Unemployment Assistance

Employees or self-employed individuals in Maine who became unemployed as a direct result of the severe storm and flooding, may be eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Eligible survivors are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance.

To be eligible for DUA, the individual must be determined ineligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under any state or federal law. Claimants must first apply for state unemployment benefits by visiting Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Unemployment Insurance self-service portal. An application must be submitted by March 4, 2024. DUA claims filed after this deadline may be ineligible.

Common eligibility requirements include: you were working for someone else or were self-employed in the disaster area when the disaster occurred; you lost your job or your place of work was affected or you are unable to get to your place of work as a result of the damage caused; or you lived in the area of the disaster when the disaster occurred and were unable to get to your workplace as a result of the disaster.

For more information, please visit State of Maine Department of Labor.

Residents who were affected by the severe storm and flooding that occurred December 17 – 21, 2023 are eligible for FEMA assistance. You may also register for assistance with FEMA through your smart phone, home computer, or by phone. The fastest ways to apply for assistance are:

•Online at DisasterAssistance.gov

•By phone at 1-800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

•Download FEMA’s Mobile App. Select Disaster Resources and click on Apply for Assistance Online.

For information about disaster assistance from SBA, visit SBA.gov/disaster or call (800)659-2955.

Maine Renters Can Apply for FEMA Assistance

Renters in counties approved for Individual Assistance who had losses from the December 17-21 severe storm and flooding can apply for federal disaster assistance.

The counties approved are Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties.

FEMA Individual Assistance is available to renters, including students, as well as homeowners. Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a one-month or two-month period and can be reviewed for further assistance.

Renters may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for uninsured essential personal property losses and other disaster-related expenses. These may include:

•Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as clothing, textbooks, or school supplies as well as furniture or appliances you purchased. FEMA will not cover furniture or appliances that are provided by the landlord.

•Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by the self-employed

•Primary vehicles.

•Uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for smartphones or call 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

To learn more about the disaster response in Maine, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4754.

Beware of Fraud and Scams

When natural disasters occur, it’s common to find people who want to take advantage of survivors by posing as official disaster aid workers or as relatives trying to help survivors complete their applications.

FEMA encourages survivors to be aware of fraud and scams. FEMA also encourages survivors to report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals.

Survivors should also be aware that this kind of situation doesn’t happen only at the beginning of the response to the disaster when people might be more vulnerable. It can happen anytime. It’s important to know that FEMA does not endorse any specific commercial businesses, products or services.

Disaster survivors should be aware of the common tactics used by these criminals, such as phone calls from people claiming to work for FEMA. The caller might ask for the survivor’s Social Security number and income or banking information. Giving out this type of information can help an unscrupulous person make a false claim for assistance or commit identity theft.

FEMA encourages survivors and business owners to be vigilant for these common post-disaster fraud practices:

FEMA Housing inspectors

•Be cautious if somebody asks for your nine-digit registration number. A FEMA inspector will never ask for this information. They already have it in their records.

•Don’t give inspectors your banking information. FEMA inspectors never require banking or other personal information such as a Social Security number.

•Ask the person to show you their identification badge. Federal employees always wear an official government badge to identify themselves.

Fake offers of local or federal aid

•Don’t trust someone who asks for money. Federal and local disaster workers do not ask for nor accept money. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.

•Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant and asks for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Fraudulent building contractors

•Use licensed or verified local contractors backed by reliable references.

•To find licensed certified contractors check the Maine Attorney General’s Consumer Protection page at www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/index.shtml.

•Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs in advance.

•Demand that contractors detail the job to be done with guarantees in writing.

If you suspect fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.

If you suspect identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at identitytheft,gov.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Farmington, Rumford, Skowhegan and Lewiston

The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC’s) are temporary facilities established in partnership between Maine and FEMA that helps survivors from the severe storms and flooding from Dec. 17-21, 2023, apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents needed for their application, and answer questions in person.

University of Maine – Roberts Learning Center
270 Main St.
Farmington, ME, 04938

Rumford Municipal Building
150 River Street
Rumford, ME 04276
Open 7 days a week 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Somerset County Emergency Operations Center
4 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976
Open 7 days a week 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lewiston Armory
65 Central Ave., Lewiston, ME 04240
Open 7 days a week 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To learn more about the disaster response in Maine, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4754.

FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. To learn more about the disaster response in Maine, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4754. All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, you can call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448.