CLEVELAND, Ohio – You don’t have to leave home to file for unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus outbreak that has Ohio officials urging residents to practice social distancing to contain its spread.

Update 10:50 a.m. Monday: Anyone applying for unemployment benefits by phone is currently directed to a message asking them to apply online or call again later due to an “exceptionally high call volume.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Sunday announced an executive order expanding unemployment benefits amid the coronavirus outbreak. The order, which he plans to sign Monday, waives the typical one-week waiting period and the requirement that that people seek work as they receive benefits.

The move came on the same day DeWine announced a temporary closing of Ohio’s bars and restaurants, with exceptions only for take-out and delivery service. Several businesses have told cleveland.com in recent days that they laid off staff in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The emergency measure also applies to workers whose employers do not offer paid leave, and to eligible individuals who are asked by a medical professional, local health agency or employer to self-isolate or quarantine. They are not available to people who are asymptomatic but choose to self-isolate, according to ODJFS.

Anyone can apply for unemployment benefits online 24/7 or during business hours Monday through Friday, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

How can I apply for unemployment benefits?

The quickest, easiest way to file for unemployment benefits is through the ODJFS website. Anyone who is eligible for benefits can apply here.

A printable, step-by-step guide to applying for unemployment benefits online is available here. You can also view How-To Videos for various aspects of applying for unemployment benefits.

You can also apply by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, by calling toll-free 1-877-644-6562 or TTY 1-614-387-8408.

If you don’t have access to a computer, it’s suggested you apply by phone to practice safe social distancing. But computers are available, free to the public, at OhioMeansJobs centers throughout Northeast Ohio. To find the closest center, visit this website or call 888-296-7541.

What do I need to apply for benefits?

To apply for benefits online or by phone, you’ll need:

Social Security number

Driver’s license or state ID number

Name, address, telephone number and email address

Information about each employer you’ve worked for in the past six weeks, including name, address, telephone number and dates of employment

The reason you became unemployed

Dependents’ names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth

If you’re claiming dependents, your spouse’s name, Social Security number and birth date

If you are not a U.S. citizen, your “A-number,” or alien registration number

Your regular occupation and job skills

What happens after I submit my application?

Applicants will receive updates by mail or email. It typically takes three to four weeks to process an application; state officials have not said whether the coronavirus crisis will affect the usual timetable.

Claims will be assigned to a processing center based on the last four digits of their Social Security number; a list of Processing Centers is available here.

For more information about filing for unemployment benefits, visit the Questions and Answers guide on the ODJFS website.

ODJFS has also compiled answers to a list of questions specific to the coronavirus outbreak.