AUGUSTA, Maine (WGAN) Another 3,800 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Maine last week, about 2,200 of them were for traditional state unemployment benefits, and another 1,600 for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Between March 15 and July 18, the Maine Department of Labor paid out over $1.17 billion in federal and state unemployment benefits. By comparison, the department paid out less than $74 million in unemployment benefits in all of 2019.

The department continues to review each claim as it investigates unemployment imposter fraud. About 1,500 initial claims and weekly certifications were cancelled last week because they were fraudulent.