OREGON, USA — The Oregon Employment Department will shut down several services, beginning Tuesday, as it updates its online system.
In preparation for a newer, easier to use online system for unemployment benefits, the agency's website will be going dark and will be unable to help customers, the agency said. This includes claims and questions for Paid Leave Oregon, which has been dogged with complaints of delayed payments and fraud since its launch last September.
The new system, Frances Online, is scheduled to go live on March 4, the Oregon Employment Department said. In the meantime, people will not be able to file, restart, check or make changes to claim information until after 8 a.m. on March 4. They will also not be able to finish tasks, such as making payments or ID verification.
All unemployment insurance phone lines will also be closed Feb. 28 to March 1, the agency said.
The last day to file a new unemployment claim will be Tuesday, before 5 p.m. The last day to file a weekly unemployment claim for the week of Feb. 18-24 will be Wednesday at 5 p.m. Benefits will be delayed if customers miss the deadline, the department said.
Frances Online will be mobile friendly and make it easier for people to check and edit their claims status online, as well as live chat with employees, the Oregon Employment Department said. Customers will need to create a Frances Online account before filing a claim, though the agency stresses to not start the process until the update is finished on March 4. The new system will be available in English and Spanish, so those who need help in other languages must contact the UI Contact Center at 1-877-FILE-4-UI.
Customer service information — including unemployment and Frances Online guides, videos and frequently asked questions — will still be available at unemployment.oregon.gov, according to the website.
The department's phone numbers and qualification requirements will not be changing.
