100,000 jobless facing unemployment benefit changes 100,000 jobless facing unemployment benefit changes

Thousands of Ohioans could see their extended unemployment benefits cut short as early as this spring as the federal government pares back the duration of benefits from an unprecedented 99 weeks.

Congress last week reauthorized extended benefits through the end of the year for millions of unemployed Americans, including about 100,000 in Ohio.

The federally funded benefits are paid in tiers after claimants exhaust their regular 26 weeks of state jobless benefits.

Extended benefits are also triggered by state unemployment rates, and Ohio’s unemployment rate has declined steadily during the past several months to 8.1 percent in December. If unemployment remains stable, by March the state will no longer be eligible for the final 20 weeks of extended benefits, affecting about 19,000 claimants, according to the state jobs department…

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