Please complete
the Submit
a Question form or call your processing center or 1-877-644-6562 (1-877-OHIO-JOB) to request a 1099 form. You will need this form to file your taxes.
No. If you would like to file unemployment claims
online, please use a different browser, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
If you claimed traditional unemployment, PEUC or EB benefits within the last 12 months but then stopped claiming benefits, and you remain unemployed, go to unemployment.ohio.gov. Click “Employee,” “Unemployment Login,” “I agree,” and “Login.” When you reach the page titled "Ohio Unemployment Benefits - Main Menu," click on the button for "Restart your claim for Benefits effective with the week beginning SUNDAY of the current week." After you submit the application, remember to continue filing weekly claims while you wait for your determination.
Note that you should not restart your claim if you had other sources of income during the week you intended to claim, and you earned more than your previous unemployment benefit amount. If that is the case, you will not be eligible for a benefit.
If more than 12 months have passed since you last received benefits, you will need to submit a new application for benefits.
- If your claim shows as "allowed" but your weeks are showing as "denied," you will need staff assistance. Please call (877) OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) or TTY at (888) 642-8203.
- If your claim shows as "pending," this means we are still processing it, and there is nothing more you need to do. If you received a confirmation number, rest assured your claim is in process, and you will receive the full amount to which you are entitled.
- If your claim shows a determination of "0-0" while it is pending, this means we are still processing your claim, and there is nothing more you need to do. If you received a confirmation number, rest assured your claim is in process, and you will receive the full amount to which you are entitled.
- If your claim shows as "denied," each claim is different, but it could have been because you earned more money than your weekly benefit amount or because you did not select "yes" that you were physically able and available to work or.
When you file your weekly claims, be sure to confirm that you were available to work and physically able to work. Answering that you were unable to work because your place of business was closed due to COVID-19 is not what the question is asking. Selecting "No" to these questions may result in your weekly claims being denied. If you believe your claim was denied in error, you may file an appeal. Please see your determination letter for instructions on how to file an appeal. - If when you submit a weekly claim you are asked to answer additional questions, please respond immediately as this will help expedite processing.
- If your payment shows as "paid" and a date is listed, this means you should receive payment in your account or on your debit card within 24 to 48 hours after that date.
- If your payment shows as "paid" and the amount is listed as $0, this means you should receive payment in your account or on your debit card within 24 to 48 hours. Once the payment is finalized, the amount will be updated.
- If your payment shows as "pending," this means we are still processing it, and there is nothing more you need to do. If you received a confirmation number, rest assured your claim is in process, and you will receive the full amount to which you are entitled.
- If your payment shows as "break in claim," you need staff intervention. Please call (877) OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) or TTY at (888) 642-8203. Breaks in claim can occur if you tried to reopen a claim, but you earned more than your previous weekly benefit amount.
- If your payment shows as "pay held," this could be for any of several reasons. If you are working part-time and received holiday pay or if you previously worked for a school or educational employer and are between terms, information will be needed from your employer before you can receive benefits.
Often, communications from scammers look very official. They instruct people to click on a link to obtain prize money or some kind of benefit. In reality, they're trying to trick people into providing their personal information. ODJFS does not send these types of emails. If you receive a notification that seems suspicious, and it asks you to give some personal information, don't click on any links. You can call your processing center or 1-877-644-6562 (1-877-OHIO-JOB) to see if it's legitimate.
The program was intended as temporary relief for many Americans at a time when the virus was having the greatest impact on our economy. Ohio is in a much better place now, with an abundant supply of vaccines and many available jobs. The remaining federal pandemic unemployment programs and benefits ended on September 4, 2021.
Continue filing your application or weekly claim. However, before your claim can be processed, you will need to provide the requested documentation necessary to verify your identity.
You will receive a confirmation email, but there may be a brief delay. Please do not submit another report. Thank you for your patience.
We apologize for your difficulties. The high claims volume has slowed processing times, but our unemployment team is working hard to process claims and distribute payments as quickly as possible. They are adding more customer service representatives. In addition, all benefits will be retroactive to the date claimants became eligible.
Please know that each claim is important to us. We understand the frustration the website and call center issues have caused during what is already a stressful time. We also understand the urgency of providing Ohioans with the resources they need to support their families. We are grateful for everyone's patience as we build our capacity to process this unprecedented number of claims and assist all the Ohioans who need help.
We have seen errors related simply to web browsers. Please try clearing the cache/history in your web browser and try filing one more time. If you do not know how to clear the browser cache, an internet search mentioning your browser by name (e.g., Firefox, Safari, Chrome, etc.) should provide helpful results. Also please do not use the "back" button on your browser.
Once you file your application for unemployment, you cannot claim a week of benefits until the week has ended on Saturday at midnight. Instructions for claiming your first week are included on the New Claim Instruction Sheet, which all claimants receive after their applications are processed. Please note that unemployment benefits will be retroactive to the time that you became eligible. Any delays in submitting an application will not affect the benefit amount you will receive.
For the time being, you should continue with the application process using your former name. At the same time, you will need to submit proof of your name change, such as a copy of your Social Security card or your marriage license. You can send it either via email to UI_Respond@jfs.ohio.gov or by fax to 614-466-7449. It is recommended that you also include your former information in addition to the new information when sending in your request for a name change.
Our apologies for that. You will need to either speak to an agent or else get help via the website’s chat feature. Call center hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number is 877-644-6562.
You will need staff assistance to update your email address. Please call (877) OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) or TTY at (888) 642-8203. Agents are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
If you stop submitting claims for your weekly benefits, or if you earned more than your weekly benefit amount, you may need to restart your claim.
To restart your claim, log into your account at unemployment.ohio.gov during the first week you are unemployed or the first week that you have gross earnings less than your weekly benefit amount. If you wait more than seven days to restart your claim, you may lose benefits for any weeks of unemployment that occur before the restart date.
If unemployment benefits appear in your bank account as being paid, but you did not receive them, you should take the following actions:
1. Call the unemployment office at 1-877-644-6562 (1-877-OHIO-JOB). If you have not already done so, they can help you change your PIN number. This will allow you to correct your banking information and begin the process of re-verifying your identity so that you can again receive benefits owed to you. The verification process may take some time, but we are working to minimize delays.
2. Print, complete, and return the “Application for Unemployment Payment Replacement” that will be provided to you. After you complete this application, you must sign it in the presence of an authorized notary public. Many banks and other businesses offer notary public services, including many businesses that provide financial services, automobile title transfers, and shipping services. Your bank or public library may offer this service for free. After the application is notarized, please return it to the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations by email, fax, or U.S. mail. The application provides instructions for how to do so.
If you choose to return the completed notarized form by email, you will have to scan or photograph it first. The notary information and seal must be legible, or you will have to resubmit the document. Also note that the ODJFS email server is secure. However, we cannot guarantee the security of the document transmission from the originating email server to our secure email server. Please be cautious when sending from a public or non-secure location.
After we receive your notarized response, we will conduct an investigation and make a determination. If your application is approved, you will receive the funds that were paid but which you did not receive. If it is denied, you will have the opportunity to file an appeal. Please be aware that it may take several weeks for us to complete an investigation, due to the volume of requests and the rigorous measures necessary to verify your identity.
3. Notify the FBI by making a report at IC3.gov. This will allow bureau investigators to notify the appropriate federal, state, or local law enforcement officials so that they can attempt to track down the individuals responsible for the theft.
To view your payment history, select "View Claim Summary/Payment History" from the main menu under "Claim Details".
We have found no evidence of hacking of ODJFS systems. Typically, an account takeover involves criminals obtaining individuals' personal information from other sources and then using it to log into their victim's account to change information such as bank routing numbers.
ID_VERIFICATION@jfs.ohio.gov is a legitimate email used by ODJFS to collect information necessary for the agency to verify your identity. Stringent security protocols are in place for all ODJFS email accounts. These help ensure that information you provide will be kept secure. Please be aware that criminals are using sophisticated attacks to attempt to steal your information. If you receive texts or emails that say they're from ODJFS, carefully review all links to make sure they match official ODJFS links. Also check to see whether any email and web addresses match the actual underlying hyperlinks. To do this, hover your cursor over the links or right-click on them.