Are you interested in learning how to file for Oregon extended unemployment benefits? If you are an unemployed worker in the state of Oregon, you'll be able to find out how you can claim additional compensation on this page. The information that follows is a summary of the steps you'll need to take, but you should also check with the Oregon Employment Department for complete regulations.http://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml

Extended unemployment benefits are available in Oregon because of a new law signed by President Obama on November 6, 2009. The Worker Assistance Act of 2009 allows for all fifty states to extend federal unemployment benefits by an additional 14 weeks. States with particularly high unemployment rates, like Oregon, also qualify for 6 extra weeks.http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-worker-homeownership-and-business-assistance-act-2009

The total of 20 additional weeks is added to the current tiers of federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or EUC. EUC is available in addition to the initial unemployment benefits and the extended benefits provided by the state itself. This means that unemployed workers in Oregon may qualify to receive up to 99 weeks of benefits, if necessary.http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/extensions_overview_12-16-08.shtml

On July 20, 2010, the United States Senate reauthorized the EUC program, extending it through November 30, 2010. Those who qualify for additional benefits will be notified by the Oregon Employment Department.http://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/ If your EUC benefits were interrupted when the program expired on June 2, you will receive compensation retroactive to that date. However, if you have already received the maximum EUC available to you, you will not qualify for additional benefits under this extension.http://news.opb.org/article/10272-unemployment-benefits-extension-wont-help-everyone/

To file for Oregon extended unemployment benefits, you'll need to take three steps. First, you need to evaluate your current eligibility for the program. Second, you should collect all of your necessary information. Third, you'll file a claim, if required.

To qualify for extended unemployment compensation, you'll have to continue meeting the eligibility requirements for initial benefits. This includes the followinghttp://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/ui_issues_affect_benefits.shtml:

1. You must be currently unemployed
2. You must be physically and mentally able to perform full time work
3. You must make yourself available to look for and accept full time work - This includes adjusting your schedule and/or making arrangements for childcare. You will also have to conduct regular work searches.
4. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own - If you voluntarily quit or if you were fired for cause, you generally will not qualify for benefits. If you lost your job for any reason other than lack of work, a benefit investigator will have to determine if you can receive benefits or not.

You will also have to meet certain requirements regarding your earned income in order to receive benefits. For benefit purposes, the first four of the last five calendar quarters is considered as your base year. To receive compensation, you must have worked at least 500 hours during your base year - OR - You must have earned at least $1000 from employment during this time and your total base year wages must be at least one and a half times your highest quarter wages. Example: If you earned $600 in your highest paid calendar quarter, you will have to earn at least $900 in your total base year. (600 x 1.5 = 900)http://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/ui_benefit_eligibility.shtml

Before you can claim extended benefits, you must also have completely exhausted all of your available compensation, including any applicable EUC tiers.

Your next step is to gather the important documents you'll need to submit your claim. This will be the same information you used to open your claim for initial benefits, includinghttp://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/STORIES/online_filing_success.shtml:

1. Your Social Security number
2. Your United States Alien Registration ID, if you are not a U.S. citizen
3. The names, phone numbers and business mailing addresses of all of your employers for the last 18 months
4. The start and end dates of your employment during the last 18 months
5. The salary and total income you received from each employer in the last 18 months - Any special pay you received, such as vacation or holiday pay, pension payments and overtime must also be reported.
6. A telephone number you can be reached at between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM
7. If you worked for the federal government, you will need your SF-8 or SF-50 form
8. The exact reason for your job separation

It is very important that you accurately and completely report all of the above information. Failure to disclose information that could affect your eligibility for unemployment compensation can constitute fraud. You may also have to provide documentation of your employment search efforts. If so, you will need the followinghttp://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/docs/UI_forms/uipub_350-e_1009.pdf:

1. The names, phone numbers and addresses of any employers you applied for work with
2. The dates of your work searches
3. The names of individuals you contacted at each employer
4. The kind of work you applied for

If you have completely exhausted your initial benefits and your state extended benefits, you will need to file a claim before you can begin receiving Emergency Unemployment Compensation. To do so, you will need to call the Unemployment Insurance Center in your area. The Oregon Workforce Center website provides local and toll free telephone numbers for centers located in Bend, Eugene and the metropolitan Portland area.http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/extensions_overview_12-16-08.shtml

When you call, you'll need to provide the information that you collected in step 2. If you filed for unemployment compensation in another state, you'll need to provide that documentation. You'll also need to update your bank account information if you have changed financial institutions since receiving your last benefits.

On the other hand, if you have already been receiving EUC and you need to move on to the next available tiers of the additional benefits, your benefits will automatically be extended to the next level as long as you continue filing your weekly claims and maintain your eligibility for the program. Remember that you will not be eligible for each tier until you completely exhaust all of the compensation that is currently available to you.

If your benefits are not automatically extended and you feel that you qualify to receive additional compensation, contact your local unemployment insurance office for information.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Please contact a law professional before using the information presented here.