Unemployed Tip #3: Dough

For me, I got laid off on a Monday. It went like this: got meeting call from boss, walked into conference room, saw blue folder and my HR representative, was told my position was eliminated. It took about 30 seconds.

What followed though was a 45 minute recap of severance, benefit enrollment with COBRA, job hunting sites, and a literal walk-through of my agreement to termination which included enrolling for unemployment.

I don't know what your experience of being laid off was like, but if you were like me - I couldn't understand a word my HR rep was saying. The only things you are thinking about is "What am I going to do" and "Oh (well, I'm not going to say this on here, but the word I'm thinking of rhymes closely with 'Duck' )"

After you get home and set your box of belongings down, don't head straight to the bar, don't start immediately looking for jobs, don't pick up the phone and sob to your mom. File for your unemployment because the clock starts ticking the day you sign your termination agreement.

For those living in Oregon, go here:

http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml

If you have either been laid off, or been given temporary leave without a concrete start date, you qualify for Unemployment benefits. Because this is the State system (Oregon), there are a lot of things you need to know about filing for unemployment. My first suggestion is this: be patient.

1.) On the page, there is a link to fill out your new claim online. This is faster, more accurate, and easier than doing it by phone.
2.) Your employer should have given you your last paycheck. Make sure you have this with you as you will need to enter what your salary and yearly earnings were.
3.) If you have questions about what your weekly (yes, I said weekly) check will be, there is also a benefits calculator, which gives an estimate of what your benefit will be.
4.) It will also ask you which week you want to start your benefits. Keep this tip in mind: You want your benefits as soon as possible. Consider that there will also be a waiting week after you file your claim.
5.) It will ask you if you want to deduct State and Federal taxes from each check. This is up to you, but if you do elect to not withhold taxes, I also suggest setting aside about 10-15% of each check for end of year taxes.
6.) When you file your claim expect to wait about one week to hear from the state. If you do have a question though, or you feel you are getting impatient, call this number: 503.451.2400
7.) KEEP EACH AND EVERY DOCUMENT THE STATE MAILS YOU. This is a pain, but you need to do it in the event of if something happens (such as your check doesn't come)
8.) WRITE DOWN YOUR CONFIRMATION AFTER YOU HAVE FILED. Duh
9.) It will ask you for a Pin code. Don't want to lose this number
10.) Your very first check is going to be a paper check that you need to get cashed. From there on out it will come via a USBank Reliacard. It acts as a debit card, and each week the state directly deposits to that card. Another option is to have the money directly deposited into your account. If you choose to do this, you have to fill out the Direct Deposit form on the employment website and physically mail it in.
11.) When you do recieve your confirmation letter that you are eligible for a set amount of weekly unemployment pay - it's your job to make sure that at the end of every week (say it with me - SATURDAY) you either call or file online. In my experience - it takes you literally 15 minutes to get through the damn phone call (it's because they have to repeat everything that you enter - makes sense). It is easier to do it online: http://www.workinginoregon.org/ocs (one tip - make double sure that you have completed your claim! It will tell you at the end that your claim is complete).

Your unemployment benefits are based on your past work history of the last 18 months. Don't get your hopes up, chances are the benefits will help you a little with your mortgage, car payment, student loans, bills, rent, credit cards, etc. After you get all of this done though (it takes about 45 minutes) THEN you can have your friends buy you some beer, get on the phone and let it out to your mom, and after you've let all that emotion and fear and anger out - start getting excited about the rest of your life.


Again: here are the relevant numbers/links.

http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml - this is where you file for unemployment as soon as you get home

503.451.2400 - Employment in Oregon main number, call this if you have a general question

http://www.workinginoregon.org/ocs - this is where you file your weekly claim

(503).224.0405 - weekly claim hotline (for those in Portland/Metro)