CARES Act Programs Set to Expire

All temporary Unemployment Benefits Programs authorized under the CARES Act will end after the week ending September 4, 2021.
The last eligible week in Maine for any of these programs is the week ending September 4, 2021.

  • PUA: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
  • PEUC: Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
  • FPUC: Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (Additional $300 per week)
  • MEUC: Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (Additional $100 per week)

  • Question: What if I have a remaining balance of federal benefits in my online account?
    Answer: All federal unemployment programs end after the claim week ending September 4th, regardless of any remaining balance
  • Question: Could pandemic benefits be extended again?
    Answer: White House officials have indicated they will not continue the extended jobless benefits past September, saying they were intended to be temporary.

  • Question: Can I still apply for unemployment insurance?
    Answer: Yes. If you’ve been laid off or furloughed, you can still apply for regular state unemployment benefits.  Eligibility information can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/eligibility/. The general rule is that you should apply if you’ve lost your job or been laid off through no fault of your own, including if it was due directly or indirectly to the pandemic.  The only way to know for sure if you are eligible is to apply, which can be done online here: https://reemployme.maine.gov .

  • Continue to file weekly claims with no interruptions.
  • Additional $300 FPUC payment ends with the week ending September 4, 2021.

You may have regular unemployment insurance eligibility once the CARES Act programs end if:

  • You qualified for a new regular UI benefit year on, or after effective date of December 27, 2020.
  • You were on PEUC prior to establishing the new benefit year.
  • The weekly benefit amount on the new unemployment insurance regular benefit year is at least $25 less than what you were eligible for on PEUC.
  • Under Federal Law, the Department was able to let you collect at the high (PEUC) benefit amount until exhausted or the federal programs ended, which is happening now.

If this applies to you, we would have notified you in writing. Check your Correspondences tab for Form Me. BD-1-OP1 (PEUC). If you were not sent this notice, the above does not apply to you and you will not be eligible for continued benefits after the end of the CARES Act (week ending September 4, 2021).

Additional $300 FPUC payment ends with the week ending September 4, 2021.

Looking for employment? Visit the Maine CareerCenter website.