September 19, 2005

CONTACT: Eric J. Oxfeld 202-637-3463

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 19, 2005 – UWC today submitted comments in support of the Labor Department's proposed regulations making clear that federal law allows payment of unemployment compensation (UC) only to individuals who are able and available (A&A) for work. UWC prepared the comments, which were submitted on behalf of 9 organizations.

“We strongly support DOL's proposed "able and available" regulations," said Eric Oxfeld, President of UWC – Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation (UWC). “The able and available test is one of the foundational principles of the unemployment insurance system and has always been a federal requirement," he continued, "but until now, there was no clear, readily available and legally binding statement articulating the federal policy."

"Through the unemployment compensation system, employers provide temporary wage replacement benefits for workers who lose their jobs," Oxfeld said. "Proposals to change the basic purpose of unemployment insurance by misusing it as a "back door" form of paid leave," he added, "put this vital safety net at risk. The A&A regulations protect the integrity of the unemployment insurance program by making clear that UI-paid leave violates federal law. It is plain common sense that UC benefits should be payable only when a claimant is able to work and available for work in the week for which benefits are claimed, not 3 or 6 months later after a leave period expires."

For a copy of the comments, go to www.UWCstrategy.org/Issues/body_issues.shtml.

-UWC-