If your employer temporarily closes, or significantly cuts your hours and pay, you might become eligible for unemployment compensation. This should be treated as any other layoff due to a lack of work. As of today, you must have sufficient qualifying weeks of employment (i.e., 20 weeks during your base period with average gross earnings of $269 or more per week). That may change.

UPDATE: For current updates and changes regarding COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits, please review my other web page here: https://www.briansmithlaw.com/ohio-unemployment-and-covid-19-coronavirus

Waiting Week:

The first week of unemployment per benefit year is a waiting week. However, it is important to apply for benefits as soon as you become unemployed because that waiting week will apply to the first week you claim, not the first week you became unemployed.

Also, we do not know what the future holds. Right now, many places are closing for 2 weeks, but if that extends to 3, 4 or more you cannot go back to claim the weeks before you filed. Ohio's governor is predicting that the COVID-19 outbreak will not peak until the end of April or beginning of May. Remember, file your claim the moment you become unemployed/laid off.

If You Get COVID-19

One requirement for weekly benefits is that you have to be able to work. If you get COVID-19, you might not be able to work for a period of time and you will not be eligible during that time. That disqualification will be removed once you are able to work again.

Caring for Family and Children

If you are unable to work because you have to take care of your children, you may be disqualified. Ohio unemployment is clear that if you quit or are fired because you are unable to work due to family obligations, you will be disqualified.

These Rules May Change

These rules are subject to change. Ohio has been given the flexibility to make adjustments to its unemployment laws as a result of COVID-19, but as of today it has chosen not to do so.

UPDATE:

On March 15, 2020, the Governor announced an executive order will be issued making it easier for people to receive unemployment. More information will be shared once the executive order is made available. Here is the announcement:

The Governor will tomorrow issue an executive order, which will grant the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) with the authority to accept and grant requests for unemployment compensation suspending the normal 1-week waiting period.
This order will also give relief to applicants who are not offered paid leave through their job, as well as those who have been quarantined by a medical professional, their employer, or whose employers must temporarily close. Those who apply for unemployment under these circumstances will be exempt from the requirement that they be actively seeking work.