both Regular Unemployment and Emergency Unemployment Compensation and are still unemployed. This program provides up to 13 more weeks of benefits after Regular Unemployment benefits and Emergency Unemployment Compensation have run out.

    Maximum Amount of Benefits
    The maximum amount of benefits that may be paid to any eligible individual with respect to any benefit year, whether for total or partial unemployment, may not exceed the lesser of 26 times the individual's weekly benefit amount or 33 1/3%, rounded to the nearest dollar, of the individual's total wages paid for insured work during the individual's base period, plus the supplemental weekly benefit for dependents payable under subsection 6.

    Minimum Wage Eligibility Criteria
    For each eligible individual establishing a benefit year on or after January 1, 1980, the individual has been paid wages equal to or exceeding 2 times the annual average weekly wage for insured work in each of 2 different quarters in the individual's base period and has been paid total wages equal to or exceeding 6 times the annual average weekly wage in the individual's base period for insured work. The annual average weekly wage amount to be used for purposes of this subsection is that which is applicable at the time the individual files a request for determination of insured status.

    Why do I need to register?

    Through your Maine Job Bank Plus account you will have access to services that let our staff match you with your job search goals, advanced job notification for Veterans, and additional resources including skills certification and training programs. Registering for a Plus account also meets the registration requirements if you are receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits.

    You can also register through the Maine Job Bank Basic account. The Basic account is available to help you build a resume if you don’t have one or upload and improve your current resume. Either way, your Maine Job Bank Basic account will also match jobs based on your resume.

    Note that for the time being, the Maine Job Bank Plus account and the Maine Job Bank Basic account are separate and you will create two accounts. In the near future, we’ll be merging the Basic account into the Plus account but until we can do that we wanted to give the opportunity to build and store a resume online and match your skills and qualifications to openings posted in the Maine Job Bank Basic account.



    How do I register?
    Click on Maine's Job Bank Plus Account or Go to Maine's Job Bank Basic account based on your needs. Our recommendation is to create a Plus Account to access all services. The Plus Account satisfies the UI requirement to register for work search. Registering with a Basic Account will allow you to simply upload an existing resume or use online tools to easily build a new resume.

    What is the difference between Basic and Plus Accounts?

    The Basic account offers new features which will enable users to upload and use an existing resume and online tools to easily build a new resume. The Basic account also has resume enhancing tools that suggest ways to improve your resume. The Basic account will provide you with similar job matching features as the Plus account, including notifications of job openings and job referral information. You will be able to match to jobs you have the skills for, but may not have considered applying to.

    The Plus account will also allow you to receive automatic email notifications when jobs that match your qualifications and preferences are posted. You will be able to post your resume that can be sent to employers. Veterans who register with a Plus account will receive advanced job notification. A Plus account also meets registration requirements for Unemployment Insurance. The Plus account enables CareerCenter staff to provide you with updated notices of events, such as workshops, seminars and Job Fairs. Registering through a Plus account will provide you with access to other CareerCenter services such as career counseling and skills training.


    Why do I have to enter my social security number?
    In order to receive federal dollars and keep this service free, we are required to ask for your social security number. It is not made available to employers or the public. To avoid identity theft, state-of-the-art software has been installed to protect your privacy.

    Will I be notified of job matches?
    You will receive email notifications of matches to your profile (also known as referrals) if you turn the email notification on. You can do this on the "My Home" screen when you are logged in to your Maine Job Bank Plus account.

    What does it mean to accept a referral?
    When you accept a referral from either you Maine Job Bank Plus or Basic account it means that you are interested in the job and agree to contact the employer to apply for the job. Once you accept a referral you will be given the information that you need to apply for the job. We do this so employers have an idea as to who and how many will be applying for any given job.

    Why am I receiving referrals for jobs that I know I am not qualified for?
    Please be aware that we have increased the number of job notices sent to job seekers by going to broader occupational categories, which is matched to the categories that you selected in your profile. This allows the job seekers to view a greater number of employment opportunities and make his or her own decision about which jobs to apply for. If you are not qualified for a job that you received as a referral, you can ignore that referral.


    calculator

    How Benefits are calculated?

    To calculate your weekly benefits amount click here

    1. Work out your base period for calculating unemployment.
    2. Take a look at the base period where you received the highest pay.
    3. Calculate the highest quarter earnings with a calculator.
    4. Calculate what your weekly benefits would be if you have another job.
    5. Calculate your unemployment benefits for every week if the partial gross income is different.

    The minimum benefits amount in Maine is $64.

    The maximum benefits amount in Maine is $366

    A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year.

    To learn more Unemployment benefits article

Questions & Answers


State Unemployment Guides
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