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MDOL Rapid Response Team Here to Help the Unemployed

Whenever a layoff or business closing occurs, the Maine Department of Labor’s Rapid Response Team is available to assist. We’d like to offer these available services:

Unemployment Compensation…this weekly benefit may be available to workers who have lost a job through no fault of their own. Unemployment business is conducted most effectively via the Internet w/ no physical unemployment office to visit. Filing an initial or weekly claim may be done online at www.maine.gov/reemployme. For questions regarding unemployment, please call 1-800-593-7660 or email https://www1.maine.gov/labor/contact/index.html or for general unemployment questions or to reset your password, you can contact your local CareerCenter as instructed below.  It is important that after you file an initial claim, you file weekly after midnight on Saturday for continued benefits. To be eligible for unemployment compensation, you must be registered on Maine Job Link which can be accessed at www.joblink.maine.gov.

CareerCenter Services…The Maine Department of Labor’s network of CareerCenters is a resource for a variety of re-employment programs and services. You can receive assistance with your job search through job matching on the Maine JobLink (matching your skills and experience to available job openings), workshops on the fundamentals of a successful job search, and job training assistance. There are 12 CareerCenters located throughout Maine with information at www.mainecareercenter.gov. While we are currently closed to walk in traffic, we are available through Live Chat, our local office numbers, or 1-888-457-8883.   You can receive assistance with your job search through job matching on the Maine JobLink (matching your skills and experience to available job openings), workshops on the fundamentals of a successful job search, and job training assistance.   If not already registered, you will receive an email w/ username and password for Maine JobLink once you file for unemployment.  While your work search is waived, you are not required to complete your registration.  However we do have immediate reemployment COVID 19 employment opportunities for which you can apply through once your profile is built at  www.joblink.maine.gov.  Additional services may be available for military Veterans and those with disabilities.

Health Care and Health Insurance…This is often a concern for someone who has lost a job. Consumers for Affordable Health Care serves as Maine’s Consumer Assistance Program. They can provide you with confidential information on possible options for low-cost health insurance including MaineCare through their tollfree ‘Helpline” at 1-800-965-7476 or visit www.enroll207.com.

Training Assistance…Maine provides many options for Adult Training assistance. Please contact Maine Education Opportunity Center – http://meoc.maine.edu/ or 1-800-281-3703 or Maine Spark - https://mainespark.me/adult-promise/adult-promise-hub/ for more information.

Additional information is available about a wide variety of state and local programs and services either online at www.maine.gov or by phone by calling ‘211’.

For possible free online short term training go to: https://www.mccs.me.edu/workforce-training/

For job hunting tips go to https://www.maine.gov/labor/publications/Job_Hunting_in_Maine.pdf 

For general resource information https://www.maine.gov/labor/docs/2020/careercenter/transitions_guide_2020.pdf 

Attached are:
- directions for your employees to set up their ReEmployME and Maine JobLink accounts and
- the current 36-page Transitions Guide that has information on just about everything dealing with the unemployment process. 

Feel free to share this important information with them.  If you have any questions about available services, please contact John Wagner