AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Unemployment Compensation projects that nearly 7,000 Maine residents may benefit from recent legislation prolonging the Temporary Extension of Unemployment Compensation program.

Individuals exhausting their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits between June 1 and the end of December 2003 are potentially eligible for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment through this program.

“The average duration of unemployment benefits has risen significantly over the past year,” said Maine Labor Commissioner Laura A. Fortman.

“This extension will provide many jobless Mainers with the partial wage replacement they need as they continue to look for work.”

In order to qualify for the extension, individuals must have filed an unemployment claim for regular unemployment benefits on or after March 15, 2001, be currently unemployed and have exhausted all regular benefits on a benefit year that ended on or after March 15, 2001, and have no rights to unemployment benefits under any other program.

The end date for filing new TEUC claims is Dec. 31.

Anyone who believes they may be eligible for this program and wants to file a claim should contact the Unemployment Call Center System, a statewide phone network where individuals can file or check on the status of unemployment claims. Call: Lewiston, 753-2800. TTY users may call 1-888-457-8884.