Unemployment Insurance Division Current Programs Overview Language Access

Unemployment Insurance Division Current Programs Overview Language Access Resources I filed my claim, now what? Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Regular UI Unemployment Insurance Compensation • Worked as an employee during the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters ü Worked at least 500 hours; OR ü Earned at least $1, 000 and the total money earned sums at least 1. 5 times the total amount earned in the highest quarter • Weekly Benefit Amount varies from $151 to $648 Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Regular UI Unemployment Insurance Compensation • Filed your claim in January, February or March 2020: ü Worked at least 500 hours from October 2018 to September 2019 OR ü Earned at least $1, 000 AND total amount of money made sums at least 1. 5 times the money made in the quarter where you earned the most, in the period of October 2018 to September 2019 Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Regular UI Unemployment Insurance Compensation • Filed your claim in April, May or June 2020: ü Worked at least 500 hours from January 2019 to December 2019 OR ü Earned at least $1, 000 AND total amount of money made sums at least 1. 5 times the money made in the quarter where you earned the most, in the period of January 2019 to December 2019 Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

PEUC Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation • 13 additional weeks in total, available for eligible weeks from March 29, 2020 through December 26, 2020 ü Have a zero balance on a regular UI claim that ended after July 1, 2019 ü Have no rights for unemployment compensation in any other state or Canada ü Remains able, available, and actively seeking work according to the current state rules Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

PUA Pandemic Unemployment Assistance • Assistance available for individuals that lost their employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic ü Were self-employed ü Were to commence employment and don’t have enough wages to establish a valid claim ü Worked, but don’t have enough wages to establish a valid claim Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

PUA Pandemic Unemployment Assistance • To receive PUA you must ü Not be eligible for regular unemployment in Oregon, any other State or Canada ü Have been working and be out of work because of the pandemic • Initial Weekly Benefit Amount is $205 ü If you want a higher amount, you need to submit proof of earnings of more than $16, 480 during January 2019 through December 2019 Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

FPUC Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation • Assistance available for eligible weeks claimed from March 29 2020 through July 25, 2020 ü You do not need to apply for FPUC ü You will receive the payment automatically along with your payment for benefits of Regular UI, PEUC or PUA Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Language Access Resources www. oregon. gov/employ Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Language Access Resources www. oregon. gov/employ • Our COVID-19 page has many resources to help you file a claim for benefits. • On the right side of the page, you will find COVID-19 information on 15 languages. • Over 20 videos on how to file for benefits are available in 9 languages, with more coming Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Work Authorization ü To get unemployment benefits you must be authorized to work in the US. ü It is very important that you provide your USCIS number or “A” number when you file your claim. ü Whenever you start a claim, you will be asked to provide this information upon selecting the Non US Citizen option. ü If, after processing your information, we require additional information about your work authorization, we will send you a letter with instructions. Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Accessibility • Upon request, we provide: ü Reasonable accommodation ü Registration and information materials are available in alternative formats ü Our applications are available in the pdf or paper Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

I filed my claim, now what? • If you filed a regular unemployment claim: ü You need to continue to claim every week you want to get benefits, even if you have not received a letter from us ü If you work in a week, you need to enter in the weekly claim how many hours you worked in that week and how much you will be paid for those hours (before any deductions) ü When we process your claim, you will receive a letter telling you how much money you qualify for OR that you do not have a valid claim ü If you receive a letter telling you that you do not have a valid claim, you may want to file for PUA Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

I filed my claim, now what? • If you filed pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) claim: ü You need to continue to claim every week you want to get benefits, even if you have not received a letter from us ü If you work in a week, you need to enter in the weekly claim how many hours you worked in that week and how much you will be paid for those hours (before any deductions) ü When we process your claim, you will receive a letter telling you if you are approved for PUA ü If you are approved for PUA, your initial weekly benefit amount will be $205 Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Contact Information www. oregon. gov/employ Regular Unemployment Insurance Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Contact Center Hotline: PUA Contact Center Hotline: (Toll Free) 877 -345 -3484 Local Work. Source Center: http: //worksourceoregon. org/ Centers. html 503 -370 -5400 (Toll Free) 833 -410 -1004 PUA webpage: govstatus. egov. com/PUA For a callback in a language other than English, send name, phone, and requested language to OED_Language. Access@oregon. gov Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

Thank You! Support Business ∙ Promote Employment June 2020

CARES Act and Benefits Work Incentives Network – 6/18/2020 Josh Goller – josh. goller@dhsoha. state. or. us Katie Thompson – katherine. thompson@dhsoha. state. or. us

U. I. effect on Title II disability benefits Effect on Title II benefits (SSDI, SSCDB, SSDWB) None. Title II benefits are unaffected by unearned income. Title II benefits also do not require a beneficiary to apply for all other benefits to which they are entitled, as Title II is not a payer of last resort. Medicare is also unaffected by U. I.

U. I. effect on SSI benefits Effect on SSI benefits SSI is a needs-based benefit and also a payer of last resort Folks who may be eligible for U. I. therefore must apply Extra U. I. provided by CARES Act treated the same as regular U. I. Counts as unearned income (reduces benefit nearly dollar for dollar) If unearned income exceeds FBR +$20 ($803+), then SSI suspended for up to 12 months. Different than termination of SSI Can resume SSI when U. I. runs out (max 39 weeks). Adverse OHP/Medicaid decisions suspended during crisis.

Economic Impact Payments Not countable as income for SSA benefits purposes Excluded from resources for 12 months Not taxable (and not borrowed from future tax refunds) For subsidized housing rent calculations, HUD states that “The pending stimulus payments directly to individuals and families would be excluded from income, as they are temporary, non-recurring payments (per 24 CFR 5. 609). ” Considered a tax rebate, and therefore will not affect SNAP or TANF. No impact on OHP/Medicaid.

Hazard Pay, Bonuses, Etc. Effect on Title II benefits (SSDI, SSCDB, SSDWB) Linked to productivity of the worker. If worker is paid for staying home and not performing work, it is not countable. If hazard pay, bonus, or some other special payment related to essential work during COVID-19, it is treated as earned income linked to worker’s productivity unless worker provides evidence to the contrary. Effect on SSI benefits Treated as earned income. Normal policy followed for treatment of earned income. A little less than half the earned income will be counted for SSI purposes. SSI payments adjusted down accordingly. No special rules.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE WITH

WHY DOES ABLE EXIST? § There is a $2, 000 limit to the amount a person with a disability can save before losing vital state and federal benefits such as Medicaid and SSI benefits. § Money saved in ABLE does NOT count against this asset/resource limit.

ABLE IS BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW § The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act § Passed by Congress on December 19, 2014 § SB 777: Oregon’s ABLE Act – Senator Sara Gelser § Passed by Oregon Legislature on July 9, 2015 § Oregon ABLE launched Dec. 2016

ABLE WAS DESIGNED FOR SELF-EMPOWERMENT § § Beneficiary is the legal account owner Authorized Legal Representatives can help manage the account § § Account owner decides: § § § Parent of minor Guardian/Conservator Power of Attorney What counts as an eligible expense § Don’t need advance permission or to turn in receipts If they’re eligible IRS enforces the ABLE Act

WHO QUALIFIES FOR ABLE? 1. Age of Onset: Disability started before the age of 26 2. Severity of Disability: Meet disability requirements for SSI or SSDI Not sure if someone qualifies? § They can get a “disability certification” signed by a physician § Keep a copy in their files

WHAT CAN YOU USE ABLE TO SAVE FOR? Expenses help improve health, independence, and/or quality of life of the person with a disability: § § § Education Housing Basic Living Expenses Transportation Employment Training & Support Assistive Technology § § § Personal Support Services Health, Prevention & Wellness Financial Management Legal Fees Funeral & Burial And more

ACCOUNT LIMITS § One account person § $15, 000 limit on annual contributions § Contributions can come from any source § $400, 000 limit on all assets § $100, 000 limit before SSI benefits are affected

WHAT ARE THE FEES? § $35 Annual Fee § 0. 30% to 0. 35% Annual Asset-Based Fee

ABLE TO WORK § If the ABLE beneficiary is employed, they can save more than the annual limit § Can save additional $12, 490 or the total of their wages, whichever is LESS § Only the beneficiary can contribute more through ABLE to Work, not parents. § Can contribute Unemployment Insurance benefits as ABLE to Work contribution § Any wages added to ABLE aren’t protected from income limits, just resource limits

OREGON ABLE PREPAID CARD § It’s like having an ABLE account in your pocket. § No credit check, no transaction fees § Works similar to a reloadable gift card § Sign up in online portal, load money onto card, shop for eligible expenses § Includes a record of where card was used § $1. 25 monthly fee

TAX BENEFITS § Tax-free growth on investments § Growth is tax free as long as it is used for a qualified expense § State tax credit § Beneficiary under the age of 21 (up to a $300 refundable tax credit)

Cash Option Conservative Moderate Aggressive

HOW TO SIGN UP § Open an account online. Do NOT go to a bank. § If an Authorized Legal Representative has guardianship or power of attorney, they’ll need to scan in copies of that paperwork. § A traditional checking or savings account must be connected to the ABLE account. § Initial deposit of $25

KAELLEN HESSEL KAELLEN. HESSEL@OS T. STATE. OR. US