The federal stimulus legislation that created the pandemic unemployment programs expired across the nation in early September 2021. In Ohio, this happened on September 4, 2021. For summaries of the programs that were available, please see below. For frequently asked questions regarding these programs, please visit unemployment.ohio.gov/expandedeligibility. Click here to view an infographic overview of the federal pandemic unemployment programs.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

The PUA program supported self-employed individuals, independent contractors and others who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment benefits. Individuals not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits were potentially eligible for PUA. This included those whose earnings in their previous wages averaged less than $280 per week. Click here to view the full list of circumstances in which individuals were potentially eligible. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 made it possible to receive PUA for up to 79 weeks through September 4, 2021.

Update:  If your PUA claim is under appeal or pending approval after September 4, 2021, you may be eligible for retroactive payments. In addition, new PUA applications will continue to be accepted through Wednesday, October 6, 2021, but only for weeks of unemployment prior to September 4, 2021. Individuals in this situation must call the PUA Call Center at 1-877-644-6562 for assistance.  

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

PEUC benefits were an extension of traditional unemployment benefits. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 made it possible to receive PEUC for up to 53 weeks through September 4, 2021.

Update: If your PEUC claim is under appeal or pending approval after September 4, 2021, you may be eligible for retroactive payments. In addition, new PEUC applications will continue to be accepted through Wednesday, October 6, 2021, but only for weeks of unemployment prior to September 4, 2021. Individuals in this situation must call 1-877-644-6562 (1-877-OHIO-JOB) for assistance.  

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

FPUC provided an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants in multiple programs, including but not limited to those receiving traditional unemployment benefits, PEUC, SharedWork Ohio, and PUA. This supplement was available in Ohio through the week ending June 26, 2021. However, claims under appeal or pending approval, after June 26, 2021, were potentially eligible for retroactive payments.  

Employer Benefits

The federal legislation provided the following benefits for employers through September 4, 2021:

• Extended full federal funding for Ohio’s SharedWork program.
• Authorized 75% credits to reimbursing employers for traditional unemployment benefit charges.
• Authorized full federal funding of the first week of traditional unemployment benefits, instead of 50%.
• Extended the waiver of interest to states whose Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds require federal borrowing.

Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 created the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program for eligible traditional unemployment claimants who also earned at least $5,000 in self-employment wages during the taxable year immediately before their approved unemployment application. MEUC provided a supplemental benefit of $100 per week, in addition to the FPUC supplement, for qualifying weeks of unemployment claimed between December 26, 2020, and June 26, 2021.

Last Updated: January 24, 2022