What To Know About Changes In Requirements For Unemployment Benefits

Those filing for unemployment in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana will have to prove that they are looking for jobs as the states change requirements.

From mid-March 2020 through Dec.1, the federal government authorized states to waive work-search requirements because of the pandemic. The programs were briefly extended, but they are now being lifted.

Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana all plan to reinstate work-search requirements for those collecting unemployment benefits.

Here's when those changes take place:

Ohio

Unemployed Ohioans will have to resume searching for work if they want to continue to collect unemployment benefits. The change applies to applications for benefits beginning the week of May23.

"Now that Ohioans have had the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and can safely return to work, it only makes sense that we restore work-search requirements for everyone," Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.

Allowable activities include applying for a job, attending a resume-writing course or creating and maintaining a re-employment plan on OhioMeansJobs.com.

Some workers will be exempt from the work-search requirements. That includes those on a temporary layoff of 45 days or less and workers in approved training.

Also, workers can meet their work-search requirement if they are members in good standing with a union hiring hall that refers its members to jobs. For those in approved school or training, their work-search requirement may be considered met if they are attending all classes and making satisfactory progress.

Kentucky

In a change that started May 9, Kentuckians seeking benefits will need to make at least one job contact each week and report those details when requesting their bi-weekly benefits.

Those who are out of work will be given a "reasonable" amount of time to find work at a comparable pay and skill level as their last job. Those who can't find such work will need to adjust their search, according to the state.

"Your adjusted work search may require you to look for a job that might pay less or located further away from your home than your previous commute," reads an unemployment office handbook for claimants.

According to the state, select groups of people aren't required to fulfill the work search requirement: Members of trade unions that find work for members; Students in an approved training program; Those who have a definite recall date within 12 weeks of an initial claim filing date; Those on a temporary leave of absence while still considered an employee; and those whose employer filed a mass electronic claim (an E-Claim) on their behalf.

Indiana

Gov. Eric Holcomb plans to issue an executive order early next week to reinstate the work-search requirement for claimants of unemployment insurance benefits.

He also said he asked the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to complete demographic analysis of unemployed Hoosiers over the past 16 months.

That information would be used to help determine whether Indiana would continue to participate in federal unemployment programs. The analysis also would include a comparison of the state's current workforce versus its pre-pandemic workforce.

"Our unemployment rate stands at 3.9%, which is near pre-pandemic levels, and our labor force mirrors pre-pandemic levels, when we also had worker shortages," the governor said in the statement. "We must concentrate on building the right pathways to match people with the skill sets employers need and to attract more people to join our workforce."

The Indy Star, Courier-Journal and Columbus Dispatch contributed to this article.