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 — report the death to the Bureau by phone, or through the claimant contact form MDOL links from its contact page, and 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), or contact the Bureau electronically through the claimant contact form at assist.reemployme.maine.gov/cp/landing, which MDOL links from its contact page. Written correspondence goes to the Benefits Services Division, 47 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0047.

Governing law: 26 M.R.S. 1192-A(2) (eligibility conditions); 26 M.R.S. 1051(5) (refusal to repay erroneous payments; waiver of repayment)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Report the claimant's death to the Maine Bureau of Unemployment Compensation so benefit payments stop — by phone at 1-800-593-7660 (Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) or through the claimant contact form at assist.reemployme.maine.gov/cp/landing.
2. Ask the Bureau what is payable for weeks the claimant already claimed before death, and what documentation it needs from the estate.
3. If a payment was issued in error, ask the Bureau about the waiver of recovery under 26 M.R.S. §1051(5) before repaying anything — recovery is barred where the person is without fault and repayment would be against equity and good conscience.

Frequently asked questions