How Do I Check the Status of My Unemployment Claim with the Ohio Office of Unemployment Compensation?

Due to one reason or another, you may find yourself in the worst of dilemmas; you're unemployed, but you still have to survive. What next? When faced with such troubling times, you may seek solace in Government institutions tasked with handling such matters. For Ohio unemployed residents, the Ohio Office of Unemployment Compensation is the place to start.

Unemployed persons may be eligible for Ohio unemployment benefits if:

• They are unemployed by no fault of their own, according to Ohio Law.

• If before unemployment, they earned at least a minimum wage

• They are actively searching for work and available for the same.

If you qualify for the above, you may apply for unemployment benefits online.

The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS)

Filing for benefits is more comfortable and convenient when done at the unemployment.ohio.gov website (the official site for ODJFS). You may have access to multiple services once you create your account, including:

• Filing weekly claims

• Finding a job

• Appealing a claim

• Checking the status of your unemployment claim

You may follow the steps below when checking the status of your benefits:

• Open the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website

• On the top of the screen, click on the "Unemployment" tab, and you'll land on the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations page

• The page will display four sections: Unemployed workers, Employers, Useful links, and Treasury Offset Program. Under Unemployed workers, click on "Check the Status of an Unemployment Claim."

• The system will direct you to a "Release of Information" page that requires you to agree with the terms under which your social security information will be used. Select "I Agree"

• You'll be directed to the Claimant Login Page. Submit your social security number and pin on the relevant boxes then click "Login" ( Use the pin you created when filing your first application)

• Once you're logged in, you can check a summary of your claim on the Claimant homepage

Processing your first payment will begin after you get eligibility determination and file your first weekly claim. In Ohio, you may receive benefits for a period not exceeding 26 weeks. There may be delays in processing, but you'll still receive your total benefits.

The earliest you can expect to get your first payment is the third week after filing your unemployment insurance benefits application. According to Ohio Law, you should serve a one week waiting period once you've filed a new application and met all eligibility requirements.

During this period, you'll receive no benefits, even if you're only unemployed for a single week. Don't wait to file for your waiting week; it may just harm your claim!

The department offers two payment methods:

• Direct deposit to savings or checking account

• U.S bank ReliaCard Visa debit card

It's advisable to always check the status of the funds in your account before submitting your report to overdraft charges due to insufficient funds; the agency will not cater for such costs.