State Unemployment Benefits in Maine

State Unemployment Benefits in Maine: key facts

Administering agency

Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Unemployment Compensation (BUC).

Claimant system

ReEmployME (reemployme.maine.gov).

Phone

1-800-593-7660 (customer service Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; TTY/Relay: Maine relay 711).

Weeks that can be paid

Under 26 M.R.S. §1192-A(2), an individual is eligible for benefits for a week only if the individual made a claim for that week and was able to work and available for work. A week the claimant did not live to claim therefore cannot be certified.

After a death

MDOL locks a claimant's PIN when the claimant has been reported as deceased to the Social Security Administration. Maine publishes no online death-reporting form and no separate deceased-claimant procedure — call the Bureau to report the death and to ask what, if anything, is payable for weeks the claimant already claimed.

Payments made in error

Benefits paid in error are recoverable under 26 M.R.S. §1051(5), but there is no recovery from a person who, in the commissioner's judgment, is without fault and where recovery would defeat the purpose of benefits or be against equity and good conscience. Recovery cannot be attempted until the erroneous-payment determination is final and the person has been notified of the chance to seek a waiver.

Reporting a death

Call the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation at 1-800-593-7660 (Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Maine relay 711). Phone is the only documented contact method.

Governing law: 26 M.R.S. 1192-A(2) (weekly eligibility conditions); 26 M.R.S. 1051(5) (recovery of erroneous payments; waiver)

Frequently asked questions