Ohio to end $300 extra unemployment benefit

What once was considered a lifeline for unemployed Ohioans during the COVID crisis is being declared unnecessary and scheduled to be reeled-in on June 26.

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program provided $300 extra per week for people put out of work during the health emergency.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced at his Thursday briefing from the Statehouse that the payments are ending because the state’s economy is getting back to normal. DeWine noted that the Ohio unemployment rate has returned to pre-COVID levels.

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“This couldn’t go on forever. The federal government was going to end this. At least, unless they change their minds, they were going to end this in September. We’re moving it up a little bit. We think that’s the appropriate thing,” DeWine said.

Both DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said they believe the extra payment was leading people to stay at home on unemployment rather than return to work. House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, voiced the same opinion in a written statement released after the Governor’s briefing.

”Businesses are hiring, but many are stymied by lack of applicants. Our economy is growing stronger, but it is being held back by economic disincentives for individuals to return to work,” Cupp said.

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The decision, though, did prompt criticism from at least one Democratic state lawmaker. Sen. Teresa Fedor, D- Toledo said in a written statement that the move will “disproportionately harm workers in industries that have not recovered and women, especially those who have had to leave the workforce to care for young children.” Fedor went on to say “It will not speed up our state’s recovery and will instead only force families who are already struggling further into poverty.”

Earlier in the week DeWine reinstituted a requirement that people on unemployment must seek work every week. That had been temporarily suspended during the pandemic due to the lack of available jobs.

Cox Media Group