Job & Family Services Unemployment Compensation FAQ's
Unemployment Compensation FAQ's

Establishing Eligibility for Unemployment Compensation Benefits  (cont.)
  

Notification of Benefits:

      
If the required 20 qualifying weeks and average weekly wage requirements are met, will the application be allowed?
 
Yes. ODJFS will determine the weekly benefit amount, the total benefits payable, and the beginning date of the applicant's benefit year. However, if a previous benefit year was established, he/she must have had six weeks in employment and earned three times the average weekly wage in the prior benefit year since that benefit year began before an application may be allowed
    
If the application is allowed, will the applicant receive benefits?
        
Not necessarily. The allowance of an application means only that the applicant had sufficient qualifying weeks and wages. After an application is allowed and the applicant files a claim for a week of unemployment, the agency must determine if all of the eligibility requirements for that week are met. An applicant will not receive benefits for the duration of his/her unemployment if he/she: was discharged for just cause in connection with the work or if he/she quit without just cause.
     
How does the applicant know if he/she has met the eligibility requirements?
 
The applicant will be mailed a "Notice of Determination of Unemployment Compensation Benefit Rights" form that reports whether he/she met the monetary requirement (weeks and wages). If the requirement is not met, the notice will report that the application is disallowed and explain the reason. If the requirement is met, the notice identifies the total amount of benefits and the period of time over which benefits may be paid. But this does not mean the applicant will receive benefits! The notice merely explains what the applicant will receive if the nonmonetary requirement (unemployed through no fault of his/her own) is met and he/she maintains eligibility when filing weekly claims.
 
The applicant will be mailed a second notice, called the "Determination of Unemployment Compensation Benefits." This form will tell the applicant if the reason for unemployment was "nondisqualifying" or "qualifying." If the reason is "disqualifying," the form will advise the applicant that benefits are suspended and will list the requirements that must be met before receiving unemployment benefits.
 
     If the applicant disagrees with either determination, he/she may file an appeal for redetermination.
      
What is meant by duration of unemployment?
 
"Duration of unemployment" is the full period of unemployment after a disqualifying separation from an employer. This period continues until the applicant becomes employed at another job. An applicant may requalify for benefits if he/she obtains another job in covered employment, works at least six weeks, and earns wages equal to six times the minimum average weekly wage for that year. In 2012, this amount is $1,332.00. Once again, the applicant's unemployment must have been for a lack of work or some other nondisqualifying reason. The written decision that suspended the payment of benefits for the "duration of unemployment" also explains the requirements to requalify for benefits.
    
Are there other requalifying requirements after a disqualification?
 
Yes. There are specific requalifying requirements for the following circumstances.
 
  • Domestic: If the applicant quit to marry; to care for a spouse, child, parent; or to relocate with his/her spouse to another city, the requalification requirements are not as stringent. Instead, he/she must earn wages in covered employment equal to half of his/her average weekly wage, or $60.00, whichever is less.
  • Between-terms: The law imposes a special "between-terms" disqualification on certain college and school employees. They cannot be paid benefits for any week of unemployment which begins during the period between two successive academic years or terms.
  • Between-seasons: Professional athletes cannot receive benefits for weeks of unemployment between two successive sports seasons.
  • Seasonal: Applicants employed by one "seasonal" employer may receive benefits only if unemployed during the employer's season.
     
When does the individual receive the first benefits check?
 
The earliest an unemployment check can be mailed is during the third week of unemployment. The check is issued only if the applicant: met all the eligibility requirements; submitted the first claim card; and met the weekly eligibility requirements.
    
Why are no benefits paid for the first week of unemployment?
 
Ohio law requires that each applicant serve a one-week waiting period after filing an initial claim for unemployment benefits. This is called the "waiting week," and it must be a week in which the applicant met the weekly eligibility requirements.