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| Governor Signs Bill Granting More Oregonians Unemployment Benefits | ||
| 04/21/2009 | ||
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Contact: Tom Fuller WorkSource Oregon Employment Department 503-947-1301 thomas.e.fuller@state.or.us Governor Ted Kulongoski today signed into law Senate Bill 462. This law will allow some 6,000 more Oregonians to qualify for unemployment benefits. Current law determines eligibility for benefits based on something called a “Base Year.” Wages are counted in four of the last five calendar quarters. Wages from the most recent completed quarter are not counted. SB 462 creates an “Alternative Base Year” which counts wages from the four most recent completed quarters. “In this time of economic difficulty, we have worked hard to find ways to get much needed unemployment benefits to those who need it the most,” the governor said. The law also allows Oregon to receive $85 million dollars in federal funds to further enhance the unemployment insurance system in the state. Unemployment benefits come from an employer-paid trust fund. The fund is automatically adjusted to provide eighteen months benefits through a moderate recession. Currently, Oregonians can receive a minimum of $138 and a maximum of $443 per week for as many as 79 weeks (including a federal $25 per week addition). The state Employment Department will contact individuals who will qualify for benefits under this new law, which takes effect on July 1, 2009. -30-
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