While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Ohio’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here. Click the tab labeled “What to Expect After Applying” and scroll down to “When will I receive my first payment?”
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Ohio, you must:
You can learn more about Ohio’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment here. Click the tab labeled “Unemployment Eligibility.”
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Claims can take up to 21 days to be processed.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Ohio, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Ohio’s Unemployment claim portal.
You must file on your designated filing day, which depends on the first letter of your last name. See the chart below to find your designated filing day.
| If Your Last Name Begins With… | File on This Day |
|---|---|
| A – H | Sunday |
| I – P | Monday |
| Q – Z | Tuesday |
| Any | Wednesday |
| Any | Thursday |
| Any | Friday |
| Any | Saturday |
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, you can call (877) 644-6562. You cannot apply for benefits in person, but you can visit your local OhioMeansJobs Workforce Center to use a computer to complete the application process. To find an office in your area, use the OhioMeansJobs office locator tool here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM at:
For more information about the application process, click here.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Ohio. To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Office of Unemployment Operations multiplies the average weekly wages you earned during base period by .5 percent.
The maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA) in Ohio is $480 if you have zero dependents, $582 if you have one or two dependents and $647 if you have three or more dependents.
To learn more about how benefits are calculated, you can refer to page 19 of The Ohio Worker’s Guide to Unemployment handbook.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, unlike many other U.S. states, Ohio does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you filed for unemployment.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application on page 12 of this handbook.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification on page 12 of this handbook. File your Weekly Certification Applications here. To file weekly claims by phone, call (877) 644-6562 toll-free Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
It’s important to remember that your Unemployment benefits may be denied or delayed if you do not file your weekly certification.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. You must file within 21 days of the date the determination was issued.
You can file your appeal online through the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations online benefits system between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily. You can find the Ohio online benefits system here.
You can file an appeal by mail or fax with the processing center listed on your determination letter. You can reach any of the processing centers by fax at (614) 466-7449 or by mail at:
P.O. Box 182212
Columbus, OH
43218-2212
If you have questions about the appeals process or require assistance, you can call the toll-free appeals line at 1 (877) 574-0015 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
Learn more about appeals here.
If you have general questions aboutOhio Unemployment Benefits, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center at 1 (877) 644-6562.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center is available Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, except for observed holidays.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Ohio Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center at (877) 644-6562.
If you have questions about your Unemployment Insurance application, you must contact the processing center for your specific claim. Claims are divided among processing centers based on your Social Security Number (SSN). Use the table below to find the correct phone number for your specific claim inquiry.
| Last 4 Digits of SSN | Location | Phone Number |
| 0000-0765 | Cleveland Adjudication Center | 1-866-576-0006 |
| 0766-1942 | Akron UI Delivery Center | 1-866-768-0022 |
| 1943-2649 | Lorain UI Delivery Center | 1-866-849-0029 |
| 2650-4121 | Toledo UI Delivery Center | 1-800-589-2799 |
| 4122-4710 | Chillicothe Adjudication Center | 1-866-244-0399 |
| 4711-6005 | Marietta Adjudication Center | 1-866-867-0044 |
| 6006-7182 | Youngstown Adjudication Center | 1-866-221-0558 |
| 7183-7477 | Dayton UI Delivery Center | 1-866-541-0187 |
| 7478-7701 | Interstate and Federal | 1-866-217-0008 |
| 7702-8360 | Columbus UI Delivery Center | 1-866-217-0008 |
| 8361-9999 | Lima Adjudication Center | 1-866-272-0118 |
| 0000-9999 | Columbus Adjudication Center (Interstate & Federal Claims | 1-866-458-0007 |
You can reach any of the centers listed above by fax at (614)-466-7449 or by mail at:
P.O. Box 182212
Columbus, OH
43218-2212
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center is available Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, except for observed holidays.
You may need to contact your local unemployment office for specific application questions or assistance. Ohio has workforce centers in all 88 counties across the state. To find an office in your area, use the OhioMeansJobs office locator tool here.
To find more information on Ohio Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online or by phone:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Ohio, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Ohio’s Unemployment claim portal.
You must file on your designated filing day, which depends on the first letter of your last name. See the chart below to find your designated filing day.
| If Your Last Name Begins With… | File on This Day |
|---|---|
| A – H | Sunday |
| I – P | Monday |
| Q – Z | Tuesday |
| Any | Wednesday |
| Any | Thursday |
| Any | Friday |
| Any | Saturday |
To apply for Unemployment Insurance by phone, you can call (877) 644-6562. You cannot apply for benefits in person, but you can visit your local OhioMeansJobs Workforce Center to use a computer to complete the application process. To find an office in your area, use the OhioMeansJobs office locator tool here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM at:
For more information about the application process, click here.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your claim by logging into the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations online benefits system here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Ohio Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations at 1 (877) 644-6562.
Unlike many other U.S. states, Ohio does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits the day after they lost their job.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you became eligible.
You must also file a Weekly Certification Application and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification on page 12 of this handbook.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. You must file within 21 days of the date the determination was issued.
You can file your appeal online through the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations online benefits system between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM daily. You can find the Ohio online benefits system here.
You can file an appeal by mail or fax with the processing center listed on your determination letter. You can reach any of the processing centers by fax at (614) 466-7449 or by mail at:
P.O. Box 182212
Columbus, OH
43218-2212
If you have questions about the appeals process or require assistance, you can call the toll-free appeals line at (877) 574-0015 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
Learn more about appeals here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center at 1 (877) 644-6562.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ customer service center is available Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Saturdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, except for observed holidays.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
