Archived Messages

Ohio is partnering with LinkedIn to help you in your re-employment journey: You can use LinkedIn in addition to OhioMeansJobs to help meet your work-search requirements.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this resource, please visit our website at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/LinkedIn/index.stm where you can find out more.

This website, https://unemployment.ohio.gov, is the only place where you can file for unemployment benefits with the state of Ohio, read/reply to your correspondence, and maintain your unemployment account.

You may encounter other websites for unemployment claim filing services and pop-up advertisements for prepaid debit cards, such as NetSpend or GreenDot. These websites and services are not associated with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and are NOT required for you to receive unemployment benefits. The pop-up advertisements are related to your internet browser history. ODJFS will never ask you for your credit card number to use our services. To avoid identity theft, always use caution when providing personal or financial information.

Federal employees affected by the federal government shutdown can file for Ohio Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits if they are partially or totally unemployed due to the federal shutdown.

Federal employees who wish to file for unemployment insurance are encouraged to file with the state where the job is located not necessarily their resident state.

New Ohio UI claims may be filed online at https://unemployment.ohio.gov (*go to the “Unemployed Workers” section under the tab, “File/Appeal Benefits”), or those needing special assistance may call (877) 644-6562.

If individuals are paid Ohio UI benefits and later receive backpay for the same weeks, the UI weeks will be considered overpaid, and ODJFS will send a notice requiring repayment of the benefits.

Additional information regarding federal employee eligibility can be found here: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouc/News/UIGuidanceToFedEmployeesAffectedByTheShutdown.stm

While using our website to file applications or weekly claims, you may encounter pop-up advertisements for prepaid debit cards, such as NetSpend or GreenDot. These services are not associated with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and are not required for you to receive unemployment benefits. They are related to your internet browser history.

If you are a furloughed federal employee, please note that there are two ways to file for unemployment compensation: (1) from this web page, by clicking on "File/Appeal Benefits," from the green, Unemployed Workers menu above, or (2) by calling toll-free 1-877-644-6562 or TTY 1-888-642-8203, (excluding holidays) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you are furloughed, you may or may not qualify for unemployment benefits. However, if you believe you might be eligible, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you do receive benefits, and if Congress passes a law to retroactively pay you for the days you were off work, you would have to repay the benefit. If you have any questions, please call 1-877-644-6562.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is actively investigating a possible scam in which the perpetrators steal the identities of currently employed workers and then file unemployment applications in order to fraudulently collect benefits. Employers: If you receive a letter from ODJFS requesting employment-separation information, please be sure the request is not regarding someone you currently employ. If it is, please call the Office of Unemployment Compensation's Benefit Payment Control office at (800) 686-1555, option 1, to report the potential fraud and to receive further instructions. As a reminder, employers should always carefully review their benefit-charge statements and requests for information to ensure that they are accurate!

Having difficulties paying your mortgage? Call the Save the Dream Ohio Hotline at 888-404-4674. Save the Dream Ohio will connect you with resources in your area who can offer you counseling assistance during this difficult time. Homeowners may check the status of a previously submitted application by visiting www.SaveTheDream.ohio.gov or call 888-404-4674.

Federal 1099-G tax forms for unemployment benefits paid in 2015 are now available online. You can view and print your 1099-G from your correspondence inbox. In addition, this form will be sent by U.S. mail to the most current address on your claim. If you have moved since your last claim, please update your mailing information online by logging into your account or call 1-877-OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) and select Option #1.

We are currently experiencing high call volumes, with longer than normal wait times. To avoid long hold times, we advise you to file online by selecting "File/Appeal Benefits" above. You may file online any time Monday through Saturday, and your claim will be effective beginning the Sunday of the week you filed the application.

Welcome to Ohio's redesigned unemployment insurance website. Although the look and layout have changed, you'll find all the same great resources, in addition to many new features. We hope you enjoy the streamlined format!

Effective January 1, 2015, the federal government requires employers to report the following information to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• All work-related fatalities must be reported within eight hours.
• All in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and losses of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.

Employers may report these incidents to OSHA using one of the following methods:

• Call their nearest area office during normal business hours
• Call the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742)
• Report online at https://www.osha.gov/report_online

More information and resources, including a new YouTube video, can be found at https://www.osha.gov/

In order to best protect confidential and other important data, the ODJFS website will no longer support several outdated web browsers. Effective December 5, 2014, Internet Explorer 6 or older, Opera 4 or older and Netscape Navigator will no longer work on ODJFS sites that are https-enabled.

Ohio is collecting unpaid, fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). This program allows state agencies to collect outstanding debts by intercepting federal income tax returns.

In most cases, fraud occurs when people attempt to collect unemployment benefits while they are working or after they return to work. Fraud also can occur when people intentionally provide false information about the reasons they are no longer working, collect unemployment compensation from another state while also collecting from Ohio, or are not actively seeking work.

To avoid TOP collection, individuals will need to settle all outstanding unemployment debt with ODJFS or Ohio's Attorney General as soon as possible.

Beginning October 11, 2013, if you are scheduled to attend a reemployment service session in person or to complete a reemployment service activity, but you fail to do so by the scheduled date, your benefits will stop until you complete the required action.

• If you are scheduled for a reemployment service activity, you will be sent a Schedule Notice. Be sure to check your mail (email and/or US mail) on a daily basis so that you do not miss any important notices.


• If you miss an appointment, you will need to reschedule. If no immediate session openings are available, you may lose benefits for a week or more until another opening is available.

Please note that you are expected to attend reemployment service sessions or complete reemployment service activities just as you are expected to go to job interviews offered by employers. If you are unable to attend a session or complete an activity by the scheduled date, you must contact the local OhioMeansJobs Center listed on your Schedule Notice to reschedule.

The ODJFS Office of Unemployment Compensation has produced several new YouTube videos to help our customers better understand our services and their responsibilities. To view them, just click on the links below.

Unemployed Workers

• Unemployment Compensation Work Search Requirements


• Unemployment Compensation and 'Fraudulent Misrepresentation'


• OhioMeansJobs Services for Individuals

Employers

• Important Unemployment Compensation News for Employers


• Online Unemployment Tax Filing for Employers


• OhioMeansJobs Services for Employers

Watch for additional YouTube videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/OhioJFS.

The most common - and avoidable - overpayments occur when claimants return to work and fail to report it on their weekly claims.

Every week, claimants are asked: "Did you work or were you self-employed during the week being claimed?" If you worked but will be paid at a later date, you still must answer "yes" and provide the earnings for that week

Claimants who intentionally withhold information, or provide false information, in an effort to collect benefits have committed fraud.

Ohio law calls it "fraudulent misrepresentation" and the penalties include:

• Repayment of all benefits paid in error,


• Withholding unpaid amounts from future benefits,


• Ineligibility for two future allowable weeks of benefits for each fraudulent misrepresentation,


• Starting on October 21, 2013, a 25% penalty on all benefits paid due to fraudulent misrepresentation.

In addition, any unpaid balances are subject to federal and state income tax withholding.

Please properly report work and earning on your weekly claims. If you believe you may have incorrectly reported work and/or earnings, contact your assigned processing center, or call 1-877-644-6562, to speak with a customer service representative.

ODJFS is working hard to reduce improper payments to individuals that are ultimately found to be ineligible for unemployment compensation. But we can't do it alone. ODJFS relies on information from employers to help us determine whether someone is eligible for compensation.

Starting on October 21, 2013, it will be more important than ever for employers to respond promptly and completely to requests for information regarding unemployment claims.

Beginning on October 21, 2013, in accordance with Ohio House Bill 37, employers that repeatedly fail to respond promptly and adequately to requests for information may be charged for any benefits paid to individuals later determined to be ineligible.

These charges can lead to an increase in an employer's tax rate.

ODJFS is asking all employers to help reduce improper payments by responding timely and accurately to all agency requests for information.

Don't put your tax rate at risk. If you're not sure how to respond or what type of information to provide, please call us at 1-877-644-6562. We're eager to assist you.

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