Oregon will cut certain extended jobless benefits due to lower unemployment rates

Published 11:00 am Monday, February 1, 2021

SALEM — Oregonians who are out of work will receive fewer weeks of extended jobless benefits starting this month due to the state’s unemployment rate.

The state has been offering jobless Oregonians who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits an extra 13 weeks of benefits because the state’s unemployment rate has been above 6.5% over the preceding three-month period.

Although Oregon’s jobless rate climbed to 6.4% in December, rising for the first time since April, the rate has still been below 6.5% for the last three months. That prompted the federal government to inform Oregon officials they could no longer offer the extended benefits. The change will go into effect Feb. 20.

If Oregon’s unemployment rate rises to 6.5% or higher, the state will be able to offer the extended benefit program again.

However, jobless Oregonians who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits will still be able to receive extended benefits for the time being through a separate pandemic relief program, funded by the federal government.

Once the current extended benefits programs expires on Feb. 20, claimants will be automatically transferred to the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for an additional 11 weeks.

The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program will expire March 14.

Those who still have money left on their claim at that point will continue receiving benefits through April 10, according to the employment department.