OHIO — Some unemployment applicants now have the option of visiting a participating United States post offices if they are prompted to provide copies of identity verification documents. Previously, people who were facing that situation could only do so online, by mail or by fax. 

What You Need To Know

  • If you’re trying to file unemployment claims, there’s now a new way for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to verify your identity

  • Applicants who are asked to submit additional verification documentation can now do so in person at most U.S. Post Office locations 

  • The department is trying to make the process more accessible for some people

  • If individuals prefer not to visit a post office, they still can submit the documents directly to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
  • This new option is only available for people who applied for their benefits on or after Jan. 26 

Anyone seeking unemployment must verify their identity, and many people can do so through the normal automated application process. However, some people aren’t able to be verified through the automated system and are asked to submit additional documentation.

Those people can now go in person to most U.S. Post Office locations for verification. 

“In the past, if an individual was flagged for additional identity verification, they had to upload documents to us,” said Matt Damschroder, the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director. “We then had to review those in order to remove the flag. Now, if a person is flagged for additional identity verification, then they can be directed to their post office. They take those documents there. The post office sends us an electronic message that everything is good to go and then the claim can go forward.”

Damschroder said the purpose of this new option is twofold. 

“One is to make it easier for Ohioans to access their unemployment benefits. Certainly during the pandemic, Ohio, like all states, saw increased fraud attempts, and that fraudulent attempted activity has continued. And so what we want to make sure is that our fraud detection and prevention tools are robust, but also to limit the amount of friction that a legitimate Ohioan has when accessing their benefits,” Damschroder said. “It continues our robust attempts at mitigating fraud and makes it easier for Ohioans who do have to go through identity verification to do so in person when directed, as opposed to having to upload documents to us.”

If individuals prefer not to visit a post office, they still can submit the documents directly to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Still, Damschroder said having the in-person option frees up staff at the ODJFS to focus on more complex customer issues. This new option is only available for people who applied for their benefits on or after Jan. 26. 

There is no cost to applicants and no appointment is needed. For Post Office locations, you can visit usps.com.