The Bureau of Unemployment Compensation

We will begin taking claims for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program on May 1st. The program covers those who are self-employed, or otherwise ineligible for traditional state unemployment benefits. Please do not apply until 8 a.m. on May 1, when the new application becomes available. More information can be found on our PUA webpage: www.maine.gov/unemployment/pua.

MDOL is working to implement the third federal unemployment program (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation-PEUC), which extends benefits by 13 weeks. If you have exhausted all unemployment benefits, please wait to file as this program is not yet available. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available. Once implemented, benefits will be paid retroactively.

• IMPORTANT: If you have already enrolled in the current unemployment program, you MUST continue filing your weekly certifications. If possible please avoid filing weekly claims on Sunday or Monday. Please pick Tuesday or later in the week when there is less online traffic.

• If you need to call the unemployment phone lines, please use the alphabetical call in schedule to help reduce phone line congestion: Last names beginning with A-H should call on Monday, I-Q on Tuesday; and R-Z on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are left unassigned for those who miss their alphabetical day or need to call at that time.

• A summary of Unemployment Programs: This is a table that summarizes state and federal unemployment programs and status of their availability. (PDF)

• Status Update of New Federal Unemployment Programs: Review to learn latest information. (PDF)

To review FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, please download the Unemployment Insurance FAQs Regarding COVID-19 document (PDF)