Oregonians to Receive More Emergency Unemployment Benefits

In addition, Oregon’s unemployment rate has made the state eligible for the Extended Benefits (EB) program. This program provides an additional thirteen weeks of unemployment benefits for those who exhaust their original claim and their EUC extension.

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(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregonians who have run out of unemployment insurance benefits have some help coming. Congress passed legislation on November 20th 2008 to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program by an additional seven weeks.

The initial EUC program, which began in July, allowed thirteen weeks of benefits for anyone exhausting their original claim. With the new program, someone who exhausts their original claim for unemployment can receive up to 20 weeks of EUC benefits. The additional benefits are available beginning November 23rd 2008.

To date, more than 11,000 Oregonians have exhausted their original claim and the 13-week EUC claim. For them, they will have up to an additional seven weeks of EUC benefits. All potentially eligible Oregonians will be notified by mail about the new EUC program. Claimants who have already filed for EUC need not apply for the additional benefits unless they have worked since last claiming. The Oregon Employment Department will automatically add the additional benefits.

In addition, Oregon’s unemployment rate has made the state eligible for the Extended Benefits (EB) program. This program provides an additional thirteen weeks of unemployment benefits for those who exhaust their original claim and their EUC extension.

Here is a breakdown of current unemployment insurance benefit programs:

• Original claim – up to 26 weeks

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) – up to 20 weeks (Seven weeks for those who have already exhausted the first 13-week EUC program) Claimants who exhaust the 20 weeks prior to April 1, 2009 are eligible for up to an additional 13 weeks.

• Extended Benefits – up to 13 weeks