New Jersey Act Sets New Reporting Requirements and Penalties for Employers (NJ S2357)
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 Development recently posted a [...]
US DOL Cancels Much of the Funding for UI Modernization due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act
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 series of previous program [...]
USDOL Releases New Grant Opportunities for Remaining American Rescue Plan Act Funds for UI
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) The announcement provides details [...]
CMS Issues New Guidance on Life Expectancy for Workers’ Comp Medicare Set Asides
On April 24, 2023 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted guidance for use in determining amounts to be set aside in workers’ compensation settlements based on life expectancy. Beginning April 29, 2023, CMS will utilize the CDC’s “Table 1: Life Table for the total population: United States, 2020” for the Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set Aside life expectancy [...]
US DOL Employment and Training Announces $200 million Available for States to Address UI Integrity and Equity
On April 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced the availability of $200 million in grant funds to states to address Integrity and Equity issues. The funds are part of those provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The UI-PL provides detailed guidance with respect to the requirements of grant proposals, recommendations and [...]
Initial UI Claims Beginning to Show the End of Pandemic Recovery
A review of the report of initial applications for unemployment released March 30th indicates that the recovery from the Pandemic recession may be ending. For the first time since the pandemic recession the number of initial applications for unemployment compensation exceeded the same week in the prior year. The number of applications reported for the week of March 18th increased from the [...]