All workers affected by the River Valley Health System shutdown will receive state unemployment benefits.

Thursday, January 18, 2001

All workers affected by the River Valley Health System shutdown will receive state unemployment benefits.

"These are covered workers," said Nancy Craigmiles, administrator at the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services in Ironton.

Considered a reimbursing employer, RVHS pays into unemployment after an employee has left. Benefits come to employees from the state and the state seeks reimbursement from the employer, she said.

Each RVHS worker will receive 20 to 26 weeks of unemployment depending on the number of weeks employed, Mrs. Craigmiles said.

Employees will soon receive information about filing, maximum limits and other considerations, likely through OBES visits to the hospital, she said.

If there is a question about how RVHS will pay its share of unemployment after the shutdown, it’s an issue between the state and the hospital, she added.

"No claimant will be denied benefits if the hospital cannot pay "