Oregon Employment Department, Unemployment Insurance

Oregon · Unemployment

unemployment.oregon.gov

State Unemployment Benefits in Oregon

The Oregon Employment Department administers unemployment insurance through the Frances Online system. Under ORS 657.255(2), unemployment benefits that were due to a person who died but remain unpaid may be paid to a survivor the director designates, in a statutory order beginning with the surviving spouse. The Department's rule, OAR 471-030-0057, requires that survivor to submit a notarized affidavit of the death and of their relationship to the claimant.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Report the claimant's death to the Oregon Employment Department by calling the UI Contact Center at 1-877-345-3484 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday) or by sending a ticket through the Contact Us form, so benefit payments stop.
2
Ask whether benefits remain unpaid for weeks the claimant was eligible for before the date of death.
3
Identify the survivor first in line under ORS 657.255(2) — surviving spouse, then surviving children (including adopted children), then the mother or father of the deceased.
4
Have that survivor petition the Department under OAR 471-030-0057 with:
  • •A notarized affidavit attesting to the claimant's death and to the survivor's relationship to the claimant
  • •If a child is claiming and there is no surviving spouse: statements signed by each of the other surviving children authorizing payment to the petitioning child
  • •If a parent is claiming and there is no surviving spouse or child: a signed statement from the other parent authorizing payment to the petitioning parent
5
Petition promptly — absent a valid petition the benefit checks are canceled and the money is permanently returned to the unemployment benefit fund (OAR 471-030-0057(4)).

Required Documents

  • Notarized affidavit: Attests to the claimant's death and to the survivor's relationship to the claimant.
  • Statements signed by each of the other surviving children: if a child is claiming and there is no surviving spouse. Authorize payment to the petitioning child.
  • Signed statement from the other parent: if a parent is claiming and there is no surviving spouse or child. Authorizes payment to the petitioning parent.

State Unemployment Benefits in Oregon: key facts

What Oregon says5

Claimant portal

Claimants use Frances Online, the Oregon Employment Department's unemployment insurance system, at frances.oregon.gov.1, 2

Reporting a death

A death is reported by calling the UI Contact Center, or by sending a ticket through the Contact Us form, which the Department also uses to receive uploaded documents.3

Benefits at and after the death

Under ORS 657.255(2), unemployment benefits that were due to a person who died but remain unpaid in whole or in part may be paid to a survivor the director designates.4

ORS 657.255(2) places no dollar cap on the payment.4

The Department's rule on benefits due a deceased person reissues no benefit check to any survivor outside the ORS 657.255(2) order. Absent a valid petition, the checks are canceled and the money is permanently returned to the unemployment benefit fund.5

Who may claim a final payment

ORS 657.255(2) sets the order: the surviving spouse; then surviving children, including adopted children; then the mother or father of the deceased.4

Documents for a final payment

The Department's rule on benefits due a deceased person requires the survivor requesting the benefits to complete a notarized affidavit attesting to the claimant's death and to the survivor's relationship to the claimant.5

The signed statements from the other children or the other parent may be waived if the petitioner shows, to the Director's satisfaction, that no other survivor in that tier exists or that they cannot be located.5

Governing law: ORS 657.255(2); OAR 471-030-0057

Sources5

  1. 1.Unemployment Insurance (Oregon Employment Department)
  2. 2.Frances Online resources for claimants (Oregon Employment Department)
  3. 3.Contact Us (Oregon Employment Department, Unemployment Insurance)
  4. 4.ORS Chapter 657 (657.255(2), benefits due a deceased person)
  5. 5.OAR 471-030-0057, Payment of Benefits Due a Deceased Person

Oregon unemployment benefits

Oregon Employment Department, Unemployment Insurance

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Verified Aug 2026

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