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Oregon

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on May 15, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Oregon, we recommend that you visit the state’s COVID-19 Resources website.

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Description of Program and Relief

Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits are generally available to individuals who have been separated from employment through no fault of their own and are looking for other work. The Oregon Employment Department may provide UI benefits to those who are on a temporary layoff due to COVID-19: those whose employers stop operation for a short period of time, such as to clean following coronavirus exposure or by government requirement, but those employers expect to re-open in the future. Following the state Executive Order No. 20-03 declaring a statewide emergency due to COVID-19, the Oregon Employment Department has temporarily modified unemployment insurance laws to waive the usual requirement to actively look for another job.

Government or Lead Agency

Oregon Employment Department

Dates Available

Available now. Altered eligibility requirements in effect retroactively to March 8, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

In general, applicants must be unemployed, physically and mentally able to perform suitable work, available for suitable work, making a reasonable effort to find work, free of participation or direct interest in a labor dispute, and free of disqualification.

Where employees are laid off temporarily due to COVID-19, the Oregon Employment Department has stated that is not necessary to actively look for another job. Employees laid off temporarily would be those whose employers close for a short time, such as to clean after coronavirus exposure or by government requirement, but those employers expect to re-open. If experiencing a layoff due to COVID-19, applicants must instead stay in contact with their employer and be available to work when their employer resumes employment. If no longer in contact with their employer, the applicant is considered to be actively seeking work if they are prepared to return to work or find new employment once state and local emergency declarations related to COVID-19 are no longer in effect.

Further information on eligibility may be found at this link. To see a list of the COVID-19 employment scenarios to which UI benefits may apply, click here.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

(877) 345-3484

List of Additional Information

To apply online click here.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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