Filing an Unemployment Claim - Maine

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You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own, and you must have earned sufficient wages in your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before the start date of your claim, or alternatively the last 4 quarters). Also, you must be able and available for full-time work.

Visit the Maine website for information on how to apply for unemployment benefits.

Your weekly benefit amount (up to the limit provided for under State law) is determined by dividing the average of the wages in the 2 highest quarters of your base period by 22. See the Maine website for more information on how to calculate your benefit amount.

The length of time that you will receive benefits is also based on how much you made during the base period, but not more than 26 weeks.

You must continue to file weekly on your ReEmployME account or by telephone. Also, you must continue to be able and available for full-time work. You must actively seek employment, while keeping a record of your work search activities. To be actively seeking employment, you must make employer contacts in person, by mail, or online. Telephone contacts will not be considered seeking employment, unless the employer has specifically asked for this type of communication. Your work search efforts may have to be increased after 12 weeks of receiving benefits. You must register and remain active with Maine JobLink. Finally, you must accept suitable work.

You must appeal within 15 calendar days from the date the decision was mailed to you. Your appeal may be submitted online on your ReEmployME account, in person, by mail, by telephone, or by fax. Also, you must keep filing your weekly claims regularly because you will only be paid for weeks you filed if you win your appeal.

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Madeline Messa

Madeline Messa is a 3L at Syracuse University College of Law. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. With her legal research and writing for Workplace Fairness, she strives to equip people with the information they need to be their own best advocate.