Extended unemployment benefits start now

SALEM, Ore. - An expected 5,000 Oregonians who have been on unemployment for the past year will get a little more relief Sunday. They're getting a 13-week extension.

The Oregon Unemployment Claims Web site and Telephone Claim system were down for parts of Sunday and Monday. Authorities at the Oregon Unemployment Insurance Division tell KATU that unemployed workers can file as late as Friday and not miss a payment.

The extension was made earlier this year by House Bill 3483. The bill established the Oregon Emergency Benefits Program, to take effect Sunday, Oct. 4. (Phone lines to the Oregon Unemployment Office were clogged as of Sunday afternoon.)

Backgrounder
Unemployment for those affected would have run out this fall. However, this move by the Oregon Legislature will take their benefits to at least the New Year.

The state's Unemployment Division sent out 12,000 letters over the past week to people that may qualify. To be eligible for Oregon Emergency Benefits an individual must be unemployed and not eligible for any other benefits.

Statement of benefits
Since Oregon has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country - at 12.2 percent - workers are qualifying for these major extensions. Here's the run down of extensions enacted since July 2008, as posted on the state unemployment Web site:

• Regular unemployment (state paid): Up to 26 weeks
• Emergency unemployment compensation (federally paid): Up to 33 weeks
• High-extended benefits (federally paid): Up to 20 weeks
• Oregon Emergency Benefits (state paid, beginning Oct. 4, 2009): Up to 13 weeks

The federal government has paid for extended benefits in Oregon during the recession. Additionally those who lost their jobs after Aug. 31, 2008, have received 65 percent of their COBRA or state monthly health insurance premiums paid for nine months. This was part of the federal government's economic stimulus package.