Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some Oregonians in-between jobs have a chance to apply for extended benefits.

The supplemental spending bill just signed by the President includes an additional thirteen weeks compensation for people whose unemployment claims expired after May 1st, last year. 

Craig Spivey with the Oregon Employment Department says the extra aid will be helpful to job seekers, even though it's aimed at other states.

Craig Spivey: "The reason the emergency unemployment compensation package was passed is that nationally we've seen the unemployment rate rising a whole lot faster. This being a national program, Oregon is not in as tough a situation as some other states."

Everyone eligible for the additional payments will get a written notice in the mail with instructions for getting the extension.

Oregon's unemployment rate was last measured in May at 5.6 percent.  Right now, a little over 52,000 Oregonians are receiving unemployment insurance benefits. That's up slightly from last year.