Wildfires
Wildfires and other disasters in Oregon can disrupt your life, but you may still be eligible to receive benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Program.
You will still need to complete required tasks, like filing weekly claims and searching for work, as well as meeting other requirements to be eligible for benefits during a disaster.
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.
Use Frances Online for the fastest service.
What if I can’t receive calls or letters?
If you have been affected by an evacuation order or have lost service, we will give you extra time to complete the requirements. Contact us as soon as you can through Frances Online, the Contact Us form, or calling 877-345-3484.
You can use computers and phones at any WorkSource Oregon location.
Does an evacuation order affect my eligibility?
If your workplace stops operations because it is covered by an evacuation order and you do not have an alternative location to work, we consider that a layoff. When we ask why you are not working for that employer, the appropriate answer is “laid off due to lack of work.”
If you have left home because of an evacuation order, the area where you look for work may change. You will still need to complete work-search activities and be able and available to work to be eligible for benefits.
If you have been evacuated or have temporarily moved due to a wildfire, we do not consider you to be away from your residence. When you file a weekly claim, you can answer “no” to question “Were you away from your permanent residence for more than three days last week?”
What if I expect to go back to work soon?
You may be eligible for benefits if your employer has shut down for a short time. If your employer reduced your hours or laid you off from work and you intend to return to full-time work within five weeks of the week you became unemployed, you must maintain contact with your employer instead of seeking other work.
You are considered “temporarily unemployed” if the following are all true:
- At the time of layoff, you and your employer expect you to return to work.
- The work you are returning to is full-time or pays at least the same as your weekly benefit amount.
- There won’t be more than four weeks between the week you became unemployed and the week you return to work.
We may ask you what day you will return to work. If you are not sure, use the Saturday of the sixth week from the week you last worked as your return-to-work date.
What if I had to quit my job because of an evacuation order?
You may be eligible for benefits if you voluntarily quit your job for good cause. We may decide that an evacuation order is good cause, but we must investigate every case before we make a decision on eligibility. Each case is unique, and we must talk to you and the employer to gather information to make a decision about your benefits.
What other help is available?
You may qualify for other types of benefits unrelated to unemployment insurance, such as paid family and medical leave, health coverage, or resources within your community. Learn more on our Resources page, at 211info.org, or call 2-1-1.