CENTRAL OHIO -- Two new snapshots of unemployment figures were worse than expected.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that nearly 5 million Americans were continuing to claim unemployment benefits.
That's the fourth-straight record-setting week since figures started being tracked in 1967.
Also, 627,000 people filed new jobless benefits applications last week.
That was about the same as the previous week but still 7,000 more than economists expected.
More than 1.5 people were receiving extended benefits.
Overall, the nation's unemployment program continued to serve more than 6.5 million people.
NBC 4's Matt Alvarez has the BOTTOM LINE on what these numbers mean for Ohioans.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services told Alvarez that if someone has already filed for unemployment benefits, there will be no need to re-apply for extended benefits.
In fact, unemployment claims are up by 114 percent since this time last year.
Hold times were nearing 30 minutes for people who were trying to reach ODJFS' unemployment call center.
With 1,500 new claims filed in Franklin County alone last week, ODJFS staffers were working around the clock.
Ohio call centers received 80,000 calls a day for people filing for unemployment in January.
This month, that number was down to around 60,000 statewide.
If a family of four filed for unemployment, they would get $503 a week; a family of two or three would receive $452 a week; and a single person would get $372 a week.
You can add $25 weekly to each of those totals under President Obama's stimulus package.
TEMPORARY LAYOFF OR FURLOUGH
While Central Ohioans deal with layoffs and reduced hours, many companies are trying to stop additional layoffs by implementing temporary layoffs or furloughs, which require employees to take unpaid time off.
ODJFS officials said in order to receive unemployment compensation, you must be laid off for two consecutive weeks; sporadic days throughout the year will not be enough to receive unemployment benefits.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on unemployment benefits, you can call ODJFS at 877-644-6562 or 614-644-6562 or visit Unemployment.Ohio.gov.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
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