Apply for Legal Help
Print
Share
Many low-income people work, often at more than one job. Many workers do not receive the full, lawful benefit of that hard work. Legal Aid helps workers maintain the income they have earned from working, helps workers who have lost their job get unemployment compensation benefits, and helps people who are facing tax problems.
Work Matters We Handle
- Wage theft including unpaid wages, minimum wage violations and overtime violations
- Tax controversies, including Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) problems
- Unemployment Compensation
- Other employee rights
FAQs
Employers must pay workers all of the wages that the worker has earned. Generally, a last paycheck should be paid on the next regularly scheduled payday.
Next Steps
Other Resources
- Can’t Get your Last Paycheck?
- Ohio Bureau of Labor and Worker Safety (614) 644-2450
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243)(216) 357-5400
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)? Close
Please see our Low Income Taxpayer Clinic page for information.
Legal Aid may be able to help you get your unemployment benefits, but we will need more information from you.
Next Steps
- Visit a brief advice clinic [internal link] or contact Legal Aid.
Other Resources
- Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services
Office of Unemployment Compensation
(877) 644-6562
Should my employer be paying me overtime when I work more than 40 hours in a work week? Close
In most cases, if you work over 40 hours in a work week then you should receive 1 ½ times your regular hourly rate of pay for all of the hours you worked over 40 for that week.
Next Steps
Other Resources
- Ohio Bureau of Labor and Worker Safety
(614) 644-2450 - U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division
1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243)
(216) 357-5400
How to Get Your Criminal Record Sealed Close
In Ohio, adult convictions cannot be “expunged” or completely erased from your record. Instead of expungement, Ohio uses a court process called “sealing a criminal record.” If your record is sealed, you do not have to disclose your conviction, arrest, or any charge against you when you apply for most jobs or for housing.
Even if a record is sealed, some offenses may prevent you from getting a job such as caring for children, older persons, or developmentally handicapped persons; or a job that has a substantial connection with your offense. You must report sealed records when enlisting in the military.
And, even if your record has been sealed, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation will still keep a record of your conviction. It also will be available to some employers for some jobs. Law enforcement officers will have access to your sealed record if you are charged with a crime later.
Read more in How to Get Your Criminal Record Sealed, a brochure published by Legal Aid.
Also of interest, please see Understanding and Sealing Criminal Records in Ohio.
Why have my unemployment benefits stopped? Close
Please be aware of the following significant changes to the Unemployment Compensation program effective Saturday, April 7, 2012. As of this date, UC benefits will stop for some individuals who have been receiving them.
Ohioans can no longer receive Extended Benefits. Ohio recipients of Unemployment Compensation who are on Extended Benefits will NOT receive benefits after this Saturday, April 7, 2012. This group already received Tiers 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Emergency UC and was then approved for 20 weeks of Extended Benefits. Even people who were approved for 20 weeks of Extended Benefits will stop receiving payments as of April 7, 2012, regardless of whether they received all 20 weeks.
In addition, a person who exhausts Tier 3 benefits of Emergency Unemployment Compensation after April 7 will not be eligible to apply for Tier 4 benefits.
These changes are the result of federal legislation that extended, but reduced, these programs. Additional information is available at http://unemployment.ohio.gov.
The Office of Unemployment Compensation is doing automated phone calls to the individuals whose benefits will end on Saturday, and sending written notices along with information about other resources.
If you have questions about the loss of the Extended Benefits, you should call the unemployment processing center listed on your unemployment notices to ask if you qualify for regular unemployment benefits. Legal Aid will not be able to assist people whose benefits stop as a result of the Extended Benefits program ending.
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland continues to assist low income UC claimants with unemployment appeals and issues. In general, individuals who believe their unemployment benefits are wrongly denied may request an appeal and call Legal Aid intake at 1-888-817-3777 to find out if they qualify for free legal assistance from our office.
