Weekly Unemployment Benefit Payments Increase

The change affects new unemployment insurance claims filed with an effective date on or after June 28, 2009.

Salem-News.com photo by Tim King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - State officials say the amount paid to Oregonians filing for unemployment insurance benefits will increase on June 28th.

The maximum weekly benefit amount an individual can receive will increase to $493, while the minimum amount will be $115.

Under Oregon law, each year the Employment Department recalculates the maximum and minimum amounts paid weekly to those filing for unemployment benefits. The amounts are set as percentages of the average weekly wage earned by Oregonians.

The minimum unemployment figure is 15% of average weekly wage, and the maximum amount is 64%. Both dollar amounts are rounded down to the nearest dollar as required by law.

The new payment amounts are up slightly from those paid over the past year. The maximum payment over the past 12 months has been $482, with a $113 minimum payment.

The change affects new unemployment insurance claims filed with an effective date on or after June 28th 2009. Those with existing unemployment claims will continue to receive the same weekly amount.