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2025 locality pay rates for federal employees and unemployment claims
Summary ETA points state unemployment agencies to the 2025 federal General Schedule locality pay rates published by the Office of Personnel Management. It says agencies may use those rates, with other documents, to estimate unemployment benefit entitlement or possible disqualifying pay when a federal civilian employer does not respond promptly. The letter links to the pay tables rather than reproducing them; UIPL No. 04-26 later points to 2026 rates.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
UIPL No. 08-25
Date issued
December 30, 2024
Status
Active
The letter states that it rescinds nothing and has a Continuing expiration designation. It links to OPM's 2025 salary tables rather than attaching them; UIPL No. 04-26 later points to 2026 tables.
Status last verified October 24, 2026
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About this page: The full text below is the official document from U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.
CLASSIFICATION
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION Unemployment Insurance
ADVISORY SYSTEM CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OUI/DUIO
Washington, D.C. 20210 DATE
December 30, 2024
ADVISORY: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 08-25
TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
FROM: JOSÉ JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ
Assistant Secretary
SUBJECT: 2025 Pay Adjustments for Annual Salary Rates for General Schedule (GS)
Federal Employees in 53 Locality Pay Areas
1. Purpose. To ensure states are aware of the locality-based salary rates for certain Federal
civilian employees.
2. Action Requested. State Administrators should provide information contained in this
Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) to appropriate staff.
3. Summary and Background.
a. Summary - This UIPL provides a link to the 2025 pay adjustments for annual salary rates
for GS Federal employees, which may assist states with estimating monetary entitlement
for unemployment benefits or determining the amount of potentially disqualifying
remuneration.
b. Background - On 12-23-2024, the President signed Executive Order, Adjustments of
Certain Rates of Pay, stipulating the 2025 pay rates for the Federal civilian employee pay
schedules. The 2025 pay rates are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay
period beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
Information about the 2025 Annual Salary Rates is located on the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-
oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/#url=2025.
4. Instruction. States may use GS salary rates on the OPM website, in conjunction with other
appropriate documentation, for estimating monetary entitlement for unemployment benefits
or in determining the amount of potentially disqualifying remuneration when Federal
agencies do not provide timely responses to requests for information.
5. Inquiries. Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.
RESCISSIONS EXPIRATION DATE
None Continuing
6. References.
• Chapters V and XI, Employment and Training Handbook No. 391, Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) Instructions for State Agencies.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/handbooks/et-handbook-no-391
7. Attachment(s). N/A
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