Oregon unemployment benefits to rise

Starting next week, the amount paid to Oregonians filing for unemployment insurance benefits will increase slightly. The maximum weekly benefit amount an individual can receive will rise to $538, while the minimum amount will be $126.

The change affects new unemployment insurance claims effective on or after June 30, 2013. Those with existing unemployment claims will continue to receive the same weekly amount.

Under Oregon law, each year the Employment Department recalculates the maximum and minimum amounts paid weekly to those filing for unemployment benefits.

The amounts are set as percentages of the average weekly wage earned by Oregonians. The minimum unemployment figure is 15 percent of average weekly wage, and the maximum amount is 64 percent. Both dollar amounts are rounded down to the nearest dollar, as required by law.

The new maximum and minimum payments represent a 2.7 and 3.3 percent increase respectively from benefits paid over the past year.

Over the past 12 months the maximum payment has been $524, while the minimum was $122.