It's a frustrating existence as a laid off worker
without
the incredibly frustrating combination of a pandemic and an influx of newly unemployed people in a system that wasn't prepared for them.
In the past few days, I've fielded a lot of calls regarding unemployment. I have some answers, but when I don't have those readily available, I'm passing the information on to those who need to know.
Here's an answer I've been told repeatedly: "We don't have an answer for that yet, because we are still building the system to handle it."
It's true that patience will be needed to be unemployed in today's day, but it's equally accurate that patience is in short supply - and running shorter each day.
With that in mind, I reached out to Ross County Job and Family Services to ask them a few questions. You'll find a link to an FAQ they supplied below.
One that isn't answered is common: I keep calling the Unemployment number to check on my claim, but the message says the call volume is too great and to check back later, before disconnecting. What do I do?
The easy answer is you have to keep trying. Yes, it's frustrating and time-consuming. Try doing it on off-peak hours. For example, it's open 24/7, so maybe try it early in the morning (think like 2 a.m.). You can also send an email to
UI_Respond@jfs.ohio.gov
to create a paper trail you can reference later.
Here are a few select ones:
Q:
Are self-employed individuals and contractors eligible for unemployment benefits?
A:
Updated: Currently, self-employed individuals and 1099 contractors are not eligible for unemployment benefits. However, Governor DeWine has asked the federal government to implement a Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program. DUA programs are sometimes implemented after natural disasters and offer benefits to individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment. For continuing updates, please visit
http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm
.
Q:
When will I know if I will receive unemployment benefits? When could I receive my first payment?
A:
We are working as quickly as possible to process a record number of claims. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a determination. The determination will state whether you qualify for benefits. If you qualify, and if you chose direct deposit, your first payment will be deposited into your account within a few business days. If you chose debit card, it will take a few days longer. All benefits will be retroactive to the date you first qualified. Remember that to receive payments, you also must file weekly claims.
