Oregon’s weekly unemployment benefits rise a bit

The amount paid to people who have filed for unemployment insurance benefits has increased slightly, state Employment Department officials said Thursday. The maximum weekly benefit amount someone can receive will increase to $567, while the minimum amount will be $133.

The change affects new unemployment insurance claims effective on or after June 28 . Those with existing unemployment claims will continue to receive the same weekly amount.

Higher wage growth in 2014 resulted in a 3.9 percent increase to the minimum weekly benefit and a 3.3 percent increase in the maximum weekly benefit compared to a year ago. Over the past 12 months, the maximum payment has been $549, while the minimum was $128.

Under Oregon law, each year the Employment Department recalculates the maximum and minimum amounts of unemployment insurance benefits people can receive each week.

The amounts are set as percentages of the average weekly wage earned by Oregonians. The minimum benefit amount 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.