Unemployment Insurance

Yes. If you have worked in the past 18 months, you are physically able to work and available to work, and you are looking for work, you should apply for unemployment.

You can open a new claim for unemployment insurance benefits online at ReEmployME or by calling the Maine Department of Labor at 800-593-7660 between 8 AM and 3 PM.

After you open a new claim, you still need to file a weekly claim every week to claim unemployment benefits, even if you don’t know yet whether you will be eligible. 

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• When should I apply for unemployment?
• How do I file a new application for unemployment benefits?
• After I open an initial application for unemployment benefits what should I do?
• How long will it take to start getting unemployment benefits?
• Am I eligible to get unemployment benefits?
• How do I know if I earned enough money to qualify for unemployment benefits?
• I have children. How do I get the extra benefit for Dependents?

The reason you are no longer working can affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits.

If you were laid off or your hours were reduced, your “separation from employment” is considered a lack of work.

If you quit your job or were fired, you will have a fact-finding interview and you will get a letter to let you know if you can get unemployment benefits. 

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• I’m still working for my employer but my hours have been reduced. How should I file my initial unemployment claim?
• I’m thinking about quitting my job. Can I get unemployment benefits?
• I was fired from my job. Can I get unemployment benefits?

You will be scheduled for a telephone fact-finding interview if an eligibility issue is identified. These issues can include:

• Separation from employment (you quit your job or were fired)
• Able and Available to work
• Work Search
• Refusing an offer of work

After the fact-finding interview, you will receive a letter called a Deputy’s Determination which allows or denies benefits. You have the right to appeal this decision if you disagree. You should file an appeal right away.

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• I was told that I could write a statement for the fact-finding instead of doing an interview. Should I do this?
• I got a Deputy’s Decision saying that I am disqualified. What should I do?
• The Deputy’s Decision allowed my benefits but my employer has appealed. What should I do?

You must be Able to Work, Available to Work, and Looking for Work to Qualify for Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

Being able to work means that you are physically and mentally able to work. You do not have to be physically able to work at your previous job. 

Available to work means that if you were offered work, you would be available to accept it. For example,  you could arrange for child care and transportation so you could go to work. 

You must be able and available to work to be eligible for unemployment benefits. You must also be actively seeking work with an employer (unless you are in approved training and have a Training Waiver). 

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• What does Able to Work mean?
• What does Available to Work mean?
• Do I have to be able and available for full-time work to get unemployment benefits?
• What counts as a Work Search?

People who are unemployed or underemployed are often interested in training and education to improve or update job skills and employment prospects. It is possible to participate in training and education programs while still qualifying for unemployment insurance benefits.

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• I’d like to get training or education so I can get a better job. Can I do that and get unemployment at the same time?
• What is a Training Waiver and why do I need one?
• Can I get additional weeks of unemployment benefits to finish my training?
• I’ve already used up all my unemployment benefits. Can I still get Dislocated Worker Benefits?
• What is the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program? How do I apply?

If you are offered work and refuse it while you are getting unemployment benefits, you must report this on your weekly claim.  You only need to report a solid job offer that includes a start date, rate of pay, and other conditions of employment. 

You will have a chance to explain why you refused work in a telephone fact-finding interview. 

We recommend that you read the more detailed information in our Basic Guide to Unemployment Insurance in Maine before you refuse an offer of work. It answers these questions, too: 

• I was contacted by an employer who wanted me to apply for a job. I don’t want to work there so I didn’t apply. Should I report that I refused an offer of work?
• I have been offered a job that I don’t want to take. Can I turn it down and still get unemployment benefits?
• I’m working part-time and getting partial unemployment benefits. I couldn’t go in for my scheduled shift. Is that a problem?

Changes in unemployment law that occurred in 2021 increased access to UI benefits for partially unemployed people. The new law lets you get partial benefits if the amount of your weekly gross earnings minus $100 is less than your weekly unemployment benefit amount.

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions: 

• I’m still working but my hours have been cut. Can I get unemployment benefits?
• I was unemployed and I found a job but it’s just part-time. Can I still get unemployment benefits?

If you are denied unemployment benefits for weeks for which you were already paid, this will create an overpayment. The amount of an overpayment can be relatively small or very large depending on how many weeks are affected. You can appeal the decision that establishes an overpayment, but once you have used all your appeal rights the overpayment is final. If you cannot afford to repay the overpayment you can apply for a waiver of overpayment.

Our Basic Guide to Unemployment Benefits in Maine also answers these questions:

• The Department of Labor says that I was overpaid unemployment benefits. I can’t afford to repay. How do I apply for a waiver?