Time for family

If your employer has an equivalent plan, you must apply under that plan instead of participating in the state’s paid leave plan. Ask your employer for instructions on how to apply. 

To apply for benefits under the state plan (Paid Leave Oregon), follow these steps:

Step 1: Have your documents ready

You’ll need at least 1 of the following for each family leave request:

Bonding leave related to birth

• Paid Leave Oregon Verification of Birth Form
  • Note: This is the best document to use before your child is born.
• Your child’s official state-issued birth certificate
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• A court-issued document establishing paternity or guardianship
• A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity signed and witnessed by a hospital representative and issued within five days of your child’s birth
• A document from your child’s or the parent’s (who was pregnant) health care provider
• A hospital admission form related to your child’s delivery

The document supporting your leave must include the following:

• Your first and last name as parent or guardian of the child after birth
• Date or expected date of the child’s birth
• Health care provider’s name, signature, and contact information
• Only for an additional two weeks of pregnancy leave: Documentation that shows your relationship with the child as the parent who is pregnant or gave birth in the year before the start of your leave

Important: If you are applying for leave before the birth of your child, the document must be dated and signed within 60 days before the expected date of birth.

Bonding leave related to placement through adoption or foster care

• A copy of a court order that verifies your child’s initial placement
• A letter signed by the attorney representing you as the foster or adoptive parent that confirms your child’s placement
• A document from the foster care, adoption agency, or social worker involved in your child’s placement that confirms the placement
• A document for your child from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Your verification documents must include the following information:

• Your first and last name as parent or guardian of the child after the placement of your child in your home through foster care or adoption
• Your child’s first and last name
• Date of your child’s placement

Your document must also include the following information (if it was not issued by a government agency) for the person issuing the document:

• First and last name
• Title or specialization
• Contact information
• Handwritten or electronic signature
• The date the document was signed or issued

Pre-placement leave for activities necessary to complete a child’s adoption or foster care placement

You can use any of the following forms of verification that confirm the intended adoption or foster care placement:

• A copy of a court order
• A letter signed by the attorney representing you as the foster care or adoptive parent
• A document from the foster care, adoption agency, or social worker involved in your child’s placement
• A document for the child from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Your verification documents must be dated within 180 days (six months) before the start date of the requested leave for pre-placement activities and must include the following information:

• Your first and last name as the intended foster or adoptive parent
• Information that identifies the foster care or adoptive child, such as the child's first and last name or the child's date of birth

Your document must also include the following information (if it was not issued by a government agency) for the person issuing the document:

• First and last name
• Title or specialization
• Contact information
• Handwritten or electronic signature
• The date the document was signed or issued

Family leave to care for a family member

• Paid Leave Verification of Serious Health Condition Form
• Oregon and Federal Family and Medical Leave Health Care Provider Certification
• Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Employer-issued FMLA certification for a serious health condition
• Other documentation from a health care provider that includes the following:
  • Your name
  • Your date of birth
  • Your family member’s name and contact information
  • A short description or diagnosis, including symptoms or required treatment of your family member’s serious health condition
  • The approximate date the serious health condition began or the date the serious health condition created the need for leave
  • The expected end date or an explanation that the condition is chronic or permanent
  • For intermittent leave, an explanation of how often, and for how long, the condition impacts your family member
  • The health care provider’s:
    • First and last name
    • Type of medical practice or specialty
    • Contact information such as business name, address, and phone number
    • Handwritten or electronic signatures from the health care provider and the date the documentation was signed

Important: If the health care provider issues any of these documents before you start your leave, the health care provider must sign them within 60 days before you start your leave.

Step 2: Give notice to your employer

• For planned leave: If you know you will need to use Paid Leave, you must let your employer know at least 30 days before starting your leave.
• For unexpected leave: If you need to take leave unexpectedly, you must tell your employer (doesn’t have to be in writing) within 24 hours of starting your leave. You must give your employer written notice within 3 days after starting your leave. If you don’t give written notice to your employer, we may reduce your first weekly benefit payment by 25%.

Step 3: Apply for benefits

Use Frances Online to apply for benefits.

Frances Online is the quickest and easiest way to apply for Paid Leave. You can check your account 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you can’t access Frances Online, send us a paper application or call us at 833-854-0166. It may take longer for you to receive a response if you send a paper application.

At the earliest, you can send your application 30 days before you start your leave. At the latest, you can send it 30 days after you start your leave.

Have questions? Visit our commonly asked questions about Frances Online.

Create an account now:
Frances Online
Learn more about the application review process.