Unemployed Ohioans receiving retroactive extended benefit payments
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The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced that more than 35,776 eligible unemployed workers in Ohio are again receiving federal extended unemployment benefits, after President Obama signed legislation on Friday extending deadlines for the program from November 27, 2010, to December 31, 2011.
ODJFS began notifying claimants less than an hour after the president signed the extension, and it began processing retroactive payments on Friday night. By Sunday, the agency had issued approximately $36.1 million dollars in retroactive payments.
“Staff worked through the weekend to ensure that Ohioans would have these retroactive payments before Christmas,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “We realize how important unemployment compensation is to Ohioans who have bills due and families to feed.”
As a result of the legislation, more Ohioans will be able to collect unemployment compensation 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 additional weeks of compensation beyond the 99 weeks currently available.
Claimants with questions are encouraged to visit www.unemployment.ohio.gov or to call 1-866-962-4064 toll-free. Operators are now available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on New Years Eve, when the ODJFS offices will be closed.[[In-content Ad]]
ODJFS began notifying claimants less than an hour after the president signed the extension, and it began processing retroactive payments on Friday night. By Sunday, the agency had issued approximately $36.1 million dollars in retroactive payments.
“Staff worked through the weekend to ensure that Ohioans would have these retroactive payments before Christmas,” said ODJFS Director Douglas Lumpkin. “We realize how important unemployment compensation is to Ohioans who have bills due and families to feed.”
As a result of the legislation, more Ohioans will be able to collect unemployment compensation 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 additional weeks of compensation beyond the 99 weeks currently available.
Claimants with questions are encouraged to visit www.unemployment.ohio.gov or to call 1-866-962-4064 toll-free. Operators are now available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on New Years Eve, when the ODJFS offices will be closed.[[In-content Ad]]