Important Information About Ohio’s Unemployment Benefits

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits in the state of Ohio, the claimant (employee filing the claim), must meet the following criteria:

• Must be an employee (independent contractors/1099 employees do not qualify)
• Must have either quit with a good reason or been terminated without a good reason. If the employee quit without a reason or the employer was justified in firing the employee, then the employee will not qualify.

In addition, the claimant at the time of filing must:

• Be unemployed
• Have worked at least 20 “qualifying weeks” of “covered employment” within the “base period”
• Have earned an “average weekly wage” of $213

Each of these terms (qualifying weeks, covered employment, base period, and average weekly wage) are defined by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

Once a claim is filed, both the employee and employer answer questions regarding the termination or quit, which are sent to ODJFS.

• The director makes an initial decision to grant or deny benefits.
• If the decision is appealed by either party, then a redetermination is made.
• If the redetermination is appealed, then the matter is transferred to the Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission (UCRC) for a hearing.
• The hearing officer’s decision can appeal to either the UCRC board or the Common Pleas Court of the county in which the claimant resides.

Get Help With Your Claim

Contact Justin C. Miller Esq. to get the skilled assistance you need to navigate Ohio’s claims process. You can reach the firm online or at 330-931-3281.