04/22/2020

DeWine Directs BWC To Send Dividend Payments To Employers

UPDATE 4/21/20:

Less than two weeks ago, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board of directors approved to send up to $1.6 billion in dividends to Ohio employers. Today, Governor DeWine announced that a total of more than 170,000 checks will be mailed over the next five days. 

This dividend is intended to ease the impact of COVID-19 on Ohio’s business community and the economy. The dividend equals approximately 100% of the premiums paid in policy year 2018. 

Approximately $1.4 billion will go to private employers and nearly $200 million will go to local government taxing districts, such as counties, cities, townships, and schools.

4/8/20: According to Gongwer News Service, Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday announced an effort to provide some relief to businesses, many of which have shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor directed the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to send up to $1.6 billion in dividends to Ohio employers to ease the impact of the public health crisis

"For those employers, it means one less bill to worry about," he said during his daily press briefing on the coronavirus.

If approved by the BWC's board, $1.4 billion will go to private employers, while another $200 million will be directed at local governments.

The death toll from COVID-19 rose to 193, Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced. The state also reported 5,148 confirmed cases and 1,495 hospitalizations.