Unemployment Crisis

Ohio Inspector General report reveals possible criminal activity inside Ohio’s unemployment office

Updated: Nov. 19, 2021 at 7:53 AM EST

By Jason Scott

One of the accused is from Cincinnati.

Unemployment Crisis

Ohio Supreme Court to decide whether or not Ohioans were shorted unemployment benefits

Updated: Nov. 9, 2021 at 4:05 PM EST

By Jason Scott

It could be several weeks before a ruling is made.

Fraud

Ohio unemployment overpayments increased to $5.4 billion

Updated: Nov. 4, 2021 at 5:17 PM EDT

By FOX19 Digital Staff

An audit released previously put that number at $3.8 billion.

Unemployment Crisis

Ohio unemployment system misallocated $3.8B during pandemic, audit finds

Updated: Oct. 28, 2021 at 9:24 AM EDT

By Jason Scott and Brian Planalp

1 in 4 dollars paid out through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services was a mistake.

Account Takeover

Ohio woman gets unemployment benefits 17 weeks after being approved

Updated: Oct. 8, 2021 at 5:16 PM EDT

By Chris Riva and Brian Planalp

Donna Sayre was one of thousands of Ohio claimants victimized by cyberhackers.

Account Takeover

Unemployed Ohioans with stolen benefits can soon get them back

Updated: Sep. 29, 2021 at 12:45 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

If approved, restitution will be made, and if denied, information on appeals rights will be given.

Unemployment Crisis

Outdated systems, overwhelming claims caused failure of Ohio’s unemployment system, state auditor says

Updated: Sep. 23, 2021 at 10:41 AM EDT

By FOX19 Digital Staff

'It’s time to fix this mess and provide Ohioans with an unemployment system that is responsive to their needs and secure against the crooks that exploit its weaknesses'

Accountability

ODJFS Director offers message to unemployed Ohioans: ‘We’re not finished yet, we’re not going to rest’

Updated: Sep. 17, 2021 at 5:42 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

On Friday, FOX19 NOW Investigates was able to talk with Ohio Department of Job & Family Services Director Matt Damschroder.

The System

US Labor Secretary talks federal plan to fix Ohio’s unemployment system

Updated: Sep. 16, 2021 at 5:17 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

How can states reduce fraud? The Biden Administration bets modernized websites and technology will help.

Account Takeover

Ohio couple fighting to get back unemployment benefits they say were stolen

Updated: Sep. 15, 2021 at 4:25 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

It's been months since she was approved and yet, her benefits have not arrived.

Local Radar

Account Takeover

Ohio lawmakers call for transparency, accountability in state’s unemployment system

Updated: Sep. 8, 2021 at 5:33 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

At issue are unemployed people who have gotten their benefits stolen by hackers who gained access to their benefits by changing bank routing numbers and redirecting the funds.

Unemployment Crisis

Ohio repays $1.5B federal loan for insolvent unemployment system

Updated: Sep. 1, 2021 at 6:54 PM EDT

By Chris Riva

The loan kept unemployment checks flowing to beneficiaries in the Buckeye State during the pandemic.

Unemployment Crisis

Indiana court ruling won’t end extra unemployment payments

Updated: Aug. 17, 2021 at 1:25 PM EDT

By Associated Press

The state Department of Workforce Development said Tuesday those payments will continue because the state must give a 30-day notice that they will end.

The System

State council drafts recommendations for unemployment systems

Updated: Aug. 5, 2021 at 6:26 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

On Thursday, the council revealed its initial report with some drafted recommendations.

Unemployment Crisis

Hamilton County woman loses Ohio suit over $300/week unemployment benefits

Updated: Jul. 29, 2021 at 7:39 PM EDT

By Brian Planalp and Jason Scott

The plaintiffs intend to appeal.

The System

Ohio ordered to address appeals of unemployment benefits denials within 21 days

Updated: Jul. 28, 2021 at 5:42 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

The court determined there is no exception to the law.

The System

Will $300 weekly unemployment benefits return in Ohio?

Updated: Jul. 23, 2021 at 9:49 AM EDT

By Jason Scott

The fight to have Ohio pay back $300 weekly unemployment benefits, remains trapped in the court system.

Unemployment Crisis

Ohioans can now apply to keep overpayment of unemployment benefits

Updated: Jul. 13, 2021 at 11:08 AM EDT

By FOX19 Digital Staff

State unemployment officials have begun notifying individuals by U.S. mail or electronically.

Unemployment Crisis

Appeals court says Indiana should continue paying $300 weekly unemployment benefits

Updated: Jul. 12, 2021 at 3:50 PM EDT

By Jared Goffinet

Indiana previously announced it would end all federally funded pandemic unemployment insurance programs in June.

Account Takeover

Ohio unemployment office hamstrung on account hacks, stolen benefits

Updated: Jul. 8, 2021 at 7:26 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Brian Planalp

How long will claimants have to wait before they get their money back? ODJFS isn’t saying.

Unemployment Crisis

Hamilton County woman joins Ohio suit over $300/week unemployment benefits

Updated: Jul. 6, 2021 at 5:36 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

An Indiana judge’s ruling in a similar suit gives Candy Bowling hope she might see that money again.

Account Takeover

More victims speak up regarding Ohio’s unemployment thefts

Updated: Jul. 3, 2021 at 9:44 AM EDT

By Chris Riva and Jason Scott

More victims have spoken regarding fraud problems in the latest Ohio unemployment system.

Account Takeover

More hacking victims come forward in Ohio unemployment thefts

Updated: Jul. 1, 2021 at 8:31 PM EDT

By Chris Riva and Jason Scott

ODJFS reportedly refuses to accept blame for the account hacks, and it’s unclear whether it will pay the victims what they’re owed.

Account Takeover

Hackers stealing money meant for unemployed Ohioans

Updated: Jun. 30, 2021 at 5:00 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

Cybersecurity experts call the hack an account takeover or an account hi-jacking.

The System

Legislation wipes out Ohio’s unemployment loan

Updated: Jun. 29, 2021 at 2:32 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

If no action would have been taken, the state would have had to start paying interest on the loan in September.

The System

Legislation would wipe out Ohio’s unemployment loan

Updated: Jun. 23, 2021 at 2:44 PM EDT

By Jason Scott

New legislation would allow Ohio to use COVID-19 relief funds to pay off a loan it got from the federal government to help pay out unemployment benefits.

Northern Kentucky

Kentucky to offer bonus or incentive to get people back to work, governor says

Updated: Jun. 17, 2021 at 1:38 PM EDT

By Trevor Peters and Amber Jayanth

For now, he says the extra $300 pandemic unemployment insurance will stay.

Customer Service Problems

Call wait times drop, thousands of unemployment claims from March still not processed

Updated: Jun. 2, 2021 at 11:29 AM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

The average time people are waiting on the phone to reach a call center worker is 24 minutes. On May 28th, it was 48 minutes.

Customer Service Problems

Tri-State woman ordered to pay back thousands in unemployment benefits

Updated: Jun. 2, 2021 at 11:28 AM EDT

By Ken Brown

For 15 weeks she received unemployment benefits from the state. Then she got a letter, without explanation, saying she owed it all back.

Customer Service Problems

6 months, still no unemployment benefits for Tri-State woman

Updated: Jun. 2, 2021 at 11:28 AM EDT

By Jason Scott

She was furloughed on March 13 when restaurants were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unemployment Crisis

Kentucky auditor blasts state leadership for some unemployment problems

Updated: Jun. 2, 2021 at 11:27 AM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

FOX19 NOW Investigates revealed that as of the first week of February, there were more than 400,000 unread emails that were sent to the unemployment office.

Unemployment Crisis

Applying for unemployment in Ohio? Must prove job search

Updated: May. 24, 2021 at 7:24 AM EDT

By Drew Amman

During the height of the pandemic, the federal government allowed states to waive the job search requirement.

Unemployment Crisis

State working on policy for overpayment of non-fraudulent unemployment claims

Updated: May. 19, 2021 at 4:49 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

ODJFS has enlisted the help of former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers to try and recover any money that was paid out for fraudulent claims.

Fraud

Ohio paid more than $2.1B in unemployment fraud, overpayments since March 2020

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 6:01 PM EDT

By Jared Goffinet and Trevor Peters

The totals were released by ODJFS on Monday.

Unemployment Crisis

Kentucky to continue federal pandemic unemployment benefits

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 3:49 PM EDT

By Jared Goffinet

Gov. Beshear explained the extra benefits are helping with Kentucky's economic recovery.

Unemployment Crisis

Indiana ending pandemic-related unemployment benefits

Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 11:50 AM EDT

By Kim Schupp

Indiana will end its participation in all federally funded pandemic unemployment insurance programs.

Unemployment Crisis

Cincinnati business owners react to unemployment changes in Ohio

Updated: May. 13, 2021 at 11:09 PM EDT

By Amber Jayanth

The struggle to find workers has put a strain on some restaurants. Their owners hope Thursday’s announcement will change that.

Unemployment Crisis

Ohio ending extra unemployment benefits program in June, DeWine says

Updated: May. 13, 2021 at 1:49 PM EDT

By Jared Goffinet

The governor said the assistance was always meant to be temporary.

Unemployment Crisis

Indiana to reinstate work requirement for unemployment benefits

Updated: May. 7, 2021 at 5:25 PM EDT

By Brian Planalp

The state could also stop participating in the federal pandemic unemployment program.

Fraud

Audit shows Ohio Department of Job and Family Services knew about widespread unemployment fraud, did not alert state

Updated: May. 3, 2021 at 1:32 PM EDT

By Jason Scott and Chris Riva

Ohio's auditor says if fraud numbers had been revealed sooner, it could have saved millions of dollars and protected thousands.

Fraud

Unemployment claimants: Beware of scams including texts, fraudulent websites

Updated: Apr. 27, 2021 at 10:30 AM EDT

By FOX19 Digital Staff

ODJFS says there are two fake websites in question.

Unemployment Crisis

Kentucky reinstates job search requirement for unemployment benefits

Updated: Apr. 23, 2021 at 6:02 PM EDT

By Tori Gessner

Unemployed Kentuckians will soon be required to prove they are searching for work at least once a week in order to receive benefits, a rule that was waived by Governor Andy Beshear at the beginning of the pandemic.

Fraud

Ohio unemployment fraud claims dropping dramatically

Updated: Apr. 23, 2021 at 10:54 AM EDT

By Jason Scott

State unemployment officials say the average wait time on the phone is now less than 10 minutes.

Fraud

Kentucky audit shows unemployment employees accessed own claims

Updated: Apr. 22, 2021 at 6:30 PM EDT

By Tori Gessner

The audit also revealed 37 state employees filed for jobless benefits for “loss of a part-time job” despite being full-time employees of the commonwealth.

The System