Skip to Main Content

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to close or significantly reduce their staff, leaving tens of thousands of people without work or a paycheck to depend on during the pandemic crisis. As a result, the State if Ohio has loosened unemployment rules to allow more people to apply for benefits and get help faster.

Loosened Unemployment Requirements:

Governor Mike DeWine issued an Executive Order waiving certain unemployment insurance (UI) requirements. Some key changes include the following:

• If an employee is in mandatory quarantine because of suspicion of having the coronavirus, they will be eligible for unemployment benefits.The executive order issued by Governor DeWine states that employees who are quarantined are considered to be unemployed.
• Unemployment benefits will be available for eligible individuals who are requested by a medical professional, local health authority, or employer to be isolated or quarantined because of COVID-19, even if they are not actually diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, the waiting period for eligible Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits will be waived.
• While individuals receiving unemployment benefits must still meet the weekly requirements that they be “able and available for work,” the requirement that they actively search for work while receiving benefits has been waived. By law, when an individual has been waived from the work search requirement, they are also exempt from completing their reemployment requirements.

How to apply:

• Apply online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at unemployment.ohio.gov.
• File by phone at (877) OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) or TTY at (888) 642-8203, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about whether you qualify, how to apply, etc. visit the Ohio JFS website.   

County Residents, including self-employed individuals:

Self-employed individuals who have experienced a downturn in their businesses due to COVID-19 may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. Please check with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for additional information.  Cuyahoga County is encouraging the public to use the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal to apply for food, medical, cash and childcare assistance as well as make changes or upload documents on existing food, medical and cash assistance cases.

• To apply, renew or report changes to food, medical, cash, or childcare assistance online, visit: benefits.ohio.gov.
• To apply by phone call 844-640-OHIO (6446). The Eligibility Contact Center is also available for the public to submit applications for food, medical, and cash assistance, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CJFS Eligibility Specialists are available to take applications, complete phone interviews, and make changes to existing cases.