President Obama has signed a law extending unemployment compensation benefits so that eligible jobless Ohioans may receive up to an additional 20 weeks of benefits. This new law will offer relief to the more than 26,000 jobless Ohioans who have exhausted all other available extended unemployment compensation programs.
"The current economic conditions remain extremely challenging for thousands of Ohioans," said Douglas Lumpkin, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). "We are pleased Congress and the president recognize that many are still struggling, and that they have taken this step to help."
The new legislation authorizes up to 14 additional weeks of extended unemployment benefits for claimants in all states, and another 6 weeks of extended benefits for claimants in states such as Ohio with high unemployment rates. Ohio is one of 27 states that qualify for the additional six weeks of benefits. In September, the state's unemployment rate was 10.1 percent.
Within the next few weeks, Ohioans who may be eligible for this extension will be notified of how to apply. ODJFS has begun the necessary system reprogramming so that these benefits can be delivered as quickly as possible. Eligible claimants will receive payments retroactive to the week of November 8.
