Continuity of Learning and Special

Filing For Unemployment

This article is intended for the members of ACUSM and UMPSA (Higher Education Units) and MEA members who are Portland Public Library Employees. The Governor’s Executive order, and local contracts cover pay for other MEA members.

Q. How much do I have to earn to qualify for UI?

A. There are two steps: 1. You must have earned at least $5,141 in your “base period.” quarter of 2018 and the first three quarters of 2019—whichever period helps you to qualify; AND

Q. My employer sent me home. He said I was not laid off, I was just getting zero hours of work and no pay. Can I get UI?

A. Yes, if your employer has told you there is no work for you and is not paying you, you are unemployed and should apply for UI. Of course, you will still have to meet other eligibility requirements.

Q. What if my work hours are cut, but I’m not totally laid off? Can I still get UI?

A. Yes, you should apply to receive the $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) under the federal CARES Act. You may also be eligible for partial normal benefits for any week in which your hours have been cut because of lack of work with your regular employer. Only one claim needs to be filed for the PUC and partial normal benefits.

Here’s who can get partial benefits:

• If your gross wages (including tips) are less than what your plus $4, you may be eligible for partial unemployment benefits. Example: Jane’s weekly UI benefit is $350. Add $4 = $354. Jane’s gross weekly wage is $250. Jane’s wages are less than Jane’s weekly benefit amount plus $4, so Jane may be eligible for partial benefits.

• How much will you receive:

If you meet this first test, deduct $100 from your gross weekly wage. Subtract your answer from your weekly benefit amount. The difference will be your partial UI benefit amount. Example: Jane’s work hours were reduced. Her gross weekly pay is now $250. Deduct $100 from that amount = $150. If she was totally unemployed her weekly UI benefit would be $350. Her partial weekly benefit is $200. ($350-$150 = $200)

To learn what your unemployment benefit would be, open a claim online and at the end of the process it will tell you immediately what you are eligible to receive. Opening a claim online and file against it are two separate processes. You can open a claim to see the amount the benefit would be, then file at a later date.

Additionally, if you will not qualify for the partial normal benefit and only will qualify for the $600 weekly Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under the federal CARES Act, you will want to wait to file the claim until the unemployment system is set up to handle this new benefit.

The “base period” is the more favorable to the employee of four of the last five completed consecutive calendar quarters prior to the date that you file your initial claim. For example, if you apply in March 2020 your base period is either all of 2019, or the last weekly UI benefit would be if you were totally unemployed

2. You must earn at least $1,713.58 in each of at least two of the calendar quarters in your base period.

Q. If my employer continues my health insurance while I am on temporary layoff or leave, will this affect my UI benefits?

A. No, this will not affect your weekly UI benefits

Q. I was laid off due to COVID-19 and I’m getting a message that says “under monetary investigation.” What does that mean?

A. You need to talk to a UI Claims Representative at the Department of Labor. When there is a message about a monetary investigation it refers to a multi-step process: a separation notice is sent to the employer to fill in and verify. Claimants also get contacted to fill in wage information and verify it. Claims staff are in the process of responding to an exceptionally enormous number of similar monetary investigations right now and they are processing through them as quickly as they can. More staff have been pulled from other units and are being trained to answer some of the questions that are coming up. However, individuals will need to speak to a claims specialist. Claims specialists will reach out directly to sort out the issue and verify that all wages on file are accurate for a claimant. Claims staff are now working weekends so people may receive calls outside of normal business hours.

Q. I am getting a message saying “payment hold for b1.” What does that mean?

A. It means that the DOL is waiting for your employer to complete a B1 questionnaire reporting your wages.

Q: What is the easiest way to file for Unemployment?

A: Due to high call volume, the quickest way to file for unemployment at this time is online. Please visit: www.maine.gov/unemployment/ to apply.