Over 600 Oregonians who received unemployment payments by mistake can keep the money, totaling $615,000 so far.
Over 600 Oregonians who received unemployment payments by mistake can keep the money, totaling $615,000 so far.
In each case, the Oregon Employment Department determined that recovering the overpayments from people enduring financial hardships would violate equity and good conscience. The total amount forgiven will increase under the system as more people request and receive repayment waivers. The money comes from a state jobless-benefits trust fund financed by employers, not taxpayers.
State Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland, the Senate majority leader who co-sponsored the bill authorizing the waivers, stands by the new system.
“It’s a mistake to keep referring to this money as ill-gotten gains or a windfall,” Rosenbaum said. “The only people who qualify for this are people who did not commit fraud, did nothing wrong and were deemed eligible but later were found not to be.”
Read more at OregonLive.com.
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