As many of you know, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced that he will be ending participation in all Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Programs including but not limited to PUA, PEUC, FPUC, MEUC and the $300 federal unemployment boost on June 26, 2021. This will end unemployment eligibility to independent contractors, gig-workers, and sole-proprietors and anyone who is not eligible for regular unemployment benefits, returning Ohio to pre-pandemic programs. Not everyone on unemployment is being lazy. For many, the federal programs mentioned have been a lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic when the jobs they worked shut down or have had dramatically reduced hours. This is not about politics, this affects families, children, and older adults who will suffer great consequences if these programs are ended during a pandemic. 

There are independent contractors and self-employed citizens already struggling to work after being released from ICU following a COVID diagnosis because it is the only way they can pay their bills- imagine how much worse this will be for them!

The people of Ohio are asking Governor DeWine to reconsider his actions that will end these federal programs prior to the federal end date of September 6, 2021. 

We are also asking President Joe Biden to take action in any way he legally can.