How to Sign Up for Unemployment in Shelby County, Ohio

Help is available if you lost your job in Shelby County, Ohio.

If you are unemployed in Shelby County, Ohio, you are not alone. As of March 2011, the unemployment rate was 9.9 percent in Shelby County, according to Ohio Department of Job and Family Service unemployment ranking report. The Office of Unemployment Compensation recommends signing up for unemployment benefits as soon as you lose your job. Since unemployment compensation is administered by the state, the process for filing an unemployment application is the same in all Ohio counties. Apply for unemployment benefits by telephone or online.

Instructions

1. Gather the following information required to apply for unemployment benefits in Ohio: your driver's license or Ohio state-issued ID number; your Social Security number; your full name, residential address, phone number and email address; the names and contact information of your employer(s) from the past six weeks; why you are unemployed; and work authorization information if you are not a U.S. citizen. If you are claiming dependents, provide each dependent's name, Social Security number and birth date.

2. Apply online at the ODJFS website. Click on "How to Apply for Unemployment" on the left side bar. Click on the online application link provided on that page and follow the prompts for applying online.

3. File a telephone application at 877-644-6562, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Press 1, when prompted, for assistance with your unemployment application. Applicants must call on the correct day of the week, based on last name: Monday is A through I, Tuesday is J through L, Wednesday is M through S, Thursday is T through Z and anyone may call on Fridays.

4. Wait to hear from the Ohio's Office of Unemployment Compensation after you have filed your application. The department sends information on how to proceed in obtaining your benefits through email or regular mail.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have access to the Internet and wish to apply online, visit a Shelby County public library branch and use the computers there, or go to the One-Stop Center, 227 S. Ohio Avenue in Sidney.

• The online application system undergoes regular maintenance each night. Services may be limited during these times.

References

• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Unemployment Compensation Claim Information
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Unemployment Compensation FAQs -- Filing an Application for Benefits
• Shelby County Libraries: Library Locations
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; Ohio-certified One-Stop Centers by County; February 2011
• Ohio Labor Market Information: Ranking Report -- Ohio Unemployment Rates by County March 2011

Resources

• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Welcome to Ohio Unemployment Compensation