IMPORTANT INFORMATION
for Reimbursing Employers

When to file an application for unemployment benefits
You should file your application as soon as you become unemployed. Your claim will begin the Sunday of the calendar week in which it is filed. Waiting more than a full week to file your application will postpone the beginning of your claim, and no benefits will be paid for weeks of unemployment that occur prior to the week of filing. Even if you need to serve the required waiting week or you are receiving separation pay from your employer, do not hesitate in filing your application for unemployment benefits.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
for Parents With Child Support Orders

If you have a child support order in Ohio and you have encountered a lay-off or plant closing, you may already qualify to have your child support case reviewed and adjusted.

For more information, please visit the Ohio Office of Child Support website at: http://jfs.ohio.gov/Ocs/index.stm

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("stimulus package") created a temporary Federal Additional Compensation (FAC) program which allows states to pay an additional $25 for each week that an individual is eligible to receive unemployment compensation. This $25 payment is retroactive to the week of February 22-28, 2009.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services began generating these retroactive adjustment payments on May 8, 2009.

On April 1, 2009, Ohio law was amended. Individuals may now receive up to 20 weeks of state-extended benefits after their federal-extended benefits expire, for a total of up to 79 weeks overall. These benefits are known as "Ohio Extended Benefits, or Ohio EB". The first payable week of Ohio EB is the week beginning March 15, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("stimulus package") makes the following changes to unemployment compensation (UC) benefits:

1. Extends the last possible effective date, for establishing eligibility to the federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits, to the week of December 20-26, 2009.

2. Increases the weekly benefit payment by $25. Eligible individuals will automatically receive an adjustment (reflective of the increased benefit amount) retroactive to the week of February 21-28, 2009, as soon as the system is reprogrammed.

3. Suspends the first $2,400 paid in unemployment benefits from Federal income tax for tax year 2009 only. This adjustment will be made when the individual files his/her 2009 federal tax forms.

For further information please check the Extended Benefits FAQ page.

Filing for unemployment compensation benefits is a free service. The State of Ohio is aware some companies are charging a fee to file your unemployment claim for you. Please be advised these companies are NOT affiliated with the State of Ohio and are therefore not subject to the same laws regarding your privacy and the confidentiality of your Unemployment claim.