The Central Ohio Worker Center (COWC) advocates for low-wage, immigrant and other vulnerable workers in central Ohio. The current coronavirus crisis has resulted in tremendous job losses and reduced work hours for many workers in central Ohio. We are concerned that some central Ohio employers are giving their workers inaccurate or misleading information regarding their eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits. Specifically, some workers who have not received termination or layoff notices but are no longer being scheduled for work or have seen their scheduled hours greatly reduced are being told that they do not qualify for unemployment benefits because they have not been formally terminated or laid off. This is not true.
In Ohio, you may qualify for unemployment benefits if you are “totally” or “partially” unemployed at the time of filing. If you performed no service for your employer, and no earnings or income are payable to you during the week you apply for benefits, you are “totally unemployed.” If your employer lets you go before the end of your usual work week, or reduces your work hours to less than your full-time work and you earn less than the unemployment weekly benefit amount, you may be “partially unemployed” and eligible for unemployment benefits. If you are not called into work for a whole week, you are “totally unemployed.” If you are being called in for fewer hours, you are “partially unemployed” and should qualify for unemployment benefits unless your weekly earnings were too low (less than $269 per week). In any case, you should apply for unemployment compensation benefits so that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) can determine your eligibility and benefit amount.
ODJFS urges individuals to file unemployment claims online, if possible, at www.unemployment.ohio.gov. Those without Internet access or who have case-specific questions should call 1-877-644-6562 between 7 AM and 7 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays.