Ohio BWC to send $1.6 billion in dividend payments to employers

Updated: April 10, 2020 at 11:15 a.m.

On April 8, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will send up to $1.6 billion in dividends to Ohio employers to ease the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This equals the total premiums paid by employers in policy year 2018. In an emergency meeting on April 10, 2020, the BWC board approved the measure, which will provide $1.4 billion to private employers and $200 million to local governments. The BWC has provided guidance stating that employers will receive a dividend in an amount that exceeds any outstanding balances.