Oregon Unemployment Calculator: WBA, Eligibility & Duration

What Is the Oregon Unemployment Calculator?

The Oregon Unemployment Calculator is a free online tool that estimates how much unemployment insurance (UI) you may receive. It asks you for:

• Your claim start date
• Your wages from the last four quarters

Using this information, it calculates:

• Estimated weekly benefit amount (WBA)
• Total benefit amount
• Duration of your claim
• Which base period was used (Standard or Alternate)

Important: This is just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount will be calculated by the Oregon Employment Department after you file your claim.

How the Calculator Works (In Plain English)

This calculator pulls from Oregon’s real unemployment insurance rules and automates them behind the scenes using JavaScript.

Here’s what happens:

1. You Enter Your Claim Start Date

• This sets your “base period”—the 12 months the state looks at to determine your eligibility and benefit amount.
• Usually, it uses the Standard Base Period: the first four of the last five completed quarters.
• If you don’t qualify using the Standard Base Period, it tries the Alternate Base Period, which shifts the quarters forward by one.

2. You Enter Your Wages for Each Quarter

• The calculator asks for your wages in four quarters (3-month periods).
• These are used to determine your total and highest earnings in any quarter.

3. It Checks If You’re Eligible

To qualify for benefits in Oregon, you must meet two key conditions:

• You earned at least $1,000 total during the base period.
• Your total base period wages are at least 1.5 times your highest quarter's wages.

If you meet these, the calculator estimates your Weekly Benefit Amount.

4. It Calculates Your Benefits

• Your weekly benefit is about 1.25% of your total wages, capped between $171 and $813.
• It also estimates:
  • Your maximum total benefit
  • How many weeks you could receive it (usually up to 26)

Example Walkthrough

Let’s say you earned:

If your claim date is September 1st:

• Your base period is April 1 of last year to March 31 of this year.
• Your total wages = $29,500
• Your high quarter = $7,800
• 1.5 × $7,800 = $11,700 → You pass the eligibility check
• Estimated weekly benefit = $813 (max cap)
• Estimated total benefit = Around $8,000 – $8,500

You’re eligible!

Using the Calculator: Step-by-Step

Here’s how to use it:

1. Select your claim start date
2. Enter your wages in each of the four quarters
3. Click "Calculate Estimate"
4. View your Estimated Weekly Benefit, Total Benefit, Duration, and which base period was used

Need to try again? Hit "Reset" and start over.

Behind the Scenes: What Makes It Work

This calculator uses JavaScript and HTML to simulate real-world unemployment rules. Some key things it does:

• Automatically updates your base period labels based on your claim date
• Checks both Standard and Alternate base periods if needed
• Prompts you for an additional quarter if your Standard period doesn’t qualify
• Calculates all amounts with proper formatting (e.g., $813 instead of just 813)

It’s fast, interactive, and mimics how the Oregon Employment Department processes claims.

FAQs

Q: Will the calculator tell me exactly how much I’ll get?
A: No. It’s an estimate. The Oregon Employment Department makes the final call.

Q: What’s the maximum weekly benefit in Oregon?
A: $813 as of now. The minimum is $171.

Q: How long can I get benefits?
A: Up to 26 weeks, depending on your total wages.

Q: What if I don’t qualify with the standard base period?
A: The calculator checks your eligibility with the alternate base period. It may prompt you for an additional quarter of wages to see if you qualify that way.

Why This Matters

Filing for unemployment is already stressful. You shouldn’t have to guess what you're entitled to.

This tool takes the guesswork out of the equation and gives you a fast, accurate, no-BS estimate. Whether you're preparing to file or just weighing your options, the Oregon Unemployment Calculator helps you plan better.

Try the Oregon Unemployment Calculator

You can use the tool right on the page — no sign-up, no cost. Just punch in your info, hit calculate, and get your estimate in seconds.

Pro Tip: Bookmark it. If your job situation changes, you'll want quick access again.