Extended unemployment compensation payments reaching Ohioans

Extended unemployment compensation payments reaching Ohioans

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced that as many as 155,000 eligible unemployed workers in Ohio will again receive federal extended unemployment benefits, after President Obama signed legislation last week extending deadlines for the program from May 29 to November 27.

“We are very pleased that Congress and the President have decided to continue extending this lifeline,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “Every day we hear firsthand about the difficulties Ohio’s unemployed workers are facing, as a result of the ongoing national recession. They need this temporary help as they work to find new employment, support their families and regain their financial footing.”

ODJFS paid $46.8 million in extended benefits on Monday, including retroactive lump sum payments, due primarily to the deadline extension. To put that amount in perspective, the previous Monday the agency paid $16.8 million in extended benefits, as more Ohioans found themselves ineligible because of the May 29 deadline. ODJFS had advised claimants to continue filing for benefits during the interim period, in the event that new legislation was passed.

ODJFS began notifying potential eligible claimants about the extended deadlines via an automated dialer system on Friday. It also has posted updates to www.unemployment.ohio.gov. 

As a result of the legislation, eligible unemployed Ohioans can potentially receive benefits for up to 99 weeks: 26 weeks of regular state unemployment, followed by 53 weeks of federal extended unemployment benefits and an additional 20 weeks of extended state benefits, which are federally funded. 

The legislation did not add to the total number of weeks that claimants can receive benefits; it simply extended the deadlines for both the federal and state extended unemployment programs, so that claimants who exhaust their “regular” 26 weeks of benefits are now eligible for additional weeks of benefits.

Claimants with questions are encouraged to visit www.unemployment.ohio.gov or to call 1-877-OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) toll-free. The agency recently expanded its call center hours. Operators are now available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced that as many as 155,000 eligible unemployed workers in Ohio will again receive federal extended unemployment benefits, after President Obama signed legislation last week extending deadlines for the program from May 29 to November 27.

“We are very pleased that Congress and the President have decided to continue extending this lifeline,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “Every day we hear firsthand about the difficulties Ohio’s unemployed workers are facing, as a result of the ongoing national recession. They need this temporary help as they work to find new employment, support their families and regain their financial footing.”

ODJFS paid $46.8 million in extended benefits on Monday, including retroactive lump sum payments, due primarily to the deadline extension. To put that amount in perspective, the previous Monday the agency paid $16.8 million in extended benefits, as more Ohioans found themselves ineligible because of the May 29 deadline. ODJFS had advised claimants to continue filing for benefits during the interim period, in the event that new legislation was passed.

ODJFS began notifying potential eligible claimants about the extended deadlines via an automated dialer system on Friday. It also has posted updates to www.unemployment.ohio.gov. 

As a result of the legislation, eligible unemployed Ohioans can potentially receive benefits for up to 99 weeks: 26 weeks of regular state unemployment, followed by 53 weeks of federal extended unemployment benefits and an additional 20 weeks of extended state benefits, which are federally funded. 

The legislation did not add to the total number of weeks that claimants can receive benefits; it simply extended the deadlines for both the federal and state extended unemployment programs, so that claimants who exhaust their “regular” 26 weeks of benefits are now eligible for additional weeks of benefits.

Claimants with questions are encouraged to visit www.unemployment.ohio.gov or to call 1-877-OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) toll-free. The agency recently expanded its call center hours. Operators are now available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.