President Biden and Senators Wyden and Bennet Propose Changes in UI
A national policy discussion is in progress with respect to Unemployment Insurance and the dramatic increases in payments to individuals who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 and the ensuing economic recession. What support is appropriate? How should it be delivered? How can identity theft and fraud be avoided? How should the system be financed? Is a new system needed [...]
Business Groups Oppose Paying for Unemployment Not Related to Work
On April 20, 2021 business associations joined in a letter of opposition to unemployment insurance amendment provisions that were included in HR 1620 as it passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 17th. The letter raised a series of reasons for opposition, including: The amendment would impose a federal mandate that would be inconsistent with state law with respect [...]
States Triggering “Off” Extended Unemployment Benefits
Potential State UI trust fund Impact after September 6th for States Remaining "On" After a year of extremely high unemployment rates, regular extended unemployment compensation is beginning to trigger off in many states. The triggering off is due to reductions in the Total Unemployment Rate below 6.0% and the fact that the number of claims filed now is no longer [...]
COVID-19 Presumption for Longshore – taken out of Final American Rescue Plan Act
In response to opposition from UWC and an extensive list of employer representatives and workers’ compensation insurance plan representatives, the presumption of coverage and compensability for COVID-19 illness under the Longshore Act was taken out of the final version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The deletion came as the result of a determination that the proposed language [...]
American Rescue Plan Enacted with many UI Related Provisions
The American Rescue Plan Act passed the US House of Representatives March 10, 2021. President Biden is expected to sign the Act into law. Attached is the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as it passed the House and is scheduled to be signed by President Biden. The text is posted at www.congress.gov, click on H.R. 1319, then on “Text,” [...]
UWC and Business Groups File Opposition to Longshore Presumption for COVID
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, UWC and a broad based coalition of business representatives submitted a letter of opposition to the inclusion of a presumption of workers’ compensation coverage and compensability for COVID-19 infection that was not in the course of employment and did not arise from employment. >> UWC and Business Groups File Opposition to Longshore Presumption for COVID [...]