September 15, 2020
How many weeks will I receive benefits?
As long as your employment status has not changed, and you are meeting the weekly requirements for eligibility–filing your weekly certification, reporting any changes to income, and fulfilling the work search requirements–most workers are eligible to receive 26 weeks of unemployment, plus an additional 13 weeks due to the pandemic. The 13 week extension, known…
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2020
What if my employer asks me to return to work, but I am unable to do so due to concerns related to COVID-19?
In general, you cannot receive unemployment benefits if you refuse an offer to return to work. But you may still be eligible for benefits if there was “good cause” for your refusal, a determination that is made on a case-by-case basis. If you or your employer notifies the Department of Labor of your refusal, there…
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2020
What if I am required to look for work to keep my benefits, but cannot because myself or a family member/ household member is part of an at risk group and can’t risk being exposed to COVID-19?
Simply put, if the work search requirement applies to you and you do not document your work search, you may lose your benefits. As described above, there are many options for meeting the work search requirements that can be done from your home without risking exposure to COVID-19, including searching for work online, attending virtual…
Read MoreSeptember 15, 2020
What counts as engaging in work search activities?
The Maine Department of Labor has said that the following activities meet the work search requirement: Applying for a job for which you are reasonably qualified Interviewing for a job for which you are reasonably qualified Contacting an employer to inquire as to whether the employer is hiring Participating in networking events related to a…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Paid Family & Medical Leave
A new law passed by Congress gives some workers new paid sick leave and paid family & medical leave options due to the public health emergency caused by COVID19. This law went into effect on April 1, 2020 and ends on December 31, 2020. More frequently asked questions: How many weeks will I receive benefits?…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
Information on Overpayments due to error or appeal reversal:
An overpayment occurs when you receive unemployment benefits for which you are subsequently found to be ineligible. Typically there will be a fact-finding inquiry followed by a Deputy’s Decision which denies all or part of the benefits you have already received. If you have been paid benefits that you should not have recieved you may…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
If I am receiving unemployment benefits, and I am working part time or earning money from gig work, How do I fill out my weekly claim?
In general, you cannot receive unemployment benefits if you are being paid to work. However, you may still be entitled to benefits if your hours or earnings are significantly reduced due to COVID-19. When you file your weekly claim, report your gross income the week that it is earned, even if you have not yet…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
I am self-employed or a gig worker and have been receiving the minimum weekly benefit. How do I know if I am eligible for a higher benefit? How do I submit proof of income?
If your net income (for self-employed workers) or gross wages (for gig workers) in 2019 was below $15,224, you do not have to upload your income information and will continue receiving the minimum benefit of $172 per week. If your earnings were higher than that in 2019, you are eligible for retroactive benefits up to…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
What if I am offered a job, but I cannot start the job due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19 or because I need to care for a child or other family member?
In general, you are no longer eligible for unemployment if you refuse a “suitable” job offer. However, you can still be eligible for unemployment if you show that the job was not “suitable” or if you show that you had “good cause” for refusing a “suitable” job. The Department of Labor has said that it…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
A close family member of mine has COVID-19, and I will stay home from work to take care of them. What can I do to receive income while I’m not working?
As described in FAQ 3 above, under the Families First Act, government employers and employers with fewer than 500 employees are required to provide their employees with 10 days of sick leave, which can be used to care for someone in your household with COVID-19 or who has been advised by a healthcare professional to…
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2020
I need to stay home from work because I have coronavirus/I have been advised or ordered to self-quarantine. What can I do to receive income while I am not working?
Under the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Families First Act), which went into effect on April 1, 2020 and expires December 31, 2020, any government employer or employer with fewer than 500 employees is required to immediately provide 10 days of emergency paid sick leave to its employees. This leave is in…
Read MoreAugust 22, 2020
MaineCare Eligibility and Services
Are you confused about how to get health insurance and what it will pay for? You’re not alone. Maine Equal Justice can help navigate MaineCare eligibility and services. MaineCare is Maine’s name for Medicaid, a program that provides health insurance for low-income people. To get any kind of MaineCare you have to show that your…
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