The future of about $900 million in federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits for Ohio residents is still uncertain, even with a recent judge’s order to distribute the funds. During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the federal government provided an extra $300 per week for unemployment benefits on top of what states were already providing. However, Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, terminated that program 10 weeks earlier than its scheduled end in September 2021, therefore giving up roughly $900 million in benefits. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, a Democrat, took legal action over these payments, claiming that DeWine had no authority to end the benefits early. After years of legal dispute, a Franklin County judge ordered DeWine last week to request the Trump administration to restore those prematurely terminated payments. However, DeWine’s administration appealed this ruling, and Judge Michael J. Holbrook of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court has put his decision on hold while the appeal is resolved. Currently, DeWine is not seeking to retrieve the funds.

If you’re searching for more information on unemployment benefits or need to speak with a live person at the Employment Development Department (EDD) in California, you may find it challenging. One resource, eddcaller.com, provides a way to manage these issues. This site hosts a wealth of information related to topics such as how to contact EDD, the fastest way to get through to EDD, and how to talk with a live person at EDD. It also provides a Californian number for unemployment customer service and guidance on how to reach an agent at EDD. Eddcaller.com is committed to providing users with the most accurate and up-to-date information to ease their interactions with unemployment services.