The House Ways and Means Committee approved the Bi-Partisan Bridge for Workers Act (HR 5861) on November 2, 2023 by a vote of 41-0. The bill was developed by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL). The bill makes permanent the amendment of federal law (that had been previously included on a temporary basis) [...]
On October 17, 2023, Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-NC) introduced the Unemployment Integrity Act of 2023. The bill would make important improvements to connect unemployed workers with jobs and in filling staffing needs for employers. The bill adds a federal requirement of state administrative funding that state UI law require as a condition of eligibility for regular [...]
On October 11, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report reviewing how State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fuds (SLFRF) were spent and/or obligated. See GAO-24-106753, COVID-19 Relief: States’ and Localities’ Fiscal Recovery Funds Spending as of March 31, 2023 The report shows spending as of March 31st, noting that Contributions to state unemployment insurance trust funds [...]
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) returned S 799 to the California General Assembly without his signature. See his veto message at SFresno_Biz23093017010 (ca.gov) In vetoing the bill Governor Newsom issued a statement that Any expansion of eligibility for UI benefits could increase California's outstanding federal UI debt projected to be nearly $20 billion by [...]
Report Recommends SSA Access Workers' Comp Data to Apply Offset On September 18, 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report of its review of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) offset for workers’ compensation and public disability benefits. The report recommended that SSA Determine whether SSA made inaccurate WC/PDB [...]
On September 12, 2023, the US Department of Labor posted a notice requesting comments on ETA 227. This form is used for quarterly data collection concerned with identifying fraud. Data cells describe fraud identified through tools (State and National Directories of New Hires) and breaks out fraud cases in the Federal-State Extended Benefits program. See the [...]
On September 12, 2023, the US DOL Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) posted new rules in the Federal Register with respect to Civil Monetary Penalties for failure to report. Background of This Rulemaking On April 28, 2020, OWCP hosted a public outreach webinar to solicit stakeholders' views on how OWCP could improve its processes. See E.O. [...]
On November 3, 2022, the New Jersey legislature enacted S 2357 concerning the timely payment of unemployment compensation and amending unemployment law with respect to employer reporting, notices, determination of overpayments and recovery of overpaid benefit amounts. The amendments enacted in this legislation become effective July 31, 2023. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce [...]
On July 13, 2023, USDOL announced that much of the UI Modernization funding to states was being cancelled. See Cancellation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Related Guidance, including Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 22-21, Change 2; UIPL No. 23-21, Change 5; UIPL No. 02-22, Change 3; and UIPL No. 07-23 (dol.gov) The UIPL cancels the [...]
On July 13, 2023, immediately after announcing the cancellation of much of the ARPA funding for UI Modernization, US DOL announced plans for remaining ARPA funds that were reduced due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). See Announcement of Grant Opportunities and National Identity (ID) Verification Offering under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (dol.gov) [...]
