Claimant Handbook

Any time we reduce or deny your benefits, we mail you an administrative decision. If you don't agree with the outcome of the administrative decision, you have the right to have it reviewed through the appeals process. Your employer has the same right in some situations if a decision allows benefits.

If you appeal an administrative decision, continue to file for benefits each week. If you don't claim each week while your appeal is pending, you may not be paid for those weeks, even if the appeal is decided in your favor.

Administrative decisions mailed from the Employment Department include a form you can use to request a hearing. It includes instructions for filing a timely appeal. Administrative decisions become final 20 days after we mail them, so don't wait to file an appeal if you want a hearing. Failure to file a timely appeal may prevent you from having the original administrative decision changed.

​You may request a hearing the following ways:

• Submitting a request through the Contact Us Form​
  
• If you are a business representative or administrator, request a hearing through this LINK  ​
  
• Fax at (503) 947-1335
• Mail at 875 Union St NE, Salem, OR 97301
  

If the above options do not meet your needs due to your specific circumstances, you may contact the Unemployment Insurance Contact Center and they will take your request by phone at (877)345-3484.

Provide the following information in your request:

• ​Your Social Security Number or Customer Identification Number (CID),
• The administrative decision number or other specific information to identify what you are appealing,
• The mailing date of the decision you are appealing,
• Information that may help us understand the reason for your disagreement with the decision, and
• Specific dates or times you are not available for a hearing.

We will provide you with language assistance and disability accommodations at no cost upon request.

If you have requested a hearing and need to update your address, you must notify both the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Unemployment Insurance Contact Center.

You can find more information about hearings and the appeals process at www.oregon.gov/oah.