MDOL Announces 13 weeks of Additional Unemployment Benefits Bookmark and Share

August 24, 2020

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2020

MDOL Announces 13 weeks of Additional Unemployment Benefits

Available This Week through State Extended Benefits Program

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Labor today announced that the State Extended Benefit (EB) program, which provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits, will be available for Maine people who have exhausted their 13-weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) by the end of this week.

Individuals who are permanently separated from their employer must engage in work search activities each week in order to be eligible for benefits. EB will follow the same work search guidelines as regular state unemployment insurance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and PEUC.

In response to the circumstances caused by the pandemic, the Department expanded possible work search activities to include opportunities to enhance individual's marketability during these challenging economic times. Work search activities are:

  • Attending a job fair/virtual job fair hosted by a CareerCenter
  • Participating in CareerCenter virtual reemployment services
  • Participating in a CareerCenter virtual workshop
  • 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 professional job-related education or skills development
  • Participating in networking events related to a job or occupation for which you are reasonably qualified

More information and answers to frequently asked questions on the work search requirement can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/faq/worksearch/