Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 657 § 657.320 — Cancellation of unrecoverable benefits

Cancellation of unrecoverable benefits. (1)(a) If any amount paid to an individual as benefits, for which the individual has been found liable under the provisions of ORS 657.310 to repay or to have deducted from benefits payable, has neither been repaid nor deducted within a period of five years following the date the decision establishing the overpayment became final, and is equal to or is less than the state maximum weekly benefit amount or determined by the Director of the Employment Department to be uncollectible, the overpayment together with the record of the overpayment and the resulting shortage, may be canceled, and the overpayment, excluding any amount chargeable to reimbursable employers, shall be permanently charged to the fund. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, the overpayment may not be canceled if the debt is being recovered by payments or deductions that were received within the last three months or if repayment of the overpayment is required under ORS 657.213. (2) If an amount paid to an individual as benefits, for which the individual has been found liable under the provisions of ORS 657.315 (1) to have deducted from benefits payable, has not been waived under ORS 657.317, paid or deducted from benefits otherwise payable to the individual for any week or weeks within five years following the week in which the decision establishing the overpayment became final, the overpayment together with the record of the overpayment and the resulting shortage, shall be canceled and the overpayment, excluding any amount chargeable to reimbursable employers, shall be permanently charged to the fund. (3) When in the judgment of the director the best interests of the Employment Department are served in an effort to settle accounts, the director may waive, reduce or compromise any part or all of the interest or penalty charged pursuant to ORS 657.310. The director may determine that the amount of interest or penalty due and unpaid is uncollectible, and write the amount off. In making the determination that interest or a penalty is uncollectible, the director shall consider, among other factors: (a) The administrative costs of continued collection efforts in relation to the amount due; (b) The accessibility of the debtor for effective collection actions; and (c) The debtor’s financial condition and ability to pay the amount due, both current and projected. [Amended by 1977 c.294 §5; 1983 c.146 §1; 1997 c.372 §3; 2007 c.87 §3; 2011 c.514 §2; 2013 c.703 §3; 2015 c.530 §2] (Extended Benefits)