Bill to prevent cuts to seniors’ jobless aid

Ohio is the only state that deducts 100 percent of Social Security retirement benefits.

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House unanimously approved legislation that would stop out-of-work seniors from having their unemployment benefits cut because of the Social Security retirement payments they receive.

Senate Bill 116, passed Tuesday in like fashion from the House version in early May, is sponsored by Sen. Joy Padgett, a Republican from Coshocton.

Under current law, unemployment benefits are reduced if filers receive Social Security retirement benefits, with the offset amount equal to the reduction.

For example, a senior citizen earning $8 an hour and working 35 hours per week (about $280 total) normally would be entitled to $140 a week in unemployment compensation if laid off, according to earlier legislative testimony.

Under current law, if that person also received a monthly Social Security check of $400 ($100 per week), then they would receive only $40 of their total unemployment compensation.

SB 116 would prohibit the Social Security offset, meaning seniors would receive their full unemployment benefits and retirement benefits.

Presenting the legislation from the House floor Tuesday, Majority Floor Leader Larry Flowers, a Republican from the Columbus area, said Ohio is the only state that deducts 100 percent of Social Security retirement benefits, and a total of 3,074 filers lose unemployment benefits each year because of the offset.

Of the rest of the states, eight have a 50 percent offset, and 41 have none, he said.

The bill passed by a final vote of 93-0. The House did not change the content of the legislation but did add an emergency clause, meaning its provisions would take effect as soon as it is signed by Gov. Ted Strickland.

The Senate will have to concur on the clause before sending it to the governor. Strickland said he supports the bill.

mkovac@dixcom.com