| Special Unemployment Programs |
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| Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) |
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The DUA program is funded by FEMA and administered by the Employment Department. Benefits are payable in the first week after the week in which the President declares a major disaster. The disaster declaration will specify which counties are eligible. For DUA to become available, the disaster declaration must specifically grant Individual Assistance.
Eligibility
To qualify for DUA, a person’s unemployment must be a direct result of a major disaster under any one of five conditions:
1. The individual no longer has a job as a direct result of the major disaster.
2. The individual is unable to reach the place of employment as a direct result of the major disaster.
3. The individual was to start work and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the major disaster.
4. The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of the major disaster.
5. The individual can’t work because of an injury caused as a direct result of the major disaster.
In addition, for conditions 1 through 4, the individual must meet the normal eligibility requirements for an Oregon unemployment insurance claim. Unlike regular unemployment, self employed individuals may be eligible for benefits.
Application process
Applicants have 30 days from the date the disaster was announced to submit their application (with provisions for good cause if the application is late). Proof of earnings (tax forms) for the prior calendar year is required, and must be submitted with the application. When a disaster results in DUA becoming available, we will issue press releases and post information on this website.
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| Self Employment Assistance (SEA) |
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The Oregon Self Employment Assistance (SEA) Program helps eligible unemployed workers set up a business on a full time basis and still receive full unemployment benefits. The program is limited by law as to the number of claimants who can participate in the program.
To qualify for the SEA program, you must:
- be eligible for and receiving unemployment benefits,
- be unlikely to return to your previous employment and not a member in good standing with a closed shop union,
- have been identified, by the Department’s computerized mathematical formula, as a claimant who is likely to exhaust unemployment benefits,
- have a viable business idea,
- be willing to work full time in developing the business, and
- have or be able to obtain the financial backing needed to start and sustain the business until it becomes self-supporting.
All enrolled SEA workers must attend self-employment assistance training, complete a market feasibility study and a written business plan, and be engaged in self-employment activities on a full time basis for each week claimed. For additional information, please contact your nearest Employment Department office.
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| Training Unemployment Insurance (TUI) |
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The Training Unemployment Insurance (TUI) Program was established when the legislature recognized that economic stability is threatened when workers are displaced and their unemployment is more severe because they lack transferable job skills.
The purpose of the TUI program is to allow eligible dislocated workers and economically distressed workers to attend school and receive unemployment insurance benefits at the same time so that they can continue to care for their families and obtain employment. The program does not pay for the training itself, however the progam does waive the availability and work search requirements while you attend school full time.
Dislocated Workers
To qualify for TUI as a dislocated worker, an individual must be certified as a dislocated worker by meeting the criteria under the Workforce Investment Act or be certified by the Employment Department. After the individual is certified by the Department as a dislocated worker, to qualify for the program the individual must:
- Have a valid unemployment insurance claim.
- Have a training plan established and approved by a Workforce Investment Act agency or other similar organization.
- Submit a TUI application to the Employment Department within 90 days of the dislocated worker certification.
Economically Distressed Workers (EDW)
Beginning November 1, 2009, TUI benefits become available to economically distressed workers attending school or training. The program allows workers making less than 110% of the minimum wage to receive unemployment benefits while attending school or retraining. The intent of the program is to assist low income workers in their education with the goal of securing work in a high demand occupation exceeding 110% of the minimum wage.
To qualify, an individual must:
- have a valid claim based on wages of less than 110% of the minimum wage
- the individual must be attending training designed to prepare him or her for employment or self employment that is likely to become full time and pay at least 110% of the minimum wage. In many cases, a bachelor's or other higher degree program will not be approved, however exceptions are possible.
The EDW program was created by the Oregon legislature in House Bill 3483. The program is scheduled to run from November 1, 2009 to January 1, 2012. However, the legislature limited the benefits payable under the EDW program to $9.2 million, so the program could stop before then.
For additional information about TUI benefits for dislocated workers, or economically distressed workers, please call the UI Training Program Unit at (800) 436-6191 or (503) 947-1800.
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| Trade Act Adjustment claims (TRA) |
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The Trade Act program helps individuals who become unemployed as a result of foreign trade coming into the US markets or production being shifted to other foreign countries. A listing of employers that have been Trade Act approved by the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance is available from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training.
More information is available at Trade Act Program Benefits or by calling the UI Training Programs Unit (TPU) at (503) 947-1800 or (800)436-6191.
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| Work Share (Shared work program) |
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The Work Share program provides an alternative to employers facing the prospect of laying off employees. Instead of reducing staff, an employer reduces the hours of work for a group of workers. Partial unemployment benefits are then paid to supplement the reduced wages.
How Does It Work?
Your employer must apply for the program by sending in a written plan to the Employment Department. Employees can not apply for Work Share. The employer must select three or more employees with reduced work hours to participate in a Work Share program. Your employer must state that your work hours and wages will be cut back at least 20% but no more than 40% per week, and that your normal work week is 40 hours or less. To qualify, each employee must have worked full-time for six months or part-time for 12 months just before employer’s WorkShare plan was submitted. Weekly claims are submitted by the employer.
For more information, employers can contact the Employment Department WorkShare Unit:
- In Salem: (503) 947-1649
- Toll-free: 1-800-237-3710 ext. 7-1649.
- TDD: 711
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