| Unemployment Benefit Extensions |
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| Overview |
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There are currently two benefit extensions available.
EB
- EB provides an additional 13* weeks of additional benefits to claims that expire after May 1, 2007.
- *High EB expanded EB from 13 to 20 weeks of benefits starting February 15, 2009.
EUC
- EUC Tier 1 provides up to 20 weeks of additional benefits to claimants exhausting regular benefits, or whose regular claim expired after May 1, 2007. The last week to apply for EUC Tier 1 benefits is the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012.
- EUC Tier 2 provides up to 14* weeks of additional benefits to claimants who exhaust Tier 1 benefits with the payment of the week February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before.
- EUC Tier 3 provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits to claimants who exhaust Tier 2 benefits with the payment of the week February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before.
- EUC Tier 4 provides up to 6 weeks of additional benefits to claimants who exhaust Tier 3 benefits with the payment of the week February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before.
OEB-3 (No longer available)
- OEB-3 provides between 1 and 6 additional weeks of benefits to individuals who have used up all other available benefits. OEB-3 begins with payment for the week of April 17-23, 2011. Note: The last week of benefits paid under the OEB3 program was the week ending May 14, 2011.
OEB-2 (No longer available)
- OEB-2 provides between 1 and 6 additional weeks of benefits to individuals who have used up all other available benefits. OEB-2 begins with payment for the week of March 14-20, 2010. Note: The last week of benefits paid under the OEB2 program was the week ending July 3, 2010.
OEB (No longer available)
- OEB provided up to 13 weeks of additional benefits to claimants who exhaust EB. Note: The last week of benefits paid under the OEB program was the week ending January 2, 2010
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| EUC Tier 1 Details |
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History:
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) is a Federal extension provided by Congress. The first payable week for EUC was the week of July 6 - 12, 2008. EUC Tier 1 pays 80% of the maximum benefit amount of the person's regular claim or 20 weeks of benefits, which ever is less.
EUC Tier 1 Qualifications:
- Your base year wages must equal or exceed 40 times your weekly benefit amount.
(If your claim pays 26 weeks of benefits, you have met this qualification.)
- Your most recent claim must have exhausted regular benefits or be expired.
If exhausted, your regular claim must exhaust with the payment for the week of February 19 - 25, 2012 or before. If expired, your claim must have expired May 1, 2007 or later.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or a claim in another state or Canada.
- Your application must be filed no later than March 10, 2012, and be effective for the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 or earlier. Claimants with an EUC balance as of week ending March 3, 2012 can claim the remainder of their EUC Tier 1 balance through the week ending August 18, 2012.
How to apply for EUC Tier 1:
You must call your Unemployment Insurance Center:
Portland Metro - 503-451-2400 or 1-877-877-1781
Eugene - 541-686-7800 or 1-877-728-7970
Bend - 541-388-6207 or 1-800-663-7914
If you live outside of Oregon, call 1-877-877-9996.
When you call, be prepared to provide the following information:
- Your current address and phone number,
- Your work history since you last claimed benefits,
(be prepared to provide employer names, addresses and dates of employment.)
- If you worked out of state in the last 18 months,
(be prepared to provide employer names, addresses and dates of employment.)
Also, you will be asked if you have:
- filed for unemployment benefits against another state since you last claimed Oregon benefits,
- changed bank accounts which could affect your direct deposit, Or, kept your ReliaCard.
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| EUC Tier 2 Details |
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History:
Congress expanded the EUC program to provide additional benefits to claimants exhausting EUC Tier 1. EUC Tier 2 provides 13 weeks or one half of your regular claim’s maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. EUC Tier 2 benefits are not payable for weeks prior to November 23, 2008.
*Congress modified Tier 2, effective November 8, 2009 to now provide 14 weeks, or 54% of your regular claim's maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. This additional week of benefits is not payable for weeks prior to November 8, 2009.
EUC Tier 2 Qualifications:
- You must qualify for and exhaust EUC Tier 1 benefits the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before to qualify for Tier 2 benefits.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or in another state or Canada.
Claimants with an EUC balance as of the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 can claim the remainder of their EUC Tier 2 balance through the week ending August 18, 2012.
Tier 2 benefits are added to your claim automatically the first working day after Tier 1 exhausts. You do not need to apply for Tier 2 benefits. Tier 2 will not be added to any EUC claims exhausting with payments for any weeks after March 3, 2012.
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| EUC Tier 3 Details |
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History:
Congress expanded the EUC program in November 2009 to provide additional benefits to claimants exhausting EUC Tier 2. EUC Tier 3 provides 13 weeks or one half of your regular claim’s maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. EUC Tier 3 benefits are not payable for weeks prior to November 8, 2009.
EUC Tier 3 Qualifications:
- You must qualify for and exhaust EUC Tier 2 benefits the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before to qualify for Tier 3 benefits.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or in another state or Canada.
Claimants with an EUC balance as of the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 can claim the remainder of their EUC Tier 3 balance through the week ending August 18, 2012.
Tier 3 benefits are added to your claim automatically the first working day after Tier 2 exhausts. You do not need to apply for Tier 3 benefits. Tier 3 will not be added to any EUC claims exhausting with payments for any weeks after March 3, 2012.
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| EUC Tier 4 Details |
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History:
Congress expanded the EUC program in November 2009 to provide additional benefits to claimants exhausting EUC Tier 3. EUC Tier 4 provides 6 weeks or 24% of your regular claim’s maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. EUC Tier 4 benefits are not payable for weeks prior to November 8, 2009.
EUC Tier 4 Qualifications:
- You must qualify for and exhaust EUC Tier 3 benefits the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 or before to qualify for Tier 4 benefits.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or in another state or Canada.
Claimants with an EUC balance as of the week of February 26 - March 3, 2012 can claim the remainder of their EUC Tier 4 balance through the week ending August 18, 2012.
Tier 4 benefits are added to your claim automatically the first working day after Tier 3 exhausts. You do not need to apply for Tier 4 benefits. Tier 4 will not be added to any EUC claims exhausting with payments for any weeks after March 3, 2012.
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| Extended Benefits Details |
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History:
Extended Benefits (EB) is an unemployment extension paid for by both state and federal funds. Oregon triggered into an EB period effective December 7, 2008. EB provides 13 weeks or one half of your regular claim’s maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. In periods of high unemployment, EB may expand to HEB. See HEB below.
EB is precluded by any EUC benefit eligibility. In other words, EB cannot be paid until you exhaust all regular and EUC benefits. EB is a claim of last resort.
EB Qualifications:
- Your base year wages must equal or exceed 40 times your weekly benefit amount.
- Your most recent claim must have exhausted regular benefits, or be expired.
- Your claim must have an expiration date of May 5, 2007 or later.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or in another state or Canada.
Applying for EB
To apply for EB, you must call your Unemployment Insurance Center:
Portland Metro - 503-451-2400 or 1-877-877-1781
Eugene - 541-686-7800 or 1-877-728-7970
Bend - 541-388-6207 or 1-800-663-7914
If you live outside of Oregon, call 1-877-877-9996.
When you call, be prepared to provide the following information:
- Your current address and phone number,
- Your work history since you last claimed benefits,
(be prepared to provide employer names, addresses and dates of employment.)
- Have you worked out of state in the last 18 months?
(be prepared to provide employer names, addresses and dates of employment.)
Also, you will be asked if you have:
- filed for unemployment benefits against another state since you last claimed Oregon benefits?
- changed bank accounts which could affect your direct deposit? Or, did you keep your ReliaCard?
- a definite date to return to work. If yes, be prepared to provide the employer name and phone number.
Note: EB laws expand the work search and availability requirements. When you apply for EB, the claims taker will review your prospects for work and give you a work search plan. If your prospects for work are not good, you will be required to seek and accept any work you are capable of performing that pays a gross weekly wage over your weekly benefit amount and pays at least Oregon's legal minimum wage. In addition, if you do not seek work for any reason during any week you claim, you will be denied benefits until you have worked in four weeks and earned four times the weekly benefit amount of your claim. These requirements apply even if you are attached to a union.
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| High EB Details |
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History:
High Extended Benefits (HEB) expands extended benefits (EB) from 13 to 20 weeks, or 80% of the regular maximum benefit amount, which ever is less. Oregon triggered into an HEB period effective February 15, 2009. An HEB period lasts at least 13 weeks. If you are claiming HEB when an HEB period ends, your maximum EB benefit amount will reduce from 20 to 13 weeks, or 50% of your maximum benefit amount, whichever is less.
HEB Qualifications:
- Your base year wages must equal to or exceeding 40 times your weekly benefit amount.
- Your most recent claim must have exhausted regular benefits, or be expired.
- Your claim must have an expiration date of May 5, 2007 or later.
- You can’t be eligible for unemployment benefits on a new claim, or in another state or Canada.
Applying for HEB
During an HEB period, your EB claim is automatically converted to HEB. No further application or phone call is required.
Note: The work search requirements described in the EB section above apply during an HEB period.
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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1. What happens when I run out of regular benefits?
If you are eligible for an extension, we will send you a letter advising you how to file for the extension. If your claim expires while you are receiving regular benefits, you may qualify for a new claim. If not, then you may qualify for one of the extensions listed above.
If you exhaust benefits for all the extensions available to you, then your only option is to qualify for a new claim.
2. How will I know if I qualify for further benefits?
When you exhaust your benefits or another extension occurs which you may qualify for, we will notify you by mail. Please keep us informed of your current address. You can update your address in our online claim system.
3. I was on an extension and was told I qualify for a new claim. The weekly benefit amount is lower than my extension. Can I stay on the Extension?
Possibly. New language added to the EUC legislation passed in July, 2010, allows individuals under certain circumstances to continue receiving EUC, rather than benefits under a new claim. This piece of the legislation only affects claims that expire with the week ending July 24, 2010 or later. UI Center staff will review your eligibility at the time you are required to file a new claim.
4. Can I apply for an extension before my benefits exhaust?
No. If you have regular benefits remaining, you must use those first, or have an expired claim, before an extension can be filed.
5. Can I call now to find out if I may be eligible for an extension in the future?
No. The extensions available start and end at various times. This is determined either through the legislation that created the extension, or by a reduction in the unemployment rate. We cannot determine your future eligibility until you either exhaust your current eligibility or your claim expires.
6. Is there a possibility of more extensions?
Congress or the Oregon legislature can enact legislation to create further extensions. If another extension occurs after you exhaust your benefits, we will notify you by mail if you qualify. Please keep us informed of your current address. You can update your address in our online claim system.
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