Oregon Unemployment Benefits 2026: $211 to $902 a Week

Unemployment insurance in Oregon is paid from employer taxes, so it isn't a grant or a needs-based program, and applying through Frances Online or by phone costs nothing. If food money is the first worry while OED reviews your claim, start with our Oregon SNAP benefits guide.

Oregon Unemployment Benefits at a Glance (2026)

Oregon's maximum rose $30 a week this summer, from $872 to $902, and the minimum rose from $204 to $211. Per the OED release of May 29, 2026, state law sets them at 15% and 64% of the state average weekly wage, which was $1,410.13 for 2025, up 3.4%. Here's the full picture:

Source: OED release of May 29, 2026, glossary, UI Claimant Handbook and FAQ, checked November 13, 2026; $168 earnings figure from DOL's July 2026 table.

How OED Figures Your Weekly Benefit

Oregon uses 1 percentage: 1.25% of everything you earned in your base year, not just your best quarter. Your base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. If that doesn't qualify you, OED automatically checks an alternate base year.

OED's own example: a worker paid $20 an hour for 40 hours a week all year earns $41,600, and 1.25% of that is $520 a week.

Worked example (an illustration, not a real case): one applicant in Bend, a line cook, earned $52,000 in her base year.

1. Weekly benefit: $52,000 × 1.25% = $650.
2. Total benefits: the lesser of 26 × $650 = $16,900 or one-third of $52,000 = $17,333. She gets $16,900, the full 26 weeks.

Reaching the cap. Grantsights analysis of the 1.25% formula shows you need $72,160 in base year wages to reach $902. Anyone earning more gets the same $902.

Why Oregon claims usually last 26 weeks. Because 26 × 1.25% is 32.5%, just under one-third, the one-third limit almost never cuts a claim figured from the formula. It mainly bites when OED raises a small claim to the $211 minimum: a worker with $8,000 in base year wages gets $211 instead of $100, but one-third of $8,000 is only $2,666, so the claim lasts about 12.6 weeks. That's why, according to DOL's July 2026 table, Oregon's range runs 1 to 26 weeks.

How Long Oregon Unemployment Lasts

Oregon pays up to 26 weeks in a 52-week benefit year, and the ceiling doesn't change with the unemployment rate. OED's handbook adds a catch: you can't file a new Oregon claim until your benefit year ends, even if you've used all your benefits.

Illustrations computed from OED's 1.25% formula, the $211 and $902 amounts, and the one-third limit in DOL's July 2026 table.

Restarting a claim. If you go back to work and lose the job again within the same benefit year, restart the claim in Frances Online. OED says you won't serve another waiting week if you already served one.

Striking Workers: What Senate Bill 916 Changed

Oregon became one of the few states to pay striking workers when Senate Bill 916 (2025) took effect for strikes on or after January 4, 2026. OED's striking workers page, checked November 13, 2026, still describes the program as active.

• How long: strikers get 8 or 10 weeks, depending on which unemployment tax schedule is in effect when the strike begins. OED says Oregon is in tax schedule III for 2026, so the limit is 10 weeks.
• Unpaid strike week: every striker serves one unpaid strike week before the regular waiting week. To get credit, you must work less than full time (usually 40 hours) and earn less than your weekly benefit amount that week. You serve one strike week for each strike, but only one waiting week per benefit year.
• Work search: strikers must be able, available and actively seeking work, with at least one work-seeking activity a week, such as registering with OED, updating a resume or contacting an employer. OED says this requirement may change after talks with the U.S. Department of Labor.
• How to answer: say you're still working for the struck employer and choose "strike or lockout" as the reason.
• Back pay: if your employer later gives strike back pay, OED must recover the benefits as an overpayment.

Lockouts and bystanders. Workers locked out by their employer are likely eligible under the regular rules, with no strike week. If you lost hours because of someone else's strike, OED says to answer "laid off due to lack of work."

OED's own timeline: a strike that began Sunday, January 4, 2026 meant a first weekly claim on January 11 for the strike week, a waiting week claimed January 18, and the first payable week claimed January 25.

Working Part Time on Oregon Unemployment

Oregon lets you earn the greater of one-third of your weekly benefit amount or 10 times Oregon's highest minimum wage before cutting your benefit dollar for dollar, according to OED's FAQ. DOL's July 2026 table lists that minimum wage figure as $168.

Using the Bend illustration with a $650 benefit:

• One-third of $650 is about $216, which beats $168, so about $216 is allowed.
• If she earns $300 in a week, about $84 comes off.
• She's paid about $566 that week.

For someone at the $211 minimum, one-third is only $70, so the $168 floor applies instead. Report hours and gross earnings for the week you worked, including paid leave, tips, commissions, self-employment and bonuses. Holiday or vacation pay received more than 45 days after you were off work needs a call to the UI Center. Retirement pay (other than Social Security) can reduce your Oregon benefits; Social Security doesn't.

Who Qualifies for Oregon Unemployment

OED offers 2 ways to have a valid Oregon claim:

• At least $1,000 in subject wages in your base year, and total base year wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter; or
• At least 500 hours of work with some subject wages in the base year.

Why the job ended. Quitting, being fired or suspended, and turning down work all trigger an OED investigation. If OED denies you for a separation, the handbook says you stay denied until you work and earn at least 4 times your weekly benefit amount in subject employment after that week.

Every week, you must be able to work, available for full-time work during the hours normal for your type of job, and actively seeking work. OED says a week doesn't count as actively seeking work if you made fewer than 2 direct employer contacts or fewer than 3 other work-seeking activities, for 5 in all. If you're away from your permanent residence more than three days in a week, you must say so when you claim it.

Register in iMatchSkills within 14 days of filing and attend a WorkSource Oregon orientation if you live in or commute to Oregon. Missing it can cost you benefits.

Temporary layoffs. OED may treat you as temporarily unemployed if your employer laid you off or cut your hours, you expect to go back to full-time work (or work paying more than your weekly benefit), and there are 4 or fewer full Sunday to Saturday weeks between the layoff week and your return. In that case you keep in touch with your Oregon employer instead of doing the regular work search, and OED sends a letter confirming it. If the layoff stretches past four full weeks, or you won't be going back to that employer, tell OED and start the five weekly activities right away.

School employees. Federal and state law make OED check whether school employee wages can count for weeks claimed during normal breaks between years, terms or periods. OED's FAQ says benefits can stop while it reviews your situation, so Oregon school staff laid off near summer or winter break should expect a pause and keep filing weekly claims.

How to Apply and File Weekly Claims in Frances Online

OED says it takes about 3 weeks to review most initial claims, decide eligibility and send your Wage and Potential Benefit Report.

1. Create a Frances Online account and apply, or call 1-877-File-4-UI (1-877-345-3484). Form 115 is the fax or mail option. Double-check your Social Security number and address: OED says you can't change a submitted application.
2. File your first weekly claim the Sunday after you apply. That week becomes your waiting week if you meet every requirement. OED makes no payments or decisions until you claim at least one week.
3. Claim every week in Frances Online or on the automated line at 800-982-8920 (24 hours a day). Form 127 is the paper option.
4. Log 5 work-search activities each week, 2 with employers directly, and keep the employer name, contact, date and job.
5. Pick a payment method. If you haven't set up direct deposit before OED issues your first payment, it mails a U.S. Bank ReliaCard.

OED lists the most common reason for a delay past 3 weeks as missing a weekly claim. Wages from the military, federal work or another state also slow things down.

How to Appeal an OED Decision

Oregon decisions become final on 2 clocks: administrative decisions (eligibility) after 20 calendar days, and monetary decisions (your weekly amount, maximum benefit and wages) after 10 calendar days. Count from the "date issued" in the top right corner of the decision.

• File in Frances Online, by phone message at 503-947-3149, or by fax at 503-947-1335.
• Hearing: an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings hears testimony, usually by phone. Your employer can take part.
• Address changes during an appeal go to both the Office of Administrative Hearings (503-947-1515) and OED.

Keep claiming weekly benefits during the Oregon appeal. OED pays a win only for weeks you claimed on time and were otherwise eligible.

Taxes on Oregon Unemployment Benefits

Oregon unemployment is taxed 2 ways, by the IRS and Oregon. OED lets you withhold 10% for federal tax, 6% for state tax, or both for 16%. According to IRS Form W-4V (Rev. January 2026), federal withholding on Oregon unemployment checks comes only at the 10% rate. OED says it can't return money already withheld for taxes.

OED provides Form 1099-G for each year you got benefits, and you can view it in Frances Online. For a missing or incorrect form, OED's 1099-G page lists the Records and Redetermination Unit at 503-947-1320. If you get a 1099-G for benefits you never claimed, report fraud at 1-877-668-3204.

What OED Doesn't Tell You

Grantsights compared OED's claimant pages with its handbook, its benefit release and DOL's tables and found five things worth knowing:

1. Your whole year counts, not your best quarter. A worker with a big summer and a slow winter gets the same weekly amount as a steady earner with the same annual pay.
2. The one-third limit rarely bites, except at the minimum. Low earners raised to $211 can run out in about 12 weeks.
3. Filing date sets your cap for a year. A claim filed June 27, 2026 keeps the $872 cap; one filed June 28 gets $902. The 2027 amounts will change again in late June.
4. Strike benefits are shorter and can be clawed back. Ten weeks, two unpaid weeks first, and repayment if back pay comes later.
5. The work search rule is stricter than it sounds. Five activities with two direct employer contacts every week takes real time, and OED says it may ask for details or verify your Oregon work search at any time.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

A common mistake is not claiming the waiting week. If you skip the first weekly claim, OED doesn't credit a waiting week or make any decision, and your money waits too.

Other mistakes that cost Oregon claimants:

• Counting three online applications as five activities. You need five, with at least two that are direct employer contacts done the way the employer asks.
• Missing the 14-day iMatchSkills registration.
• Typos on the application. OED can't change a submitted claim, and a wrong Social Security number can delay payment for weeks.
• Underestimating the 10-day monetary appeal window when your wages look wrong.
• Strikers forgetting the strike week. You claim it like any other week, but it isn't paid.

Red flags for scams: OED doesn't charge to file. Use only frances.oregon.gov and OED phone numbers, avoid anyone who offers to file for a fee, and report suspected fraud at 1-877-668-3204.

Worked Examples: Three Oregon Claims

These are illustrations built from OED's 2026 amounts, not real cases:

For example, a Portland software developer earned $120,000 in her base year. 1.25% is $1,500, so she's capped at $902, and 26 weeks pay $23,452.

A Hood River orchard worker earned $9,000 and $7,000 in the harvest quarters and $2,000 in a third, $18,000 in all. His wages top 1.5 times his best quarter, so he qualifies at $225 a week. One-third of $18,000 is $6,000, more than 26 × $225 = $5,850, so he gets the full 26 weeks.

A Eugene teacher's aide on strike with a $500 weekly benefit serves an unpaid strike week and a waiting week, then gets up to 10 weeks at $500, or $5,000. If the union contract later includes back pay for the strike, OED will recover it.

Other Help in Oregon While You Wait

Oregon households on unemployment often qualify for help with health coverage, food and heat:

• Oregon Medicaid (the Oregon Health Plan) explains coverage and how to apply; the Oregon Medicaid income limits page has the figures by household size.
• Oregon SNAP benefits and the Oregon food stamps guide cover food help and how unemployment pay counts.
• Oregon LIHEAP can help with heating bills this winter.

To check other Oregon and federal programs at once, Grantsights' free eligibility checker is a place to start; only OED can approve or deny an Oregon unemployment claim.

FAQ: Oregon Unemployment Benefits

What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Oregon in 2026?

$902 a week on claims filed on or after June 28, 2026; the minimum is $211.

How is Oregon unemployment calculated?

1.25% of your total base year wages.

Can striking workers get unemployment in Oregon?

Yes, up to 10 weeks in 2026 under Senate Bill 916.

How many weeks of unemployment can you get in Oregon?

Up to 26, limited by one-third of base year wages.

How much can I earn and still get Oregon unemployment?

The greater of one-third of your weekly benefit or $168.

How many work searches does Oregon require?

Five a week, two with employers directly.

Is unemployment taxable in Oregon?

Yes, by the IRS and Oregon.

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Sources

1. OED: Minimum and Maximum Weekly Benefit Amounts to Increase, May 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
2. OED: Unemployment Insurance glossary (opens in a new tab) ($211 and $902 as of June 28, 2026)
3. OED: UI Claimant Handbook, UIPUB350 (opens in a new tab) (PDF file dated March 2026)
4. OED: Striking Workers (opens in a new tab) (Senate Bill 916, 10 weeks in 2026)
5. OED: Questions and answers (opens in a new tab), Weekly claims (opens in a new tab) and After I file (opens in a new tab)
6. OED: File a claim (opens in a new tab), Appeals (opens in a new tab) and 1099-G (opens in a new tab)
7. Oregon entries in the U.S. Department of Labor's January 2026 (opens in a new tab) and July 2026 (opens in a new tab) state UI law summaries
8. IRS Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request (opens in a new tab), Rev. January 2026