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) [...]
On Tuesday, February 28th, the House Ways and Means Committee held a mark-up that included HR 1163, the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act. H.R.1163 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): To provide incentives for States to recover fraudulently paid Federal and State unemployment compensation, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress In a vote along [...]
On Friday, February 24, 2023, House republican leadership introduced the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act. The bill is intended to provide states with incentives to investigate and recover lost funds, fight and prevent future fraud, and extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraud. See the release from the House Ways and Means [...]
On February 8th, the US House Ways and Means Committee held a compelling hearing reviewing the dramatic increase in UI and temporary unemployment benefit programs enacted in response to COVID-19. The hearing, entitled “Hearing on the Greatest Theft of Tax Payer Dollars: Unchecked Unemployment Fraud” included testimony from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the USDOL Office [...]
On December 12, 2022, UWC submitted comments to the US Department of Labor asking that references to UI and Workers’ Compensation in the definition of “employee” and “independent contractor” be removed. (see attached).The comments make the fundamental points that. The US Department of Labor is not authorized under the FLSA to adopt rules under which to [...]
On June 18, 2018 Senators Portman (R-OH) and Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation (S 3079) to provide specific statutory guidance to CMS in its review of Workers’ Compensation Set Aside determinations. The bill is the product of discussions with representatives of all the primary stakeholders in the workers’ compensation system, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and congressional [...]
The conference report has been released and a vote is expected this week on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (HR 1). The President has indicated that he will sign the bill into law. Click here for the legislative text for the conference report. One of the provisions retains the Senate language to include an [...]
