Part-time Maine Workers Will Continue to Have Access to Unemployment Benefits

Possibly Help with Education and Training Too

In 2003 the Maine legislature finally passed a law giving part-time workers the right to collect unemployment benefits. It gave anyone with a history of part-time work or the responsibility to care for an ill family member the right to collect unemployment benefits when they lost their job even if they were only looking for part-time work. This law was scheduled to "sunset" (end) September 2005 unless the legislature voted to keep it in place.

The good news is that they did vote to keep the law in place. Part-time workers will continue to be eligible for unemployment benefits. But another "sunset" was put in the new law requiring the legislature to act again to continue it before September 30, 2008. The reason for this new time limit was to give lawmakers more time to monitor the cost of this benefit. It is expected that more than 2,000 unemployed part-time workers will be helped by this law in 2005 at a cost of just over $2 million dollars. The cost is expected to increase to over $3 million next year as more part-time workers learn about this coverage.

There is another important part to this law. Toward the end of the legislative session an amendment was added requiring the Department of Labor to establish a pilot program to offer education and training services (and support services like child care and transportation necessary to participate) to unemployed part-time workers receiving unemployment benefits. While there will be limited funds for this program, it will give valuable help to some. If you are a part-time worker collecting unemployment benefits, check with your local Maine Career Center to see if education or training services are available to you. 

If you have questions about unemployment benefits for part-time Maine workers, please call Crystal Bond at Maine Equal Justice: 1-866-626-7059, extension 205.

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