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Ohio

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on June 30, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Ohio, we recommend that you visit the state's Department of Health website

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Description of Program and Relief

Workers’ Compensation Claims and Policy Processing

For both injured workers and employers, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has suspended several requirements, extended certain deadlines, and issued guidance for individuals that contract COVID-19 in the course of their employment.

Injured Workers

  • Under newly issued BWC guidance, workers that contract COVID-19 may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation. Generally, communicable diseases like COVID-19 cannot form the basis of a compensable workers’ compensation claims. However, BWC has clarified that it will allow such claims for employees “in a job that poses a special hazard or risk and contract COVID-19 from the work exposure.”

  • BWC has suspended job search requirements until April 30, 2020 and all Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) until further notice. Benefits for injured workers required to complete an IME or engage in required job searches will be unaffected.

  • Through April 30, 2020, BWC has committed to continuing payments for injured workers currently receiving temporary total compensation, living maintenance compensation, and all forms of wage loss payments (working wage loss/non-working wage loss, living maintenance wage loss) regardless of whether the worker complies with certain program requirements, such as submitting a Physicians’ Report of Work Ability (MEDCO-14).

Employers

  • Public and private employers may defer insurance premium installment payments due for March, April, and May for the current policy year until June 1, 2020, at which time the matter will be reconsidered by BWC.

  • For employers, BWC has suspended audits of self-insuring and state fund employers, although paper and virtual audits will continue.

Government or Lead Agency

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Dates Available

Effective immediately

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Eligibility requirements for workers’ compensation in Ohio can be found here. Injured workers that have lost eight or more calendar days of work may be eligible to receive temporary total benefits. Injured workers able to return to work may be eligible for other types of compensation payments.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

Visit Ohio BWC’s Help Center at https://info.bwc.ohio.gov/wps/portal/bwc/site/help-center/help-center.

List of Additional Information

For additional information, please see BWC’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions at:

https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/downloads/blankpdf/COVID-19-BWCFAQs.pdf.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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