If you live in Ohio and were affected by the sudden stop in federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic, there is some good news finally coming your way. Thanks to a new court decision, thousands of Ohioans may now be able to recover up to $300 per week in benefits that were cut off early.
This ruling could mean money back in your pocket—especially if you were depending on those benefits back in 2021 when the program was unexpectedly ended. Let us walk through what this all means for you and who is eligible.
Who is eligible to receive unemployment back pay in ohio?
If you were one of the 320,000 Ohio residents receiving Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits before they were cut off in June 2021, you could be eligible for back payments.
Here is what you need to know:
- You must have been approved for federal COVID-related unemployment benefits at the time
- You likely missed out on up to 10 weeks of benefits—worth about $3,000 total
- The court ruling may allow you to recover this unpaid money
This case is still developing, but if you were affected, there is hope that you will finally get what you were promised.
Why did ohio cut off unemployment benefits early?
Back in 2021, Governor Mike DeWine made the decision to end Ohio’s participation in the federal unemployment program early. The program offered an extra $300 per week on top of regular unemployment payments.
According to the state, the reason for ending the benefits was to encourage people to return to work. However, many unemployed Ohioans were left struggling to make ends meet.
This move sparked major backlash—and led to a lawsuit that is now changing the conversation around what workers are owed.
What did the ohio court decide?
A state appeals court ruled that Governor DeWine had a legal duty to ensure Ohioans received all benefits made available under federal law.
In his decision, Judge M. Shawn Dingus said:
“DeWine had a legal duty as governor to guarantee to this state and its citizens all the benefits available under the provisions of the Social Security Act relating to unemployment compensation.”
He also made it clear that just because time has passed does not mean it is too late to recover the money.
How much could you get from the reinstated benefits?
If the ruling stands and no appeal changes the outcome, you could be looking at:
- Up to $300 per week in missed benefits
- A possible total of $3,000 per person
- A share of $900 million in total benefits that Ohio may have to distribute
Marc Dann, former Ohio attorney general and the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, put it simply:
“The governor, for some reason, is fighting hard to keep $900 million out of the hands of Ohio’s poorest residents at a time when they would likely be spending all that money with Ohio businesses.”
What happens next and what you can do
Right now, Governor DeWine still has the option to appeal the ruling to the Ohio Supreme Court. Until then, there is no official word yet on when or how the payments will be made.
In the meantime, here is what you can do:
- Keep an eye on updates from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Gather any paperwork or proof from 2021 showing that you were receiving unemployment benefits
- Talk to a legal aid office if you are unsure about your eligibility
This decision could be a turning point for many Ohio families who struggled during the pandemic and deserve the support they were promised.
Related article:
Can’t pay your taxes? Here’s how to set up an IRS payment plan
