Now, as many of those workers file for unemployment benefits with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, they’re finding website malfunctions, phone lines with hours-long hold times or no access to answers from a live ODJFS employee and other roadblocks.
ODJFS says that their office has increased capacity and call center employees as it tries to respond to a historic wave of unemployment applications. The department points out that since the crisis began, it has paid out almost $32 million to 105,000 claimants.
A number of applicants CityBeat spoke to said they experienced an array of difficulties in applying for or receiving benefits. Some couldn’t log on to various parts of the website. Others were sent notifications that they had urgent communications on the ODJFS website but could not access them. Still others got notification that they received payments, but that those payments did not come in the mail or were not deposited in the accounts they designated for direct deposit.
A number of other applicants have taken to social media saying they have experienced similar issues.
More than 187,000 people applied for unemployment benefits in Ohio last week — likely a record number. And the claims just keep coming, ODJFS says.
“One day this past week we had our highest one-day total of initial jobless claims ever filed,” ODJFS spokesman Bret Crow said. “The number of claims doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Ohioans are experiencing a slow system trying to keep up with demand, just like every other online claims system across the country, so we are asking filers and callers to be patient.”
To respond to the crush of new applicants, the state has beefed up its servers for the ODJFS website. That site was designed to accommodate 1,200 users at the same time. It can now handle 24,000 at a time, Crow says.
The department has also reassigned 300 employees to answer phones. This month, ODJFS has received more than 1.7 million phone calls. Last month, it saw just 112,000.
The process is also streamlined, ODJFS says. Those laid off due to economic issues related to COVID-19 can use a mass layoff number — 877-644-6562 — to file an expedited claim. And applicants filing unemployment claims won’t have to show proof that they’re looking for work during the crisis.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said today during a public briefing that the state is working as hard as it can to keep up with the demand.
“On the end that we’re control of, while it’s been slow, it hasn’t gone down and has been functional,” he said of website upgrades. “That is part of the challenge that we have. We’re adding capacity.”
Husted encouraged Ohioans to be patient and persistent in seeking benefits.
“Even if you get delayed in this, your eligibility will be backdated to the time you were eligible and you will receive all of the benefits you are eligible to receive when you filed,” Husted said.
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2020.
The same commenter above wishing death on others. What’s is like to be so deranged that you desire death for others because you dont like what they say?
^^^ 1. He did not desire your death, he used HIS free speech to postulate two theories about how WE would be better off. 2. Maybe he was offended by your disrespect to all the people who have died from coronavirus related illnesses, i.e. SARS, MERS, and now Covid-19, you know, the one you called the common cold…
When this mess is finally over, where will these millions that the state has given out come from to refill their coffers???
You guessed it, If you think our already outrageous taxes aren’t high enough, just wait until all these agencies demand more and more of your hard earned tax money!!!
^^Dude,,,you have to be the biggest crybaby I’ve ever seen on this site,,,,,how’s that 5g and your mobile phone working out?
Ok, grizz65 and Artful dodger, you’re probably right. It’s absolutely as the governor, lying media, and trump says. There’s absolutely no agenda behind the shutdown other than keeping you and the unwashed masses safe.
Oh no YOU must be correct,,,,the hundred of thousands of people dying from this world wide is all just a hoax,,,,right?
The biblical plagues, the Black Death, the 1918 flu, the 1950s polio epidemic, AIDS…they all had an “agenda” behind them. When you use the a-word, it means you’re low on ammo. Whatta loser you are…
Why didnt they have this we worked out from the “Event 201” pandemic simulation project they did last year? They worked out all the other stuff, like forced quarantine, mandatory vaccines, check points, military deployment, and surveillance but they forgot about the unemployment program I guess.
You also left out the allocation of resources, like masks and ventilators, bright boy, and the increased production of same. What asshole are you getting all your secret information from? Your own?
Secrets are only secrets when you travel in groups that lie to you. Open your mind and your eyes to the possibly that “Orange Man Bad” because he bad for career Politicians and Globalists.
…but I know I know, everyone else that’s living in a failed Communist/ Socialist Society is just doing it wrong.
…and when the US goes Communist you’ll be the one in charge of something cool,ike designing the Military Uniforms or something.
Why dont they have the national guard or all those army guys man the phones over there at the unemployment office and get these claims filed?
You lost me at Globalist. I never even made it to the word Communist.
Time to turn off commenting @scene
I bet mr. 5g is a Brenie Sanders fan. Go out and socialize with those that follow your bs,,get close to each other,,,thin the heard for us please
To please God! You don’t have to read them and there you are commenting yourself. Facist!
ummm idk whats going on with this site and ppl beefn with 1 another……Does ANYONE KNOW HOW ON EARTH TO GET AHOLD OF A LIVE AGENT ON THE PHONE ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT IN OHIO? THANKS AND GOD BLESS