Maine Unemployment Benefits

You are unemployed in Maine then you should immediately file for unemployment benefits under the standard procedures. You may do so over phone at:

• Augusta: 624-7560
• Fort Kent: 834-2450
• Rockland: 596-4380
• Orono: 561-4600
• Lewiston: 753-2800
• Sanford: 324-5461
• Biddeford: 286-1500
• Portland: 822-4128
• Skowhegan: 474-4930
• Calais: 454-1077
• Presque Isle: 768-6800

In case you need a translator (for people who do not speak English) this is also available - you will need to press 1 on the keypad when you hear the service menu - and indicate the language you need. The Centre will direct you to a representative who speaks your language.

Or over the net at http://www.state.me.us/labor/uibennys/.

There are few criteria you need to fulfill in order to be eligible for applying for unemployment benefits and these are,

• 1. You must be a US citizen or a legal registered immigrant/ alien
• 2. You must have a valid social security number or valid registration number (if you are an alien)
• 3. You must be fully or partially unemployed - the total wages of which come to less than the minimum weekly wages
• 4. You must have worked under insurance coverage for the last 15 months, earning the minimum amount of salary/ wages (this refers to your base period which is the first four quarters out of the last five quarters you were employed just before filing the claim)
• 5. You must be available for work and actively seeking it
• 6. You must be registered with the Workforce Development Centre (you can register online using the online employment registration application or visiting the closest centre in person)
• 7. You must have lost the job fully or partially for no fault of your own

You will be disqualified if:

• 1. You quit from your job
• 2. You were involved in any labor related disputes
• 3. You were terminated due to misconduct
• 4. You are unwilling or incapable to take up employment immediately
• 5. You are medically unfit
• 6. You receive any type of severance pay or pension
• 7. You are on leave of absence or during vacation
• 8. you are not registered with the workforce development

While you are filing for the claim you will need the following information at hand:

• 1. Your social security number / registration number if you are an alien
• 2. Complete information on the last employers (address, phone numbers, period of employment, etc)
• 3. A second positive identification document such as driver's license, photo credit card etc.
• 4. The number of dependents including your non-working spouse (upto four persons, as they will also be entitled for financial benefits)
• 5. If you were in the military you will need your DD-214
• 6. If you were a federal government employee, you will need your SF-8 or SF-50

Once you complete this task you can concentrate in seeking a good job for yourself. When looking for a job it will be of great help to know the trends of the market in Maine.

• 1. On the first place, with the highest demand of jobs is the Registered Nurses - with an annual demand for job of 620. For applying for this type of jobs you will need to have an associate degree.
• 2. The second place in the jobs arena is held by General and Operations Managers - with a annual turn over of 380 jobs. For this type of job you will need a bachelor's degree or higher education
• 3. On the third place you have the First-line Supervisors and Managers of Retail Sales Workers with 310 jobs demand per year. For this type of job you will some job experience to apply.
• 4. You have the Truck drivers and related jobs close on the fourth position with 290 jobs turn over per year. For these jobs you will need a moderate on-the-job-training.
• 5. On the fifth place you have the Social and Human Service Assistants with 260 jobs turn over per year. To apply for these jobs you will need a moderate on-the-job training.

Besides the above you can also seek those places out which you are particularly interested. For finding out if there are organizations which can offer you what type of employment you seek, by going through the yellow pages. Once you identify the organizations you want to apply - you have a CV ready and go and meet the HR department functionary in those offices to submit your application, while also collecting coordinates where you could later follow up on your application.

You can also expedite the process with a few measures:

• 1. advertise in the local community newsletter/ newspaper and post 'wanted' ads on the local notice boards
• 2. look up the busy areas (restaurants, shopping malls, libraries, CD shops, etc) and offer your service - these places always need an extra hand
• 3. scan daily the local newspapers, local notice boards for ads of vacancies and apply to whichever you think might suit you
• 4. tell each and everyone you know or get acquainted with that you are looking for a job
• 5. ask your ex-employer to refer you to a new job - it is possible that you will get a good recommendation
• 6. use the Net to create a great income for yourself right at home; with the Net you can:

• a. freelance - enlist your name in one or more free freelancing websites and start earning; you can freelance on writing articles, book ghost writing, software programs, etc.
• b. start a business online - you can start selling a product or a service online - check the net for the step-by-step 'how-to'
• c. you can earn money answering surveys on the Net - there are a lot of sites which will send you surveys for you to fill and which pay anything from to
• d. you can become an affiliate and sell other people's products through which you can earn commission

NB: Beware of scams over the Net. If something looks too good to be true - IT IS. Do not touch anything that promises you the rags-to-riches story. What you should look for is payment in return of work - telecommuting, freelance, or any other that can be effected from computer online or offline. These will definitely pay you and are more reliable than any of those get-instantly rich sites - which 9 out 10 are scams. In case you need to be sure about any site, run a search by typing the site's name and scam (site name + scam) on the search bar and see the results.