Oregon unemployment benefits provide financial assistance to individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Once your unemployment insurance application is approved, you must file an unemployment claim each week in order to get paid.
These weekly claims serve as your request for payment and help to verify that you meet Oregon unemployment eligibility requirements. It is important to file each claim promptly and accurately to avoid any problems with your payments.
What is a Waiting Week?
The waiting week is the first week after you apply for Oregon unemployment and your claim is approved. Oregon law requires it before you can start receiving benefits. You don’t get paid for the first week that you file a claim, but you must claim it to maintain eligibility.
After filing your initial unemployment claim, you can request waiting week credit by submitting your weekly claim between midnight on Sunday and 11:59 PM on Saturday using Oregon Employment Department’s website or phone system. You must then file a weekly claim every week to continue receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
How to file a weekly claim
When you file a weekly claim, you are claiming benefits for the prior week.
You can file your Oregon weekly claim online or over the phone. The Oregon Employment Department (OED) uses a calendar week of Sunday 12:00 am – Saturday 11:59 pm.
Weekly claims must be filed even if you are unsure about the status of your unemployment benefits application. The processing of the application can take up to four weeks. If approved, you will receive payments for all eligible past weeks as long as you filed your weekly claims.
File your weekly claim online
The easiest and fastest way to file a weekly claim is online. The Online Claims System is available seven days a week except from 12:30 am to 2:30 am.
Log in to the Online Claims System and click on “Regular UI Weekly Claim.” You will be asked to enter your Social Security number and PIN, so be sure to have that on hand. Your PIN was created when you filed an initial application. If you don’t have a PIN, you will be asked to create one as you make your claim.
Then, follow the prompts and answer each question about the prior week accurately and honestly.
File your weekly claim over the phone
The telephone Weekly Claim Line is accessible 24/7. If you cannot access the online system during maintenance, you can file your weekly claim by phone.
Weekly Claim Phone Numbers & Contact Info
- Toll-Free: (800) 982-8920
- Portland Area: (503) 224-0405
- Greater Salem Area: (503) 375-7900
- Eastern/Central Oregon/Bend: (541) 388-4066
- TTY Relay Service 711
- View All Oregon Weekly Claim Phone Numbers
Using your phone’s keypad, follow the instructions given by the voice prompts to answer simple yes or no questions.
You can access the weekly claim line at any time of the day or week, but expect longer wait times on Mondays and mid-day periods. To avoid these wait times, you can file your claim online or call during less busy periods.
Sample questions
When you file your weekly claim, you will be asked a series of questions to verify that you are eligible to receive a UI benefit for that week. It’s important to answer all questions truthfully. If you don’t, it could lead to delayed payments or penalties for committing Oregon unemployment fraud.
Did you work last week or receive vacation or holiday pay for the week?
This is to determine if you earned any income during the week in question. If you earn income, it can affect how Oregon unemployment is calculated.
Report any earnings and hours worked during that week. This includes the total gross earnings, such as vacation and holiday pay, cash, tips, bonuses, commissions, and non-cash payments like room and board. Report all earnings even if you haven’t received a paycheck yet. Failing to report your earnings truthfully can lead to penalties and affect your weekly benefit amount.
During the past week, did you actively look for work?
You must be actively seeking employment and fulfilling the Oregon UI work search requirements necessary to collect unemployment benefits. The OED requires you to perform and document 5 work search activities each week, and two of them must be job applications.
If you claim your benefits online and have more work search entries than the provided spaces, enter the best ones for the week. If you call by phone, follow the instructions to record and submit your work search.
Were you both physically and mentally able to perform the work you sought last week?
This question is asked to ensure that you are physically and mentally capable of performing job duties and are available for work.
Each day last week, were you willing to work and capable of accepting and reporting for full-time, part-time, and temporary work?
You must be available for all types of work during the week. This also clarifies that you are actively seeking employment.
Did you refuse any job offers last week?
You are required to accept a suitable job offer. Refusing a job offer can result in a denial of unemployment benefits.
Did you quit a job last week?
The OED asks this question to determine if you voluntarily left employment during the week, which may impact your eligibility for unemployment benefits.
Were you fired or suspended from a job last week?
Similarly, this helps determine if you were terminated from employment during the week, which can result in a disqualification.
Were you away from your permanent residence for more than three days last week?
The OED asks this question to make sure you are looking for work. For example, if you are on vacation for more than 3 days, it is unlikely that you were looking for work during that week.
After filing your UI claim each week and meeting all eligibility requirements, your first unemployment insurance payment should arrive about three weeks after your initial application. You can check the status of your payment on the Oregon Employment Department website as early as Tuesday if you file your claim on Sunday or Monday.
It’s important to understand that filing for benefits does not automatically guarantee payment. You will be notified if there are any issues with your claim. You have the right to file an appeal if your UI benefits are denied.
To ensure continued benefit payments, file your UI claim every week. Otherwise, it may become inactive and you will need to start over.
Getting paid
If you’re filing for Oregon unemployment benefits, the first payment is typically sent as a paper check about 3 weeks after filing your initial claim. You can calculate your weekly payment using the Oregon Unemployment Insurance Estimator.
You have the option to receive payments electronically through direct deposit or a U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa debit card. To sign up for direct deposit, you’ll need your routing and account numbers, which you can enter through the Online Claim System once your claim has been processed. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to sign up for direct deposit until your claim is processed. It takes up to two weeks to verify your account information for direct deposit. During this time, you will receive payments by paper check.
ReliaCard Visa
Alternatively, you can receive your benefits via a U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa. The prepaid debit card can be used wherever Visa is accepted. Once you apply for unemployment benefits, the card will be mailed to you in a discrete white envelope.
Don’t throw away the card, even if you sign up for direct deposit, as it will be used if your direct deposit fails for any reason. After receiving the card, you will need to activate it by calling the toll-free number on the card. You can access your account information online at ReliaCard or by calling U.S. Bank at 1-855-279-1270.
You can receive payments for regular unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks within one benefit year. Oregon will sometimes offer an unemployment extension when the unemployment rate is too high, but extended benefits are currently not available. For example, programs like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA benefits) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) were available during the COVID pandemic but they are now expired.
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