These 11 categories of workers qualify for expanded unemployment program

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The state of Ohio today started accepting pre-applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. 

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provides up to 39 weeks of benefits -- similar to traditional unemployment, plus $600 a week through July 25 -- to people who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment.

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The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services lists 11 circumstances that make someone eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

To qualify, someone has to meet one of the following circumstances:

1. The person has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or is experiencing symptoms and is seeking medical diagnosis.

2. A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

3. The individual is providing care for a family member or member of the household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

4. A child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 emergency, and the school or day care is required for the individual to work.

5. The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a COVID-19 quarantine.

6. The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because a health care professional has advised him or her to self-quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns.

7. The individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of COVID-19.

8. The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.

9. The individual has quit his/her job as a direct result of COVID-19.

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10. The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19.

11. The individual was laid off as a direct result of COVID-19 and does not qualify for regular unemployment benefits.

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