Unemployment Compensation 

in Ohio:

Protecting a Critical Safety Net

for Working Families and the Economy

This report by Policy Matters Ohio and National Employment Law Project finds that Ohio’s unemployment compensation (UC) system provides significant assistance to jobless workers, including a $2 billion net boost to the state’s economy between 2001 and 2003. However, the system has critical shortcomings. Workers in Ohio must earn more than those in almost any other state in order to qualify for UC. A minimum-wage worker working 35 hours weekly and making $9,373 in 2004 is ineligible for benefits in Ohio. The report finds that extending UC eligibility to individuals working at least 20 hours per week and at least 20 weeks per year at the minimum wage or more (roughly $100/week) would expand potential UC eligibility by 352,000 individuals, or an additional 6.8 percent of the total Ohio workforce. The September 2004 report also reviews other obstacles facing part-time workers who apply for UC. It explains how the financing of the system could be improved and makes other recommendations for enhancing this important part of the safety net.

 

 

Update on Eligibility for 2006

 

Update on Eligibility for 2005

 

Press Release - September 2004

 

Executive Summary

 

Full Report

 

National Employment Law Project Website

 

 

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Ohio sits on $331 million designated to help poor

Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 7, '05

 

Lowest-paid Workers in Ohio Don't Quality for Jobless Benefits

Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 2, '04

 

How Ohio Mistreats its Low-Income Workers

Cleveland Free Times, October 13, '04

 

Fair Use Notice

 

 

Read the Policy Matters Ohio 2001 Report: Unemployment Isn't Working