Unemployment Insurance

Oregon's Unemployment Insurance (UI) program is one of its most important and vital social services.
Almost no one ever plans to lose their job, but when times get tough and you are unexpectedly facing unemployment, the government is able to step in and protect you to help you get back on your feet.
Applying for Benefits
If you're fire or otherwise unexpectedly terminated from your job, it's often imperative that you apply for UI benefits as soon as possible. Oregon provides a helpful UI application handbook (available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese) available for free online.
After you apply, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) reviews the application and determines if you qualify. Thus, there's almost never a reason to delay getting online (or calling the Employment Department UI Division) and submitting your UI benefits application.
Qualifying For Benefits
Not everyone qualifies for Unemployment insurance, of course. There are four main criteria to qualify for UI benefits are:
After you submit your UI benefits application to the OED, a representative will get in touch with you to review and verify the information you submitted on the application and help determine your eligibility. (They'll also contact your former employer to verify the information, as well.)
After determining eligibility, the OED either makes an award of benefits and you start receiving benefit payments, or the issue an Administrative Decision and deny your application.
Almost no one ever plans to lose their job, but when times get tough and you are unexpectedly facing unemployment, the government is able to step in and protect you to help you get back on your feet.
Applying for Benefits
If you're fire or otherwise unexpectedly terminated from your job, it's often imperative that you apply for UI benefits as soon as possible. Oregon provides a helpful UI application handbook (available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese) available for free online.
After you apply, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) reviews the application and determines if you qualify. Thus, there's almost never a reason to delay getting online (or calling the Employment Department UI Division) and submitting your UI benefits application.
Qualifying For Benefits
Not everyone qualifies for Unemployment insurance, of course. There are four main criteria to qualify for UI benefits are:
- Become unemployed through no fault of your own
- Meet base period wage eligibility requirements
- Continue to actively seek new employment
- Be physically and mentally able to work
After you submit your UI benefits application to the OED, a representative will get in touch with you to review and verify the information you submitted on the application and help determine your eligibility. (They'll also contact your former employer to verify the information, as well.)
After determining eligibility, the OED either makes an award of benefits and you start receiving benefit payments, or the issue an Administrative Decision and deny your application.
What if I'm Denied?
It's not uncommon for many workers that should qualify for UI benefits, however, to then find that their UI claim was unexpectedly denied.
If you're denied UI benefits, you should act quickly to seek counsel and file an appeal.
It's not uncommon for many workers that should qualify for UI benefits, however, to then find that their UI claim was unexpectedly denied.
If you're denied UI benefits, you should act quickly to seek counsel and file an appeal.