April 23, 2020 10:45 a.m.
The Oregon Employment Department has released information on initial claims for unemployment benefits for the week of April 12th to April 18th.
A release said 36,700 initial claims came in during that period.
Since public health measures began starting the week of March 15th, Oregon has received 333,700 initial claims for unemployment insurance.
The release said the department continues processing initial and ongoing unemployment benefits claims at a record pace, resulting in $119 million in benefits paid to Oregonians during the week of April 12th to April 18th. The agency continues expanding capacity for taking claims, with 520 employees now dedicated to taking those claims, with additional contact center facility planning underway.
The release said the Employment Department efforts also continue toward launching the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Once open, the program will provide the self-employed, contract workers, and gig workers not already eligible, along with those not usually eligible due to too few hours or earnings, and those who were going to start work but could not, with benefits never before available. The release said programming, testing and staff training for the PUA program are in progress. Upon successful testing, the department expects to open the program for applications by the end of April. Information on the PUA program is linked here: https://govstatus.egov.com/ui-benefits/CARES