Oregon Unemployment Claims – Complete Guide

This guide explains how to apply for unemployment in Oregon. Follow step by step instructions that will help you claim benefits through OR state unemployment office.

First and foremost, apply as soon as you lose the job. State unemployment offices generally take 1-3 weeks to process your application, especially for the initial claim. The compensation will be paid from the week you applied and if you delay, you will lose the benefits prior to the week of filing. You won't be allowed to back-date your claims or claim the benefits for prior weeks.

Oregon Unemployment Compensation Eligibility Requirements

There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification.

1. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own. That means if you have quit job voluntarily you may not qualify for unemployment insurance. However, there are exceptions - such as working in hazardous or inhuman working conditions etc. to this rule.
2. You must be willing and able to work. If you are physically disabled, you do not qualify.
3. You must have worked minimum number of weeks specified by the State. Oregon State minimum weeks of covered employment requirement (employer must have paid unemployment taxes on your behalf): 12.5
4. You must have earned minimum amount of wages specified by State during this period. This amount may change every year. You can get get complete eligibility criteria and the benefits calculator from state website mentioned in the next section. Minimum wages earned during the base period: $1000

Prepare documents required to apply for unemployment in OR

• Your name, address, social security number and other personal details such as telephone number, email address etc.
• Dependents name, date of birth and their social security number.
• Details of your previous employer. For each employer, you need to provide
  1. Name and address
  2. Telephone number
  3. Start and end dates of employment

• If you had out-of-state employment in the past 18 months, you also need to provide the employment details.
• Reason you lost the job – it has to be involuntary to be eligible to receive benefits.
• Your job skills summary
• If you are not an US citizen, keep your alien registration number and work authorization. However if you are on a work visa such as H1-B, immigration experts do not advise claiming unemployment insurance.

Apply for Benefits or Claim Extension

You can submit your application for unemployment compensation online, off-line (by mail or by visiting local employment office) or through telephone. Online application is the quickest and most efficient option which will also be available 24x7, 7 days a week.

Prepare and submit your application online here

If you choose to file over phone, call the unemployment compensation services toll-free number at 877-877-1781 if you live NW Oregon. 877-728-7970 for SW region and 800-663-7914 for Central/Eastern region. If you live outside of Oregon call 800-982-8920. For weekly claims call the local office or 800-982-8920.

If you are applying for unemployment extension in Oregon, make sure you check the latest rules. Many states are in the process of revising the rules to extend the benefits beyond the initial period. Also, remember that you need to report unemployment benefits as an income when you file taxes with IRS at the end of the year.

All the major cities in Oregon including Portland, Eugene, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield and Corvallis. have an unemployment office location to process unemployment claims. You can visit the local office for consultation or to file for unemployment in person

Working While Claiming and Reporting Earnings On Your Weekly Claim: If you are working less than full time, and your gross earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount, you may still receive benefits. In this situation, you must available for and actively seeking full time work. If your part-time employer doesn’t have full time work available, or a definite date for when full time work will be available, then you must contact other employers to seek full time work.

You must report all work and earnings from employment when claiming benefits. This includes cash and tips, and any non-cash payments such as room and board. Vacation and holiday pay must also be reported if you are returning to work with this employer. Other examples of earnings that are to be reported are payments given due to an employment relationship which, in addition to salary or wages, may be given as bonus, stand-by pay, sick pay, commission, tips or added remuneration for services. Reimbursements for incidental expenses such as meals, lodging, mileage and other traveling expenses should not be reported as earnings.

Exceptions: You do not need to report weekend military drill pay or jury duty pay.
You must also report all work and earnings from self employment when claiming
You must report any payments (cash or non-cash) you receive in exchange for any services you provide or products you sell. Where no employer-employee relationship exists, the only deductible costs of doing business are the costs of products adhering to the customer. The self-employed cannot deduct the costs of doing business except for the costs of material or goods.

Claimants are required to fully register for work in the electronic job match system (iMatchSkills). Failure to register for work in iMatchSkills will result in a denial of benefits. The requirement does not apply to claimants who are scheduled to return to work within four weeks, or who are limited to seeking work though their union hiring hall. Individuals can register for work using iMatchSkills at www.workinginoregon.org. People can also register in person at their nearest local employment office.

Federal law requires all states to determine each claimant’s probability of exhausting regular benefits. These claimants are selected to participate in the Worker Profiling program. Federal and state laws requires selected claimants to participate in reemployment services in order to remain eligible for benefits. In Oregon, this program is known as Reemployment Services. The program selects claimants who are likely to exhaust benefits, and provides, through a local office or one-stop partner: * Individual needs and skills assessments * Career information * Labor market information * Résumé writing assistance * Job placement assistance, and * Job search assistance.

If you are selected to participate, it is important that you attend the Orientation and participate in the reemployment services provided. Failing to attend the Orientation or participate may result in a denial of benefits.

Next steps

After you have submitted your application, you should actively look out for work because the benefits you receive will not be enough to cover your living expenses. The best thing to do is to take a look at your job skills and determine if you want to improve or learn new skills so that you can use this opportunity to revive your career. There are plenty of online opportunities to earn a living while working from home.

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