Ohio extends operating hours for call center

1/9/2009
Scott Easterwood, an employee of Rudolph-Libbe, drills brackets for a fence at Superior and Jackson streets in downtown Toledo, site of the United Way s new headquarters. The six-foot-high chain-link fence put up yesterday was the first visible sign that a new United Way headquarters will be erected in the shadow of the old building. The Toledo Plan Commission in November gave its OK for work on the building to proceed.
Scott Easterwood, an employee of Rudolph-Libbe, drills brackets for a fence at Superior and Jackson streets in downtown Toledo, site of the United Way s new headquarters. The six-foot-high chain-link fence put up yesterday was the first visible sign that a new United Way headquarters will be erected in the shadow of the old building. The Toledo Plan Commission in November gave its OK for work on the building to proceed.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said yesterday it is extending the operating hours of its unemployment compensation call center to help deal with a significant increase in benefits claims filed by jobless Ohioans.

Because of the jump in the number of jobless residents, it has been difficult to get through to the call center to apply for unemployment benefits. A spokesman said the state agency typically receives 7,500 calls a day for the benefits, but has experienced 80,000 in recent days.

The center, which operated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.