Oregon residents who are unemployed will receive fewer weeks of extended unemployment benefits from next month due to the state’s unemployment rate.
The state has offered unemployed Oregon residents who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits an extra 13 weeks of extended benefits because the state’s unemployment rate has been above 6.5% in the previous three-month periods.
Although Oregon’s unemployment rate rose to 6.4% in December, rising for the first time since April, the rate is still below 6.5% in the past three months. This prompted the federal government to inform Oregon officials that they would no longer be able to offer extended benefits. The change will take effect on February 20.
If Oregon’s unemployment rate rises to 6.5% or more, the state could offer the extended benefits program again.
However, unemployed Oregon residents who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits will still be able to receive extended benefits for the time being through a separate federally funded pandemic relief program.
As soon as the current extended benefit programs expire on February 20, applicants will automatically be transferred to the pandemic emergency unemployment compensation program for an additional 11 weeks.
David Gerstenfeld, acting director of the Oregon Department of Employment, said the move could require manual changes that could delay some of the extended payments, but that all payments will be made retroactively and applicants will not miss any week of benefits they are eligible for. .
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program will expire on March 14. Those who still have money left over in their claim will continue to receive benefits until April 10, according to the employment department.
– Jamie Goldberg | [email protected] | @jamiebgoldberg