• Says July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has added 20 weeks of extended benefits to eligible Ohioans who have exhausted both maximum 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

“We will soon begin notifying individuals who may qualify to instruct them how to apply. We are happy that we can offer this extra support for Ohioans who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who are having difficulty finding work.” said  Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Hall in response to the extension.

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed on March 27, 2020, created three new federal programs for Americans who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to many who historically have not qualified for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed workers, 1099 tax filers, part-time workers, and those who lack sufficient work history. Individuals who have exhausted all regular unemployment and any federal and state extensions also may be eligible.

PUA is available through December 31, 2020. To be eligible, individuals must not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and must meet one of the following circumstances:

• The individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or is experiencing symptoms and is seeking medical diagnosis.

• A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• The individual is providing care for a family member or member of the household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

• A child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary care-giving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 emergency, and the school or care is required for the individual to work.

• The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because a healthcare professional has advised him or her to self-quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns.

• The individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of COVID-19.

• The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.

• The individual has quit his/her job as a direct result of COVID-19.
• The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

FPUC provides an additional $600 a week to existing benefit amounts for those in multiple programs, including but not limited to regular unemployment benefits, PUA, Trade benefits, and SharedWork Ohio benefits. The first payment includes any retroactive payments claimants may be eligible for. This payment is available from April 4 through July 25.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

PEUC provides up to 13 weeks of additional benefits for Ohioans who exhaust their maximum 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. This program also began on March 29; it will end on December 26. Those who are eligible will receive instructions for how to apply.

Meanwhile, Governor Mike DeWine said July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

“To address the threats COVID19 poses to Ohio’s minority communities, our Minority Health Strike Force is providing recommendations on pandemic-related concerns and long-standing health disparities,” said Governor DeWine

(Learn more: https://bit.ly/3fL5k5G)