On June 1, 2020, Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced introduction of the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2020. Background: As part of the CARES Act, Congress provided $600/week in supplemental unemployment benefits to provide much needed support and economic relief for [...]
On May 26, 2020 the US DOL Inspector General released an Alert Memorandum identifying serious problems in interpretation and administration of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program created in the CARES Act. The primary concern identified is that US DOL’s interpretation that entitlement to PUA benefit payments may be based solely on a check the box [...]
The COVID-19 recession is already so deep as to not only have triggered special expanded benefits through congressional action but now is beginning to trigger “on” in an increasing number of states to regular extended benefits (EB) under permanent federal law. For the week ending April 26, 2020 Connecticut, Michigan and Rhode Island triggered on up [...]
The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Labor has released a Fraud Alert. Fraud Alert Be aware that your personal information may be used fraudulently without your permission. Fraudsters are perpetrating numerous schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In one scheme, scammers have offered to help individuals file claims for unemployment benefits. The [...]
On April 5, 2020, US DOL released UI PL 16-20 to provide Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program Background The CARES Act was designed to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways. The CARES [...]
On April 4, 2020 the US Department of Labor issued UI-PL 15-20 in its continuation of guidance to states in administering the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. UIPL 15-20 provides Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions. (see attached) Section 2104 of the Coronavirus [...]
On April 2, 2020, US DOL released the first of a series of program letters interpreting the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 (UIPL 14-20) Highlights of the UI-PL provide some important guidance for states in implementing the new law, including: Emergency increase in unemployment compensation benefits, called Federal [...]
On March 25, 2020 the Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act). The bill is expected to be approved by the House and signed by the President A House Ways and Means summary is provided at https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/the-senate-cares-bill-unemployment/ UWC is preparing a detailed summary of Subtitle A – Unemployment Insurance [...]
Once again, the President’s Budget Proposal for FY 2021 provides for a national paid parental leave program “within the UI Program” with no details as to how that might be accomplished. The description of the proposal simply indicates: The Budget includes a proposal to establish a Federal-state paid parental leave benefit program within the UI program [...]
Budget proposal would impose solvency standards projected to result in over $10 billion in UI related taxes and integrity measures President Trump’s FY 2021 proposed budget would set a “solvency” standard that would result in increasing State Unemployment Insurance taxes and/or benefit cuts in states with lower trust fund balances. The budget describes the new federal [...]
