To apply for unemployment in Maine, file online at ReEmployME or call 1-800-593-7660 (TTY: Maine Relay 711) in the first week after your last day of work — the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
This guide lists the documents to gather, the steps in order, the identity check, the weekly claim, and the reasons a claim shows “pending” — the things the portal does not explain. Verified against Maine Department of Labor as of October 2026.
Before You Apply For Unemployment In Maine: At a Glance
| File online | https://reemployme.maine.gov |
| By phone | 1-800-593-7660 (TTY: Maine Relay 711) (Customer service Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., not including state holidays. The state has said the automated line for weekly claims is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but that comes from an older notice and you should confirm it with the agency.) |
| In person | Maine CareerCenters have computers you can use to file online and help with Maine JobLink. Most claimants file online at ReEmployME or by phone at 1-800-593-7660. Confirm locations at mainecareercenter.gov. |
How to Apply For Unemployment In Maine — In This Guide:
When to Apply for Unemployment in Maine
File the week your last paycheck period ends. In Maine the claim starts the week it is filed; waiting costs you weeks that cannot be claimed later. Maine law (26 M.R.S. §1192(4-A)) generally requires one unpaid waiting week, usually the first eligible week of the claim, and it is generally not paid later. Confirm the current rule with the state agency.
What You Need to Apply for Unemployment in Maine
ReEmployME account (login name and password), Social Security number, valid email address, names and addresses of all employers in the last 18 months, dates of employment for each employer, alien registration number and expiration date (if not a U.S. citizen), bank routing and account number for direct deposit (optional)
How to Apply for Unemployment in Maine, Step by Step
- Create a ReEmployME account at reemployme.maine.gov and confirm your email
- Gather your employer names, addresses and dates of work for the last 18 months
- File the initial claim online, or by phone at 1-800-593-7660
- Write down the confirmation number. If you did not get one, the claim is not finished
- Register with Maine JobLink (joblink.maine.gov) right away
- Check the Correspondence section of ReEmployME for notices and identity-verification requests
- File a weekly claim for each week you are out of work, including at least one work search activity
Prefer the phone? Call 1-800-593-7660 (TTY: Maine Relay 711) (Customer service Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., not including state holidays. The state has said the automated line for weekly claims is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but that comes from an older notice and you should confirm it with the agency.).
Maine CareerCenters have computers you can use to file online and help with Maine JobLink. Most claimants file online at ReEmployME or by phone at 1-800-593-7660. Confirm locations at mainecareercenter.gov.
The Identity Check After You Apply for Unemployment in Maine
Most states verify identity online (often through ID.me) before paying; finish it the same day you file, because a claim with an unfinished identity check sits in pending.
Your First Weekly Claim After You Apply for Unemployment in Maine
File a weekly claim online in ReEmployME or by phone at 1-800-593-7660 (you need your PIN) within 14 days after the Saturday that ends the week you are claiming. Each weekly claim asks whether you were able and available to work, about any wages you earned, and about your work search.
Most claimants need at least one work search activity a week, and phone filers must still enter their work search online.
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What Happens After You Apply for Unemployment in Maine
A monetary determination arrives first with your wages and weekly amount; the employer gets a window to respond; if there is a separation issue, an eligibility determination follows.
Why a Maine Claim Shows Pending
- The claim was flagged for ID.me identity verification
- No Maine JobLink registration
- Work search information missing from the weekly claim
- Employer information is missing or does not match
- An eligibility question about why the job ended, which needs a fact-finding decision
Maine law requires every claimant to register with Maine JobLink (joblink.maine.gov), and just browsing JobLink does not count as a work search activity. Claims cannot be backdated. Your weekly benefit amount is the average of your two highest base-period quarters divided by 22, for up to 26 weeks.
Next step: once you have filed, our Maine benefits guide shows what the weekly check will be, and the eligibility guide explains the separation rules the agency will apply.
Maine — the bottom line
- To apply for unemployment in Maine, file the first week after your last day — the claim starts when you file.
- Gather the documents before you apply for unemployment in Maine: identity, 18 months of employers, and bank details.
- After you apply for unemployment in Maine, file every weekly claim and finish the identity check the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for unemployment in Maine?
Online at the state portal (https://reemployme.maine.gov) or by phone. File in the first week after your last day of work; the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
What do I need to apply for unemployment in Maine?
ReEmployME account (login name and password), Social Security number, valid email address, names and addresses of all employers in the last 18 months, dates of employment for each employer, alien registration number and expiration date (if not a U.S. citizen), bank routing and account number for direct deposit…
How long does it take to get unemployment in Maine?
Two to four weeks after filing in most states, longer if identity verification or an employer dispute is pending.
Why is my Maine unemployment claim pending?
The claim was flagged for ID.me identity verification; No Maine JobLink registration; Work search information missing from the weekly claim; Employer information is missing or does not match; An eligibility question about why the job ended, which needs a fact-finding decision
Official Maine Sources & Resources
- Maine Department of Labor: https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/
- Maine unemployment statute: 26 M.R.S. ch. 13
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
This apply for unemployment in Maine guide was last verified against official Maine sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Maine Unemployment Guides
- Maine Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Maine Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- Maine Unemployment Overpayment: Waivers and Repayment
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.