How does Oregon calculate the weekly benefit amount?

Oregon multiplies your total base-year wages by 1.25 percent to set your weekly benefit amount (WBA). The result is then capped at the state maximum and raised to the state minimum, so very high or very low earners are bounded by those limits.

What is the base year in Oregon?

The base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Oregon also offers an alternate base year using the four most recently completed quarters if you do not qualify under the regular base year.

How many weeks of benefits can I get?

Oregon pays up to 26 weeks of regular benefits. Your maximum benefit amount equals the smaller of 26 times your weekly benefit amount or one third of your total base-year wages, whichever is less.

Do I need a minimum amount of wages to qualify?

Yes. You generally need either total base-year wages of at least a state-set threshold and wages in more than one quarter, or a minimum number of hours worked. This estimator assumes you meet the monetary eligibility rules.

Is the estimate exact?

No. It applies the published Oregon formula but cannot account for your full wage history, dependents, alternate base year, or current minimum and maximum amounts, which change each year. Confirm your actual benefit with the Oregon Employment Department.

Oregon Unemployment Benefit Estimator

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Losing a job in Oregon usually means filing an unemployment insurance claim with the Oregon Employment Department. Your weekly payment is set by a fixed formula tied to how much you earned during your base year. This estimator applies that formula so you can plan around an approximate weekly benefit.

How it works

Oregon sets your weekly benefit amount (WBA) at 1.25 percent of your total base-year wages, then bounds it between the state minimum and maximum:

WBA = clamp(0.0125 x total base-year wages, state minimum, state maximum)

Your maximum benefit amount for the whole claim is the lesser of 26 times your WBA or one third of your total base-year wages. Dividing that by your WBA gives the number of full weeks you can be paid, capped at 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Example

Suppose you earned 40,000 dollars across your base year. Your WBA is 0.0125 x 40,000 = 500 dollars per week, which falls inside the state min and max. Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of 26 x 500 = 13,000 dollars or 40,000 / 3 = 13,333 dollars, so 13,000 dollars over a full 26 weeks.

Notes

The Oregon minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts are reset each year, so the bounds in this tool are approximate. The estimate also assumes you are monetarily eligible and does not model partial-week earnings, the alternate base year, or federal extension programs. Verify your actual amount at unemployment.oregon.gov.