Is It Too Late To Apply For Unemployment Insurance
If you’ve been laid off or furloughed, you can apply for unemployment benefits in your state. Once the state approves your claim, you can apply to receive whatever state benefits you’re entitled to. Because states cover 30% to 50% of a person’s wages, there isn’t a single sum you could expect on a national basis. Each state’s unemployment insurance office provides information to file a claim with the program in the state where you worked. Some claims may be filed in person, by phone or online, so it’s best to contact your state’s office directly.
Eligibility criteria vary from state to state, but the general rule is that you should apply if you’ve lost your job or been laid off through no fault of your own, including if it was due directly or indirectly to the pandemic. You can check on your state’s requirements here. In February, the Department of Labor updated its unemployment eligibility requirements to include people who refused to return to work due to unsafe coronavirus standards.
As for self-employed workers and freelancers who are losing PUA coverage, some online groups are calling to extend pandemic unemployment programs through the crisis and offer more information.
You might also want to know about the IRS issuing refunds to those who were taxed on their 2020 unemployment benefits. And here’s an important primer on the 2021 enhanced child tax credit, which is offering millions of families extra money in advance of next year’s taxes.
Brunner: Dewine Appealed To Run Out The Clock
By: Susan Tebben– September 2, 2021 12:40 am
Days before the benefits are set to expire, the Ohio Supreme Court sided with Gov. Mike DeWine in a case questioning his power over unemployment payments, declining a motion for a quicker decision.
Ohio residents Shawnee Huff, Candy Bowling and David Willis sued the DeWine administration after he announced the state would no longer be participating in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, funded through the CARES Act.
DeWine justified ending the supplemental unemployment, which was created due to the economic damage the COVID-19 pandemic had inflicted on the country and the state, by saying the $300 weekly addition made Ohioans less likely to want to go back to work.
He cited positive trends in the Ohio economy, including a current low unemployment rate of 4.7 percent and the increasing number of vaccinations in the state, the Tenth District Court of Appeals wrote in their own decision in the case on Aug. 24.
The Ohio resident filing the lawsuit against DeWine said they used the standard unemployment benefits, along with the supplemental benefits, for household expenses like rent, food and medical expenses after being laid off from their jobs.
They argued DeWine had overstepped his authority by cutting off the federal funds from getting to Ohioans, and that the extra funds would boost the state economy by $98 million.
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Cares Enhanced Benefits In Ohio
Under the CARES act, the following federally funded enhanced unemployment assistance was made available.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance : expands eligibility for individuals who are typically ineligible for Unemployment benefits, for example, independent contractors, self-employed, and gig workers.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation : provides an additional 13 weeks of Unemployment benefits to all recipients. On July 6th, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, announced that an additional 20 weeks of benefits will be available to those individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment and the 13 weeks of the PEUC
At this time, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation , which provided individuals with an additional $600 per week, has ended . However, if your claim eligibility dates between March 29th and July 25th you will receive this benefit.
In many states, the increase in COVID-19 related unemployment has triggered the Extended Benefits program providing an additional 20 weeks for those who have exhausted all other state and federal benefits. The activation of Extended Benefits is due to the high unemployment rates in Ohio. As of July 23rd, the ODJFS had received over 1.5 million claims
The unemployment rate, which topped out at 17.6% in April, went down to 13.9% in May and is predicted to drop to 10.9% in June.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
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If Your Application For Unemployment Benefits Is Denied
If you are denied unemployment benefits, you can appeal the decision. You only have 21 days from the date the denial notice was mailed to submit a written request for appeal. If your written request is late, your appeal will be denied.
The same is true if you receive an over-payment notice. If you receive an over-payment notice, file an appeal within 21 days.
If your application for unemployment benefits is approved, is also possible for your employer to request reconsideration or argue that you are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. If your employer asks for reconsideration, you will receive notice of this. If you lose the reconsideration, you have 21 days from the date the notice was mailed to submit a written request for appeal. If your written request is late, your appeal will be denied.
Ohio Ordered To Address Appeals Of Unemployment Benefits Denials Within 21 Days
CINCINNATI – Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown has ordered Ohio to follow state law and address all appeals of unemployment benefits denials within 21 days.
William Hummel, 21, of Columbus, was one of the millions of Americans who became unemployed during the pandemic, forcing him to file for unemployment benefits.
Hummel appealed an April 5 determination that he was not eligible for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance .
Hummel says neither happened in that time frame, so he sued the state.
Throughout this pandemic, our attorneys have spoken with so many people that have found themselves in evictions, waiting to hear back on unemployment compensation benefits and pandemic unemployment assistance, said Karin Nordstrom, Hummels attorney.
Court documents show the state argued that Hummels redetermination was delayed due to the sheer volume of applications during the ongoing global pandemic.
The court determined there is no exception to the law.
It could mean the difference between evictions and putting food on the table and keeping utilities on, Nordstrom said.
According to the lawsuit filed by Hummel, his appeal was granted June 7, 59 days after his appeal.
FOX19 Now Investigates reached out to ODJFS to find out the percentage of current appeals that the agency has not responded to in 21 days.
ODJFS said they are working on getting that percentage to FOX19 NOW.
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Eligibility For Unemployment Benefits
To qualify for unemployment, you must:
- Be unemployed “through no fault of your own.” This means that if you quit or were fired for “just cause,” it is likely that you will not be able to get unemployment benefits. If you were laid-off or the business you worked for closed, it will likely count as being unemployed “through no fault of your own.”
- Have worked at least 20 weeks and earned enough money at a “covered” employer during the “base period” of your claim.
- A “covered employer” means that you worked for a business that pays unemployment taxes to the state. Most employers are “covered,” but some, like small family businesses or religious organizations, might not be.
- Your “base period” is a year-long period that starts at a certain time in the last year based on the date that you are applying for unemployment. See the base periods for 2020 here.
- You must have earned an average of at least $269 per week.
- If you have gotten unemployment benefits before, you must have worked at a new job that meets all the requirements above since you stopped receiving benefits.
Ohio Unemployment Claims Up Some Calling For Extra Unemployment Benefit Return
DAYTON, Ohio The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services reports that unemployment claims have significantly gone up in recent weeks. The reports show 10,900 Ohioans filed unemployment in the last week, over 400 more than the previous week.
10s of thousands hundreds of thousands of Ohioans whove been hit by this. We dont always see their struggles publicly, but Ive seen a few of them myself and its unfortunate, said Ohio Policy Matters Researcher Zach Schiller.
These numbers come after Governor DeWine ditched the extra $300 dollars of unemployment benefits, over a month earlier than planned. This decision has caused multiple people to sue him.
There are people who have significant health issues, or immediate family members have significant health issues, who feel exposing themselves particularly in front line kind of jobs could be hazardous, said Schiller.
With a Were Hiring sign hanging at the front of their business, Lock 27 Brewery and Bar in Downtown Dayton had to find ways to be creative during the pandemic.
We were actually offering, back in house staff. a 4 dollar an hour pandemic pay bonus. That benefit has now ended, but anybody who was hired before 4th of July is actually seeing that benefit through end of October, said Lock 27 Brewery and Bar Sales and Products Manager Colin Barnhart.
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Odjfs Latest News And Status On Pua Peuc And $300 Fpuc Payment Schedule/issues
The Department of Labor has issued formal guidelines for states to implement the latest extensions. The ODJFS has rolled-out all of the extensions under the ARP program and has begun issuing the supplemental weekly $300 payments to active claimants. Key updates include:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
The extended weeks under the PUA program have now been rolled out and individuals will be notified via email when the additional weeks have been added to their accounts. In order to ensure expanded eligibility, three classifications have been added for PUA claimants when applying for benefits. Claimants must select one of the three reasons above when they apply for PUA benefits:
- Those previously receiving traditional unemployment benefits who refuse to return to work or refuse an offer of work because the workplace is not in compliance with local, state, or national health and safety standards directly related to COVID-19.
- Those who provide services to an educational institution or educational service agency and are fully or partially unemployed as a direct result of COVID-19.
- Those who are laid off or had their work hours reduced as a direct result of COVID-19.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
The extended weeks to week ending September 4th, 2021 have now been implemented and available to eligible claimants.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation
Other Extensions implemented as part of ARPA bill
Ohio Will End Extra 300 In Federal Unemployment Benefits
Ohio Will End Extra 300 In Federal Unemployment Benefits
. Aug 26, 2021 · the state has filed an appeal with the ohio supreme court in the case over its decision to end the extra $300 a week in additional unemployment benefits in late june. attorney general dave yost is asking the ohio supreme court to reverse a . Sep 08, 2021 · the state has filed an appeal with the ohio supreme court in the case over its decision to end the extra $300 a week in additional unemployment benefits in late june. it’s the latest step in the fight over the federal money issued as extra help during the pandemic. statehouse correspondent andy chow reports. the state has filed an appeal with the ohio . Aug 26, 2021 · the state has filed an appeal with the ohio supreme court in the case over its decision to end the extra $300 a week in additional unemployment benefits in late june. it’s the latest step in the fight over the federal money issued as extra help during the . Aug 18, 2021 · ohioans hoping to restore $300 per week in federal covid 19 unemployment benefits brought their case to the 10th district court of appeals wednesday. at the heart of the case is .
Ohio Has Started Issuing 300 Extra Unemployment Benefits
Many States Ending 300 Federal Unemployment Benefits
Five Red States Look To End 300 Weekly Unemployment
$300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Ending Soon In Ohio
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Case Over Ohio’s $300 Weekly Unemployment Checks Sent Back To County Court
The fight to bring back the $300 weekly additional checks to unemployed Ohioans remains up in the air after an appeals court decided to send the case back to a county judge.
Advocates to revive the pandemic unemployment assistance say this gives reason to start sending the weekly checks again.
The 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court’s decision to deny reinstating the additional unemployment assistance is based on an analysis that is “incomplete.”
The appeals court says the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas did not address two factors in the case “unjustifiable harm to third parties or any public interest served by the injunction.”
Zach Schiller with Policy Matters Ohio says there’s still hope the additional $300 a week will be paid out retroactively.
“I would certainly hope that there could be some benefits that could be paid out beyond those that expire on September 4,” Schiller said.
But Attorney General Dave Yost is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reverse the appeals courts decision.
The state argues that Gov. Mike DeWine had the legal right to stop accepting the federal funds for the program.
Ohio stopped accepting the federal dollars to pay out the checks at the end of June. Gov. Mike DeWine said vaccines and other protection measures were in place that allowed people to go back to work.
In ending those checks, DeWine said the coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures make it safe for people to return to work.
Pandemic Hardship Is About To Get A Lot Worse For Millions Of Out
By Jeffrey Kucik, University of Arizona and Don Leonard, The Ohio State University
Millions of unemployed Americans lost pandemic-related jobless benefits as of Labor Day just as surging cases of coronavirus slow the pace of hiring.
In all, an estimated 8.8 million people stopped receiving unemployment insurance beginning on Sept. 6, 2021. Millions more will no longer get the extra US$300 a week the federal government has been providing to supplement state benefits.
But with the pandemic still raging thanks to the rise of the delta variant, particularly in Southern states, the expiration of these benefits seems ill-timed. While some claim that the aid is no longer needed and doing more harm than good, webelieve that the data tell another story.
Benefits lost
Three federal programs created to support workers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns expired on Sept. 6:
All told, the end of these programs may affect 35 million people when you include families of the unemployed.
Dropping aid didnt boost jobs growth
Critics of these federal supplemental benefits claim they reward Americans for not working by offering more in aid than theyd get from a job. This is why many Republican governors opted to drop out of one or more of the federal programs in recent months.
We see Help Wanted signs everywhere, Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little said on May 11, 2021. We do not want people on unemployment. We want people working.
Jobless Americans still need support
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Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services Early End To Extra $300 Weekly Benefits 2021 Pua And Peuc Extensions Remain News And Updates
The unemployment systems and payments for Ohioans is under the purview of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and is funded from the Ohio Unemployment Trust Fund. The money in the fund comes from a tax that employers pay the state. For the past year state unemployment insurance payments have been supplemented by several federally funded pandemic enhanced unemployment benefits programs that were approved across multiple COVID relief stimulus bills. You can see more on each of these below.
Loss Of Federal Unemployment Aid May Cost Ohio More Than Help It
Quiet East Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland on a summer Saturday in August 2020.
CLEVELAND, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines decision to cut off $300-a-week federal unemployment supplements to jobless Ohioans will prevent an estimated $1 billion infusion into the economy this summer.
Thats a whole lot of taxpayer dollars that wont be available for discretionary spending — or to pay bills, buy food or provide for other necessities of life.
How can that be a good thing?
Its not, if you talk with those who believe the payments should continue, including one expert who says $1 billion could translate to an overall economic impact of more than $1.6 billion. But ending the payments could be a good thing, say others, if forgoing the money does what its designed to do wean the jobless off unemployment and restart sectors of the economy jammed up by a lack of willing workers.
The question is, will that be the case? DeWine and others suggest that it will, but a recent report by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco suggests that it wont.
First, the math.
The $300-a-week federal pandemic unemployment compensation will end June 26 by DeWines order, even though Congress has authorized the extra payments through Sept. 4. More than 20 other states have taken similar steps.
We then multiplied that number by 10, which is the number of weekly payments the state will forgo, to come up with $982,662,000.
Or nearly $1 billion.
Is that a lot of money?
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“The federal government does not allow benefit payments to be made for weeks of unemployment after Sept, 4, even if you have a balance left on your claim at that time,”according to California’s Employment Development Department.
The so-called benefits cliff will impact more than 11 million people who are poised to lose aid entirely or see a smaller check each week, according to estimates from the Century Foundation.
Federal lawmakers passed legislation twice in the past year to avert a benefits cliff, so another extension seems unlikely.
“I don’t think there’s any appetite for that,” Urban Institute labor economist Wayne Vroman said. “I think given the strength of the recovery and the labor market recovery, there’s basically no possibility of that happening.”
If Congress doesn’t act, federal benefits will cease for the self-employed, gig workers, long-term unemployed and others typically ineligible for state benefits. A $300 weekly benefit supplement will also end.
Twenty-six states ended federal benefits in June or July, well before their Labor Day cutoff.
The state governors, primarily Republican, cited labor shortages, claiming enhanced benefits were keeping people from looking for work. Research published in recent weeks suggests benefits played a muted role in any lack of workers, however.
