If you have been laid off from the federal government, you may be eligible for benefits. Learn more. 

Oregon Employment Department phones will be temporarily closed on Wednesday, March 26, while we process claims and respond to customer requests.  WorkSource Oregon centers will still be open. Phones will re-open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 27.

Home Overpayments

Overpayment Waivers

Unemployment insurance benefits play a vital role in helping people stay in their homes and keeping communities strong. However, if someone receives benefits when they were not eligible, they may have to pay the money back. This is called an overpayment. For many, receiving an overpayment notice can add stress to an already difficult time in people’s lives. If you received an overpayment notice and repayment would be a financial hardship, we encourage you to request an overpayment waiver.

On this page:

Payments 

If you are not eligible for a waiver, you can repay the full amount or we can help you create a payment plan. Contact us if you have an unexpected financial hardship and need more time to make a payment.

To contact us:

  • Send us a message with your request in Frances Online. Log in to Frances Online and select “I Want To...” and then “Send a Message” under “Messages.” Sending a message while logged in will help us respond more quickly.
  • If you cannot log in to Frances Online, use the Contact Us form. Select the “Overpayment” option.
  • Call 800-237-3710 or 503-947-1710 to speak to a specialist in Contributions & Recovery.

If you are not at fault for the overpayment, you are generally not required to repay the debt. However, the debt may limit your future benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Program. We will:

  • Take money from your weekly payments if you apply for benefits.
  • Use that money to repay the overpayment debt.
  • Do this for five years after the overpayment decision becomes final or until the overpayment is repaid.

If you are at fault for the overpayment, repayment is required and the debt will not expire.

Overpayments from the Paid Leave Oregon and Unemployment Insurance programs do not affect benefits for each other. For example, an overpayment from the Paid Leave Oregon program will not affect Unemployment Insurance benefits.

A wooden pedestrian bridge crosses a stream in Selmac Lake Park near Selma.

Overpayment Waiver

Oregon legislation allows you to request a waiver of any non-fraud overpayment of Unemployment Insurance benefits if it is determined that paying us back would cause you financial hardship. This waiver only applies to the following programs:

  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Extended Benefits (EB)
  • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
  • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
  • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA)
  • Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)

Waiver Request Submission Instructions

Download and fill out a copy of Oregon Employment Department’s Request for Overpayment Waiver. There are three ways to submit your state overpayment waiver form:

  • Send an email with the completed document to UIBPCSupport@employ.oregon.gov with the subject line “Waiver Request.”
  • Fax the completed document to 503-947-1811 with a cover page that includes “ATTN: BPC Waiver Requests.”
  • Mail the completed document to BPC Overpayment Waivers 875 Union St. NE Salem, OR 97311.

If you need help, please call us at 503-947-1995.