Unemployment Insurance in Oregon
Did you lose your job? Do you live in Oregon? If so, you may be able to get unemployment benefits (also called "unemployment insurance") from the state. This article will explain who can get benefits, how to apply, and answer other frequently asked questions.
If you already applied for unemployment but your claim was denied, visit this page on unemployment denials instead.
What are unemployment benefits?
Unemployment benefits are like a government insurance policy. When you work and pay state taxes, it's like paying insurance premiums on this policy.
You may qualify for weekly unemployment benefits if:
- You lost your job through no fault of your own.
- You quit your job for a qualifying reason.
- You were fired, as long as it wasn't for repeated bad behavior or a very serious mistake.
You can get benefits until you find another job or use up all your benefits. Your benefits will be directly deposited into your bank account or onto a benefits debit card.
Tip: You can estimate your monthly payment using Oregon's Unemployment Insurance Estimator tool.
How do I file for unemployment benefits in Oregon?
You can apply for unemployment benefits using the Oregon Employment Department's Frances Online website. When you apply, you'll need to provide basic information about:
- Yourself.
- Your past jobs.
- How much you've earned.
- Your reason for not working now.
If you don't speak English or Spanish, or you can't apply online, you have other options:
- Apply by phone: Call 1-877-File-4-UI (1-877-345-3484) to apply by phone. If you speak a language that is not English, tell the representative what language you need.
- Request a callback: Email language@employ.oregon.gov with your name, language, and phone number to get a call back in your language.
- Apply by mail or fax: If you can't use the online or phone options, you can file by filling out “Initial Claim Application for Regular Unemployment Insurance (115)” and send in your completed application by mail to Oregon Employment Department, P.O. Box 14135, Salem, OR 97309-5068, or by fax to 866-345-1878.
Caution: It is important to be honest when you complete your application. Being dishonest or leaving out important information can get you in trouble for misrepresentation (giving false or misleading information on your claim), and you may have to pay back any benefits you received.
Can I get unemployment benefits if I quit my job?
In Oregon, you can only get unemployment after quitting if you have a very strong reason for leaving your job. Most people in your situation would need to feel they had no other choice but to quit.
If you quit your job, visit this page for more information on when you can claim unemployment.
Can I get unemployment benefits if I'm fired?
It depends on why you were fired.
You cannot get unemployment if your boss fired you for repeated bad behavior or a very serious mistake. However, if you were fired for other reasons, you can usually still get unemployment.
If you were fired or laid off, visit this page to find out if you can file for unemployment.
What are the other rules for claiming unemployment?
Besides not having a job, you must:
- Have enough work history: Most people have enough work history if they worked at least 500 hours or earned at least $1,000 in the 18 months before they lost their job.
- Work for an employer: Your work history must be based on working for an employer as a W-2 employee. Unemployment benefits cannot be based on work you did while self-employed, working under the table, or working as an independent contractor.
- Remain ready, willing, and able to work: This means all the following are true:
- Be actively applying for jobs. You are required to complete at least five work-search activities per week, and two of those must involve direct contact with employers. Learn what counts as a work-search activity.
- Be physically and mentally able to do the jobs you are applying for. You don't have to be able to do every job, just the type of work you're seeking.
- Be available on days and times of the week when employers expect you to be available. If you have a disability that prevents you from working full-time or during certain shifts, you're still considered available to work as long as you can do some work.
- Live in Oregon.
- Have permission to work in the U.S. (if you're an immigrant).
How long does it take to get unemployment benefits in Oregon?
Most people who qualify can start getting benefits within about three weeks. For some people, it will take longer.
But it's important to apply right away after you lose your job. Even though it takes a bit of time, the sooner you apply, the sooner you can get help.
How much does unemployment pay in Oregon?
The amount of money you get depends on how much you earned at your last job.
- For new claims filed on or after June 28, 2026, the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts are $211 to $902 per week.
- If you filed your claim before June 28, 2026, your benefit stays within the previous range of $204 to $872 per week for the rest of your claim.
You can use Oregon's Unemployment Insurance Estimator tool to estimate your weekly benefit amount.
How long do unemployment benefits last?
You can get unemployment benefits for 26 weeks (or six months).
Sometimes, Oregon allows people to get benefits even longer when state unemployment rates are very high. For example, Oregon did this during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where can I get help with unemployment benefits?
Here are some options:
- Refer to the Oregon Employment Department's Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook.
- Call Oregon's Legal Referral Service to get referred to a private attorney who may be able to help with your claim. A 30-minute consultation through this service costs $50.
- Call Oregon's Public Benefits Hotline at 1-800-520-5292 for quick, free advice from a legal aid lawyer or paralegal. The hotline is open Monday to Thursday. Find out more about the hotline here.
Summary
Unemployment benefits are an important source of help for people who are unemployed. In Oregon, if you've lost your job and meet the rules, this money can help support you until you find a new one.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Your claim gets reviewed
The Oregon Employment Department's computer systems will review your case:
- About two-thirds of claims are approved automatically within a couple of days. If your claim is approved, you can expect your benefits within two to three weeks.
- About one-third of claims are sent to adjudication. Adjudication means your case is more complicated and needs to be reviewed by a person. During adjudication, you'll need to provide extra information so the employment department can decide if you qualify. Your claim could be approved or denied after adjudication.
If your claim was denied, visit this page for more information on unemployment denials in Oregon.
You must register with WorkSource Oregon
After you complete your initial application, you must also:
- Register for iMatchSkills, an online job-matching system, and attend an orientation with WorkSource Oregon staff. Learn more about these requirements on the Employment Department site.
- Verify your identity. You can provide identity documents to WorkSource Oregon staff or verify your identity at the post office instead. Learn more about verifying your identity on the Employment Department site.
If you don't provide your identity documents or don't attend your WorkSource Oregon appointment, your unemployment benefits will likely be denied.
Yes. Every week after you apply, you must log in to your Frances Online account and submit a claim for each week you remain unemployed.
You should submit weekly claims even if you are still waiting for your original claim to be approved.
In your weekly claim, you must report any hours you worked and any money you earned that week, even if it's a small amount. You must also provide information about any jobs you've applied to and offers you've received.
If you don't report money you earned, you could get in trouble for fraud and be required to pay back the benefits you received. Learn more about overpayments.
About one-third of unemployment benefit claims are flagged by the employment department's computer systems and sent for additional processing (called adjudication).
Attention: If your case ends up in adjudication, the employment department will call you for more information or mail you a questionnaire. You only have a couple of days to provide the information they request. So, make sure your voicemail is set up and check your mailbox often while you're waiting to hear from them.
If your claim gets put into adjudication, you can expect to wait longer to get benefits. Although some adjudications resolve quickly, getting approved may take a couple of months or more.
It's also important to keep filing weekly claims while you wait. If your claim is approved later, you'll get back benefits for all the weeks you claimed unemployment.
Yes. If you complete your military service and get honorably discharged, you can apply for unemployment benefits in Oregon. You must be living in Oregon, actively looking for work in Oregon, and available to work.
Yes, in some situations. If an illness or injury forces you to quit your job, but you can still work at another type of job, you can get unemployment while looking for a new job. You must also meet these requirements:
- You have enough work history: Most people meet this requirement if they worked at least 500 hours (about three months of full-time work) or earned at least $1,000 in the 18 months before they lost their job.
- You worked for an employer: In most cases, your work history must be based on working for an employer as a W-2 employee. Unemployment benefits cannot be based on work you did while self-employed, working under the table, or working as an independent contractor.
- You are ready, willing, and able to work: This means all of the following are true:
- You're actively applying for jobs. You are required to complete at least five work-search activities per week, and two of those must involve direct contact with employers. Learn what counts as a work-search activity.
- You're physically and mentally able to do the jobs you are applying for. You don't have to be able to do every job, just the type of work you're seeking.
- You're available at days and times of the week when employers expect you to be available. If you have a disability that prevents you from working full-time or during certain shifts, you're still considered available to work as long as you can do some work.
- You are living in Oregon.
- You have permission to work in the U.S. (if you're an immigrant).
Tip: If you have a long-term illness and don't think you can return to work, consider applying for Social Security disability benefits instead. Learn more about disability benefits here.
Yes, in some situations. If you lose your job, you can get unemployment insurance if you meet these requirements:
- You have work authorization: This means you have permission from the U.S. government to work in the U.S.
- You lost your job: This can include any of these situations:
- You got fired or suspended from work, but not because of misconduct.
- You quit your job for a qualifying reason, such as your work being unsafe or you were being harassed at work.
- Your employer laid you off temporarily or permanently.
- You have enough work history: Most people meet this requirement if they worked at least 500 hours (about three months of full-time work) or earned at least $1,000 in the 18 months before they lost their job.
- You worked for an employer: In most cases, your work history must be based on working for an employer as a W-2 employee. Unemployment benefits cannot be based on work you did while self-employed, working under the table, or working as an independent contractor.
- You are ready, willing, and able to work: This means all the following are true:
- You're actively applying for jobs. You are required to complete at least five work-search activities per week, and two of those must involve direct contact with employers. Learn what counts as a work-search activity.
- You're physically and mentally able to do the jobs you are applying for. You don't have to be able to do every job, just the type of work you're seeking.
- You're available at days and times of the week when employers expect you to be available. If you have a disability that prevents you from working full-time or during certain shifts, you're still considered available to work as long as you can do some work.
- You are living in Oregon.
You can learn about other government assistance programs for immigrants on this page.