PUA Payments Resume After Ohio Updates Systems

COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than 134,000 Ohioans are again eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Monday, as the state completed upgrades to its systems.

Pandemic unemployment assistance provides compensation to business owners, the self-employed, independent contractors and others who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment compensation. 

Eligible applicants will receive backpay from Dec. 26. New applications are also being accepted now.

“Time has been of the essence as we worked to implement the programming necessary to provide these benefits,” said Ohio Department of Job and Family Services director Kimberly Henderson in a statement. “Those eligible will receive all benefits they are entitled to, in addition to the new weekly $300 supplemental payments available to all unemployment insurance beneficiaries through recent federal legislation.”

The renewal of pandemic unemployment assistance extends the program for 11 weeks, or 50 weeks total. The new system put in place by the Department of Job and Family Services allows claimants to receive benefits for a portion of those extended weeks.

People affected by the update have been notified and can log into their accounts, file claims and receive payments.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.