On April 11, the Board of Directors for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) voted to return up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers this spring in an effort to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Ohio’s economy and business community.
Because of strong investment returns, the dividend equals approximately 100% of the premiums employers paid in policy year 2018. Of the $1.6 billion dividend, approximately $1.4 billion would go to private employers and $200 million would go to local government taxing districts, such as counties, cities, townships, and schools.
This dividend follows other recent moves by BWC to ease COVID-19’s strain on employers. In late March, BWC told employers they could defer, until June 1,monthly premium installment payments for March, April, and May. BWC also waived or postponed some requirements and deadlines for several programs that reduce employer premiums and applied the discounts automatically.
Checks will be mailed in batches to employers later in April.
For more on COVID-19 as it relates to BWC, visit this Frequently Asked Questions page.