(ONN) – More assistance could be on the way for eligible Ohioans who lost their job to the pandemic.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says up to 20 weeks of extended benefits will be available to Ohioans who exhaust both the maximum 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation – putting the overall total at 59 weeks.

Agency director Kimberly Hall says the state will soon begin notifying those who may qualify and to instruct them how to apply.