OAR 471-030-0065: Discretionary Filing Procedures

(1) Pursuant to the provisions of ORS 657.155(1)(a) and to support the policy of prompt payment of benefits when due, the Director may discretionally authorize the use of special or alternative forms and procedures for filing unemployment insurance claims under any of the following conditions: (a) Mass layoffs from employment; (b) Irregular working schedules; (c) Plant, factory, firm, or business closure; (d) Extraordinary weather conditions; (e) Damage or impairment to Employment Department facilities; (f) Disaster; (g) Petroleum fuel shortages; or (h) Other unusual conditions. (2) In the exercise of the Director's discretion the Director shall consider: (a) The number of claimants and employing units affected; (b) Travel, transportation, and mailing facilities; (c) Frequency of and anticipated duration of periods of unemployment; (d) Prospects of reemployment for unemployed workers; (e) Labor organization involvement; (f) Administrative expense and feasibility; and (g) Any other factors that may be significant and material. (3) When an official identified in section (4) of this rule finds that any of the conditions specified in section (1) of this rule exists, that official may: (a) Waive the registration requirements of ORS 657.155 for up to four consecutive weeks for which benefits are claimed; (b) Waive the initial, additional or reopened claim filing requirements of OAR 471-030-0040(3) to permit filing such claims in a week subsequent to the time period allowed in OAR 471-030-0040. The time extension is to be determined by the Director in a manner calculated to insure equity and provide prompt payment of benefits and may vary from one set of circumstances to another. (4) The use of special forms and procedures as proposed by this rule may be authorized by the following employees only: (a) Deputy Director; (b) Assistant Director for Unemployment Insurance; (c) Manager of Benefits.