AUGUSTA, Maine—Maine Department of Labor is launching a new unemployment benefits filing system in early December. Known as ReEmployME (ME is pronounced “Maine”), the new system is a faster, more efficient way to file for unemployment insurance benefits. Claimants will find it easier to access information about their claims, update their account, file Weekly Certifications for benefits and enter their required Work Searches.
“This new system is the result of years of work in collaboration with other states to create a modern, efficient unemployment system,” stated Governor Paul LePage. “The focus of unemployment is to get people back to work quickly in a permanent or a temporary bridge job. This system will not only do just that, but it will also save taxpayer money over time because of the ReEmployUSA partnership with other states. ReEmployME is a national model.”
The Bureau of Unemployment Compensation (BUC) has been communicating about the transition to current claimants and those who file cyclically this time of year. Claimants are advised of the upcoming timeline so they can prepare to access the new system after launch and plan for a slight delay in benefit payments.
The department anticipates ReEmployME will launch on December 6. Claimants must visit www.maine.gov/reemployme after launch to create an account with a valid email address. Do not use a shared or fake email account. Free email addresses are available online through Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo! mail, to name a few.
Claimants who need help creating a ReEmployME account after launch can call a Technical Support Representative at 207-623-6765 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except state and federal holidays. Technical Support Representatives can only answer questions about creating a ReEmployME account.
Claimants who need help filing a claim or to get information about a current claim can call a Customer Service Representative at 1-800-593-7660 between 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except state and federal holidays.
Direct deposit and MAP/EPC card benefit payments should appear within three days of processing for claims filed within the first few weeks after ReEmployME’s launch.
Claimants can watch for updates about the transition at www.maine.gov/labor/unemployment
“Unemployment insurance provides temporary, partial wage replacement to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own,” said Commissioner of Labor John Butera. “Support for claimants while they search for reemployment is the end goal of the unemployment insurance program. The new ReEmployME system will provide claimants with around-the-clock ability to file for benefits and provide more accurate information to reduce fraud.”
