FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Maine for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. Additional unemployment benefits from FEMA will be paid out mid-month. Maine Department of Labor gave an update on the funds on Friday. $300 will be paid weekly through the Lost Wages Assistance program. FEMA will work with Maine Gov. Janet Mills to implement a system to make this funding available to Maine residents.

Maine DOL said those who meet the requirements will see the extra money paid retroactively. It will cover the first three weeks of August. Those eligible must be receiving either state or federal unemployment benefits. They must be getting at least $100 and getting their benefits based on loss of employment due to COVID-19.

Commissioner of the Maine DOL, Laura Fortman, said, “We have also just yesterday submitted an application to draw down funds to cover the weeks of August 22nd and 29th. We have not yet been given approval for those weeks. We will continue to apply for additional weeks as long as those funds are available.”

The DOL says the program is expected to last five to seven weeks.

The payments will be made automatically based on unemployment claims received.

Individuals do not need to call or apply separately for this benefit.

FEMA Release here

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