Ohio in the midst of big changes to unemployment benefits system

DAYTON — Right now, the State of Ohio is in the middle of going through big changes to its unemployment benefits system. Two kinds of COVID-related jobless benefits ended last week – and a third is ending next week.

This month, News Center 7 has introduced our viewers to people getting money from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, or PUA Program, here in Ohio.

The PUA Program involves federal money sent out the door by the State of Ohio to people who are independent contractors, self-employed or part-time workers out of work.

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Those groups are not eligible for traditional jobless benefits in Ohio.

Cheri Crothers, of Springfield, got weeks of PUA benefits, without issue, until suddenly she saw her payments slashed from her originally-approved amount of $400 a week to about $85.50 weekly. She also got a letter in the mail that said she was on the hook for close to $10,000.

“I owe the state roughly – let’s see – right now about $9,770. That’s my problem,” Crothers told News Center 7 in an interview earlier this month.

The same thing happened to Kristen Evans in Springfield. She got stuck with a nearly identical bill after seeing her PUA benefits reduced after weeks of no issues.

“It changed my benefit amount from $582 a week to $268 and said that was retroactive,” Evans told WHIO in an interview last week. “So that went back to the first week of April when I started. (Now I owe the state) $9,848.”

Wednesday, News Center 7 asked Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director, Kim Henderson, what she’d say to people across Ohio and the Miami Valley who are already struggling and now having to deal with this problem?

“I deeply regret that there’s this additional challenge,” Henderson said. “As you say, wholeheartedly agree, it’s already a challenging time for many across the state.”

Henderson said part of the problem is the federal government let people self-certify their benefit amount initially in an effort to try and get quick approvals and money out the door faster to people out of work and in need.

But Henderson said the overpayments tend to happen when those same folks fail to provide documentation supporting their initial, higher weekly benefit amount within a 21-day timeframe.

In a statement sent to News Center 7, an Ohio Department of Job and Family spokesman said, “If a claimant has received an overpayment and is still claiming benefits, their weekly benefit will be offset until their overpayment is paid in full. Claimants may appeal if they disagree with the overpayment and submit additional documentation. All overpayment notices include instructions for how to appeal.”

Henderson and that spokesperson also both said that by federal law, PUA overpayments – which again, involve federal money – are not waivable. Henderson said the state’s hands are tied in those situations.

That ODJFS spokesperson added in a statement, “We have more flexibility to waive overpayments in the traditional unemployment system under state law, and we have been waiving overpayments when our agency is at fault. Our aim has always been to err on the side of Ohioans whenever possible.”

Federal funding from the CARES Act from Congress is drying up – it supporting extra jobless benefits here in Ohio.

At the start of December, Ohioans who were out of work had four options available for financial help.

People who exhausted traditional unemployment benefits could get pandemic emergency compensation. After that was up, they could apply for extended benefits. People who exhausted all three options could get benefits through the PUA Program.

Extended benefits and the PUA Program ended in Ohio last Saturday, December 12. Then, as of next Saturday, December 26, only traditional unemployment benefits will remain here in the Buckeye State.

Wednesday, News Center 7 asked Henderson whether she’s hopeful about another round of federal stimulus money to change that and potentially boost jobless benefit options in the state.

“We are keeping our eyes very closely on Washington,” Henderson said.

“Certainly through the balance of this week, you likely have heard that there’s a lot activity happening and we have some optimism. And we hope that congress will come to an agreement around how individuals can continue to be supported beyond our December 26 timeframe. We are keeping a close eye on it. We do know that we were hearing some bits and pieces around what some of those components could be that are being considered right now. And we do know that some of them may require some additional work on our end to reframe our program, the dollar amount may change, etcetera. How people determine eligibility, etcetera may change, but we are committed to working as quickly as possible to get whatever dollars out of the door that Congress entitles Ohioans to.”

Cox Media Group