COLUMBUS, Ohio — Attorneys representing thousands of Ohioans denied nearly $900 million in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits are urging Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook to reject the state’s request for a stay and enforce his February 12 ruling ordering Governor Mike DeWine to reinstate the program.
The hearing, scheduled for 1:30 PM today, will determine whether the state can continue withholding the federally funded benefits while it appeals the court’s decision. At the core of the dispute is whether Ohio’s decision to withdraw from FPUC in 2021 violated state and federal unemployment laws, which mandate timely payment of eligible benefits.
Legal Argument: State Law Requires Immediate Payment
Attorneys challenging Ohio’s withdrawal argue that Ohio law (R.C. 4141.28(I)) requires unemployment benefits to be paid promptly once a court rules in favor of a claimant. They assert that the state cannot use procedural rules to delay payment of benefits that have already been deemed legally owed.
Judge Holbrook’s ruling earlier this month left little doubt about eligibility, stating that there was “no question” that the plaintiffs qualified for the benefits at the time of Ohio’s withdrawal from the program. The legal team representing the plaintiffs contends that the state must now comply by reinstating participation and securing the funds before they are repurposed by Congress or the federal government.
What’s at Stake?
The decision could impact nearly 300,000 Ohioans who were cut off from the additional federal benefits when the state ended its participation in June 2021, months before the program’s scheduled expiration. The withdrawal was justified by state officials at the time as a means to encourage people to return to work, a rationale that attorneys now argue is no longer relevant in 2025.
If the judge grants the state’s request for a stay, the plaintiffs plan to immediately appeal to the Tenth District Court of Appeals in an effort to force compliance before the funds are potentially lost. A separate motion has also been filed with the Tenth District, requesting that the court set a firm deadline for Ohio to rejoin the program and ensure that the benefits are secured.
With millions in federal aid hanging in the balance, today’s hearing will determine whether eligible Ohioans see relief—or whether the legal battle drags on.