MAINE – Winter often brings an increase in seasonal layoffs, with January traditionally being one of the busiest periods for unemployment insurance claims, according to the Maine Department of Labor, in a news release. Therefore, MDOL is providing the following information for people applying for unemployment insurance benefits.

If laid off, or furloughed, the Department encourages affected workers to do the following:

• Immediately apply for unemployment insurance benefits, which provide partial wage replacement while a person transitions to their next employment opportunity: www.maine.gov/unemployment/
• Claims can be filed:
• Online 24/7 – this is the fastest way to file;
• By phone at 1-800-593-7660 Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (Phone wait times tend to be longest at the beginning of the week, and lowest on Thursdays and Fridays. Once you are in the phone queue, do not hang up.);
• In person at the Augusta, Bangor, Portland, Lewiston, and Presque Isle CareerCenters on Thursdays between 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Over the past year, the Department has expanded its unemployment insurance assistance by offering in-person clinics and publishing a series of short videos. Video topics include eligibility requirements and how someone can reset their account password.

If a person still has questions, they can call 1-800-593-7660, or leave an online message under “contact us”: https://assist.reemployme.maine.gov/cp/landing

• Attend the next virtual Rapid Response session, which is held every Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is open to anyone. Sessions cover unemployment insurance, CareerCenter services, the Maine JobLink, health insurance options, training assistance, etc. 

• If owed wages, contact the Bureau of Labor Standards by filling out a complaint form on-line, or calling 207-623-7900 when state offices re-open on Monday.