How to File for Unemployment in Ohio
How to apply for unemployment in Ohio, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: Apply as soon as you are out of work, online any time at unemployment.ohio.gov or by phone at (877) 644-6562 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). ODJFS, Unemployment Benefits: General Information
| How to apply | Apply as soon as you are out of work, online any time at unemployment.ohio.gov or by phone at (877) 644-6562 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, your employers from the last six weeks, and dependent information ready. File weekly claims after that. Claims must be filed within 21 days, or payment may be denied. |
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| Earnings needed to qualify | You must have worked in covered employment for at least 20 qualifying weeks in your base period, with an average weekly wage of at least 27.5% of the statewide average weekly wage. The statewide average is recalculated each year. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not qualify that way, an alternate base period of the four most recent completed quarters is used. |
| Work search requirements | You must actively look for work. ODJFS requires at least two work search activities per week, a written record of your search, registration on OhioMeansJobs.com, and the reemployment activities listed on your New Claim Instruction Sheet. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) runs its unemployment system at unemployment.ohio.gov. Existing claimants log in through the "existing claimant" login, using their OH|ID (Ohio's single state account) to sign in and verify identity, then file weekly claims for each week they are unemployed. A week can't be claimed until it ends Saturday at midnight. ODJFS lists 1-877-644-6562 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) for applying by phone. Step-by-step guide: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/pdf/QuickTipsAndStepByStepGuide.pdf |
Where to get help in Ohio
More Ohio unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Ohio Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Ohio
- Unemployment After Being Fired in Ohio
- Unemployment After Quitting in Ohio
- How Much Unemployment Pays in Ohio
- All Ohio unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in Ohio?
Apply as soon as you are out of work, online any time at unemployment.ohio.gov or by phone at (877) 644-6562 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, your employers from the last six weeks, and dependent information ready. File weekly claims after that. Claims must be filed within 21 days, or payment may be denied.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Ohio?
You must have worked in covered employment for at least 20 qualifying weeks in your base period, with an average weekly wage of at least 27.5% of the statewide average weekly wage. The statewide average is recalculated each year. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not qualify that way, an alternate base period of the four most recent completed quarters is used.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Ohio?
You must actively look for work. ODJFS requires at least two work search activities per week, a written record of your search, registration on OhioMeansJobs.com, and the reemployment activities listed on your New Claim Instruction Sheet.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Ohio?
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) runs its unemployment system at unemployment.ohio.gov. Existing claimants log in through the "existing claimant" login, using their OH|ID (Ohio's single state account) to sign in and verify identity, then file weekly claims for each week they are unemployed. A week can't be claimed until it ends Saturday at midnight. ODJFS lists 1-877-644-6562 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) for applying by phone.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.