Oregon unemployment benefits
In Oregon, unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks and pay up to $902 a week (as of July 1, 2026). There is an unpaid waiting week, and you file with the Oregon Employment Department.
By Justin KullaLast updated
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources.
File a claim with the Oregon Employment Department →
Oregon benefits at a glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $902source, July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $211source, July 1, 2026 |
| Maximum weeks of benefits | 26 weeks (1-26 weeks depending on base-period wages)source, July 1, 2026 |
| Weeks depend on the state unemployment rate | Nosource, July 1, 2026 |
| Unpaid waiting week | Yessource, October 6, 2026 |
| Severance pay | Oregon OED says you do not have to report severance pay on your weekly claim for benefits.source, October 6, 2026 |
| Pay in lieu of notice | Check with the Oregon Employment Department |
| Work-search requirement | Claimants must complete at least 5 work search activities per week. Limitations or specific requirements apply. The agency may increase or direct the requirement.source, January 1, 2023 |
| Extended benefits | Not available nowsource, October 4, 2026 |
| How to file | the Oregon Employment Departmentsource, October 6, 2026 |
Weekly amounts exclude dependents’ allowances. Severance, pay in lieu of notice and work-search entries dated January 1, 2023 come from the Department of Labor’s latest Comparison of State UI Laws, which reflects state law on that date; confirm them with the Oregon Employment Department.
Severance and unemployment in Oregon
Severance pay: Oregon OED says you do not have to report severance pay on your weekly claim for benefits.
Pay in lieu of notice (including WARN Act pay): Check with the Oregon Employment Department.
File as soon as you are out of work even if you received severance. The agency decides how payments affect your claim, and most states pay only from the week you file.
Local workforce boards in Oregon
Public workforce boards run American Job Centers, which offer free help with job search, training and benefits.
- Clackamas Workforce Partnership
- East Cascades Works
- Eastern Oregon Workforce Board
- Lane Workforce Partnership Workforce Board
- Oregon Northwest Workforce Investment Board
- Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board
- Portland-Metro Workforce Development Board
- Rogue Workforce Partnership Workforce Board
- Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board
- Willamette Workforce Partnership Workforce Development Board
If you’re a laid-off professional
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws and Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, the DOL Extended Benefits trigger notice, and the Oregon Employment Department. Where official sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, this page says to check with the agency rather than estimate. Rules change; the agency’s decision on your claim is what counts. See our editorial standards.