Lack Of Childcare No Reason To Not Return To Work, ODJFS Says

The state of Ohio has not been denying jobless benefits for COVID-19 related reasons, such as concerns about contracting coronavirus on the job or being ordered to quarantine. But that is changing for workers who don’t have child care.

Nearly 33,000 people in the Buckeye State filed for unemployment in the last week, bringing the total to well above 1.3 million jobless claims. Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has paid out more than $4.1 billion in jobless benefits already this year – more than has ever been paid out in a year.

ODJFS Director Kim Hall said an executive order allows for benefits to continue for people who can’t telework and are in a high-risk category: are over age 65, have evidence of a health or safety violation by their employer, or have proof that they had to quarantine or are caring for a family member with COVID-19.

But she adds: “Refusing to return to work because of a child care issue was not included in the executive order.”

The refusal is appealable.

Hall said those workers can apply for the federal pandemic unemployment assistance program for people who don’t qualify for regular unemployment benefits. Ohio has paid more than $2.1 billion in federal pandemic unemployment assistance to more tha 262,000 people who don't qualify for traditional unemployment.

Ohio’s child care facilities were allowed to reopen May 31, with limits on total number of kids and strict rules on health.

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