About $15 million has been approved so far for 10,091 applicants for benefits in the first month of Oregon’s new paid leave program.
The Employment Department began payments the week of Sept. 13, just after the official start date of Sept. 3 under revised legislation in 2021. A total of 20,487 applications have been received since filing opened Aug. 14; the other 10,396 are under review.
The figures are as of Sept. 30, and released on the department dashboard on Oct. 2.
Benefits under Paid Leave Oregon are in three broad categories: Medical leave, family leave for care of members defined in the original 2019 law, and safe leave for survivors of domestic violence and stalking. Payroll contributions from employees and employers began back on Jan. 1, their total equivalent to 1% of wages. Employers are exempt from contributions if they have fewer than 25 workers on the payroll.
Benefits are for a maximum of 12 weeks in any 12-month period, although the maximum is 16 weeks for those drawing from more than one category, and 18 weeks if there are complications from pregnancy or childbirth. There is a minimum requirement for wage earnings — $1,000 in each of four of five quarters, from any employment — before someone qualifies for benefits. There is a cap on benefits per week, though lower-wage workers will get proportionately more than higher-wage workers.
Program director Karen Humelbaugh said applicants can take steps to ensure that their requests are processed without delay:
- Informing employers about leave before applications are filed. The requirement is 30 days; the time is 3 days in emergencies, but such requests must be followed up in writing.
- Using the checklist on the Paid Leave Oregon webpage to ensure that the correct supporting documents are filed for the type of leave requested.
- Checking Paid Leave Oregon accounts on Frances Online, the Employment Department computer system, for messages, action requests and status updates.
- Entering the employer’s name on their claims application as it is listed on the employee’s W-2 form. The department maintains a database of employers for payroll and other taxes.
Delays can result from applicants submitting incorrect or incomplete information, or failing to give the required notice to employers.
Paid Leave Oregon sped up its claim processing time in recent weeks, with a 162% increase since the program started.
“This is the first program of its kind in Oregon, and that means there will be bumps along the way,” Humelbaugh said. “However, we are working hard to make sure staff are trained and able to provide a good customer service experience.”
Oregon is one of eight states and the District of Columbia with paid leave programs. Five more states are scheduled to follow suit by 2026.
Oregon had a family leave law in 1991, two years ahead of the federal law. Lawmakers passed a paid-leave program in 2019. They acted in 2021 to delay its start by a few months because of Employment Department workloads stemming from the coronavirus panic and subsequent jump in claims for unemployment benefits, and a long-awaited computer system.
Website: paidleave.oregon.gov.
