US DOL Grants Available to States to Promote Equitable UI Application
On August 17, 2021, the US DOL ETA released UI PL 23-21 detailing the availability of up to $260 million in funding for activities that promote equitable access to UC programs, which include eliminating administrative barriers to benefit application, reducing state workload backlogs, improving the timeliness of UC payments to eligible individuals, and ensuring equity in fraud prevention, detection, and [...]
Interest Due September 30, 2021 on State UI Loans
The temporary waiver of interest on state unemployment trust fund loans provided in Section 4103 in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is ending September 6, 2021, leaving states with remaining loan balances responsible to pay daily interest through September 30, 2021. As of September 2, 2021 the states with outstanding loan balances included CA, CO, IL, MN, NJ. NY, [...]
US Treasury and US DOL Permit ARPA Funds to be Used for Expanded Unemployment Benefits after September 6th
On Thursday, August 19, 2021 the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Secretary of Labor informed congressional leadership that states could use some of their shares of ARPA funds to further extend expanded unemployment compensation and assistance. Download the PDF here and read the article here. The letter outlines specific steps that the federal agencies are taking. First, [...]
US DOL Begins UI Modernization Assistance under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
On August 11, 2021 the US Department of Labor released a series of documents describing how it intends to use the $2 billion in funds to assist with UI Modernization and addressing Fraud in the UI system. These funds were part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that responded to systems and integrity needs that impacted the UI [...]
Business Associations Support Cancellation of Pandemic Unemployment Extra Benefits
In May 2021, Governor Mike DeWine notified the United States Department of Labor that Ohio would be terminating its administration of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) and the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (“MEUC”, together with the FPUC the “Temporary Federal UI Programs”) programs. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Business Roundtable, the Ohio Restaurant Association, the Ohio Hotel [...]
Connecticut Enacts Burdensome New Employer UI Quarterly Report Requirements
On June 23rd Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 1202, the implementing bill companion to the state budget for the biennium ending June 30, 2023. Included in the bill was a provision that would impose a tremendous reporting burden for employers doing business in the state of Connecticut. The legislation dramatically expands the requirements for quarterly reports from name, social security [...]