Federal employees

You may be eligible for benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Program if you were a federal employee in the past 18 months, and:

• Your official duty station of your last federal employer was in Oregon, or
• You are an Oregon resident and:
  • You are a U.S. citizen and your official duty station was outside the U.S., or
  • You have worked in Oregon after you worked for your last federal employer.

What federal employees need to apply for benefits

Make sure you have the following information before applying for benefits:

• Start and end dates of employment
• Hourly pay rate and monthly pay before taxes

The following forms are helpful but not required:

• Standard Form 8 (SF8), Notice to Federal Employees about Unemployment Insurance
• Standard Form 50 (SF50), Notice of Personnel Action

We need this information to know how much you earned as a federal employee and what benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Unemployment forms for federal employees

You'll receive these forms from your federal civilian employer.

On the Standard Form 8 (SF8), Notice to Federal Employees about Unemployment Insurance, you can find:

• The name of the federal civilian employer or agency
• The 3-digit federal agency code for your employer

On the Standard Form 50 (SF50), Notice of Personnel Action, you can find:

• Your position title (box 7)
• The state or country of your last official duty station (box 39)
• The name of the federal civilian employer or agency (box 46)
• The 3-digit federal agency code for your employer (box 47)

What if I was told I was fired for cause or for “poor performance”?

If you are not sure if you are eligible, apply anyway. Each situation is unique, and experts review each claim we receive to determine eligibility. If the reason for the job separation is unclear, we will do an investigation. We will gather information from you, your employer, and any other sources needed, to make a decision if you are eligible or not. Once we send you the decision, you have the right to appeal and request a hearing. It also is possible that your employer will appeal a decision we make about your claim.

Federal deferred resignation offer

Federal employees were recently given the option to resign and receive pay until Sept. 30, 2025. If you accepted this offer, we consider you employed until this date. After this date, you may be eligible for benefits. Because you accepted the deferred resignation you may need to show that you tried to keep your job.

If you are not sure if you are eligible, apply anyway. Each situation is unique, and experts review each claim we receive to determine eligibility.

Federal return-to-office requirement

If you lost your job because you would not or could not meet the return to office requirement, you may be eligible for benefits. If you quit, you may need to show that you tried to keep your job. You may be eligible if you were hired to be a full-time remote employee. If you were laid off or fired, we need to know if it was because of misconduct.

If you are not sure if you are eligible, apply anyway. Each situation is unique, and experts review each claim we receive to determine eligibility.

Contractors with the federal government

If you are an independent contractor, you may not be eligible to receive benefits. If you receive a Form 1099 reporting your earnings, you are likely to be an independent contractor, but there are exceptions.

If you receive a W-2 from the federal government reporting your earnings, you are likely to be a federal employee.

If you are not sure, apply for benefits. Each situation is unique, and experts review each claim we receive to determine eligibility.

Veterans

You may be eligible for benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Program if you served in the armed forces of the United States in the past 18 months.

To be eligible:

• You must have been separated under honorable conditions.
• You were on active duty with a branch of the U.S. military.
• You must be physically in Oregon when you apply.

What veterans need to apply for benefits

Make sure you have the following forms and information before applying for benefits:

• Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, also known as a DOD certificate of discharge, DD214, or DD Form 214
• Start and end dates of service
• Monthly pay before taxes

Discharge documents

On your DD Form 214 (DD214), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, copies 2, 3, or 4, which may be marked as “Service” or “Member,” you can find:

• Character of service (box 24)