US DOL Releases State CARES Waiting Week Payment Reconciliation Requirements
May Impact UI Trust Funds On January 19, 2024, the US DOL released guidance with state requirements with respect to reporting and reconciliation of federal reimbursements for payments for the unemployment compensation waiting week. See Instructions for Reconciling Funds Made Available to States Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Section 2105 (dol.gov).The CARES Act and the [...]
Connecticut Pays Off Title XII Loan – Avoids FUTA Tax Increase for 2023
On November 8th, Connecticut Governor Lamont announced that the state was paying of the loan from the federal government that was used to pay unemployment compensation in Connecticut. See the Governor's press release at Governor Lamont 's press release reporting that Connecticut paid off pandemic-era Unemployment Trust Fund debt in advance of the November 10, 2023, deadline. Connecticut Commissioner of [...]
House Ways and Means Approves Bi-Partisan Bridge for Workers Act
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) to permit states to [...]
Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-NC) Introduces Unemployment Integrity Act
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 compensation for any week, [...]
GAO Report Shows $22 billion of Recovery Funds used to Restore UI Trust Funds
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 represented the largest share [...]
Governor Newsom Vetoes Bill Intended to Make Striking Workers Eligible for Unemployment Compensation
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 the end of the [...]