How to file for unemployment in Oregon

The online claim is usually the fastest way. Here is what to have ready, when your claim starts and what comes after you file.

All about unemployment in Oregon

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Filing, step by step

Apply online in Frances Online (fastest). You can also apply by phone at 1-877-345-3484, or by fax or mail with the paper initial claim Form 115 if you cannot use the online or phone options.

When to file and when your claim starts

Apply as soon as you are out of work or your hours are cut. New claims take effect the week you file. After you apply, start filing weekly claims the following Sunday.

What to have ready

Your name, Social Security number, birth date and contact information
If you are not a U.S. citizen or a COFA Islander: your USCIS number, A-number or I-94 number
Your work history for the past 18 months: each employer's name, address and phone number, and your start and end dates
Your bank account and routing numbers if you want direct deposit

Certify (claim your weeks)

How often: Weekly. File a weekly claim every week (Sunday to Saturday) in Frances Online or by phone, starting the Sunday after the week ends. Report all hours and gross earnings and your work-search activities. Keep filing while you wait for a decision.

Your first payment

OED says most applications are reviewed within one week. The first week you are eligible is an unpaid waiting week. Payments go by direct deposit, or on a U.S. Bank ReliaCard prepaid debit card if you have not signed up for direct deposit.

Register for work

You must register in iMatchSkills (or your state's job system) within 14 days of filing your claim. If you live in Oregon or regularly commute there to work, you must also attend an orientation with WorkSource Oregon. Union members and some others are told if they are exempt.

IMatchSkills

Paper forms

Law: ORS 657.155

Official source: Source page

What applies in every state

File with the unemployment program of the state where you worked. If you worked in another state or in several states, the agency in the state where you live now can tell you how to file with other states.
It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.

Free help

Call 1-877-345-3484. Legal aid and other free help in Oregon → Official sources →