FY 2014 funds for UI reemployment assessments

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                 Unemployment Insurance
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                            CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                        OUI
             Washington, D.C. 20210                       DATE
                                                          July 11, 2014


ADVISORY:         UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 13-14,
                  Change 1

TO:               STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:             PORTIA WU /s/
                  Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:          Unemployment Insurance (UI) Supplemental Funding for Reemployment and
                  Eligibility Assessment (REA) Programs

1. Purpose. To notify State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) of the availability of Fiscal Year
   (FY) 2014 funds to expand existing UI REA programs, or to implement a new REA program
   if the state does not currently have one.

2. References.
   • Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Pub. L. 113-76, Div. H, Title I;
   • Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 13-14, UI Supplemental Funding
      Opportunity for Program Integrity and Performance and System Improvements; and
   • UIPL No. 10-14, Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment
      and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Grants.

3. Background. The UI program provides a core service in the comprehensive, integrated
   workforce system by providing temporary financial assistance to eligible workers during
   periods of unemployment. The UI REA program addresses the needs of UI claimants for
   certain reemployment services and the prevention and detection of UI improper payments.
   Both activities are high priorities for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (Department)
   Employment and Training Administration (ETA). It provides claimants an entry point to a
   full array of services available at American Job Centers (AJCs), and enables SWAs to better
   ensure that claimants comply with all UI eligibility requirements. In states that have UI REA
   programs, active job seekers filing UI claims are made aware of a variety of available
   reemployment services and are referred to services that are appropriate.

   In April 2014, ETA issued UIPL No. 10-14 to invite SWAs to submit proposals for a grant to
   continue or to implement a UI REA program, and to provide guidelines for FY 2014 UI REA
   grants. On June 24, 2014, the Department awarded approximately $68.7 million to SWAs in
   37 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, to implement or
   continue re-employment and eligibility assessments for UI beneficiaries. These new awards
   bring the total number of UI REA participating SWAs to 44.

 RESCISSIONS                                             EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                    Continuing

   On June 16, 2014, ETA issued UIPL No. 13-14 to invite SWAs to submit Supplemental
   Budget Requests (SBRs) for program integrity, performance improvement, and system
   improvements. Applications for this funding are due by July 31, 2014. ETA is offering
   SWAs an opportunity to submit additional requests for UI REA funding concurrently with
   these SBR requests.

4. Structure of Funding Opportunity. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014
   appropriated a minimum of $80 million for 2014 UI REA funding. In June 2014, ETA
   awarded $68.7 million in grants from that appropriation and this new solicitation will provide
   SWAs an additional opportunity to request funding from the unobligated balance, as well as
   funds from any unearned above base UI state administration funds for FY 2014 that may be
   available.

   States currently participating in the UI REA program may request funds to enhance and/or
   expand their ongoing program beyond that for which they were awarded funding on June 24,
   2014. Expansions may include adding AJCs that are not currently participating or providing
   assessments to a larger number of claimants in participating AJCs. States among the nine
   that do not currently have a UI REA program may elect to implement a program. ETA will
   award requests to implement a new program based on the availability of funding.

   UI merit staff, Employment Services staff, or other AJC staff may deliver REA services. The
   UI eligibility review is a key part of the UI REA for program integrity purposes. If UI merit
   staff does not conduct the eligibility review, the service delivery staff must be trained to
   identify all potential eligibility issues. UI merit staff must conduct all eligibility
   determinations and redeterminations, as they are funded through the regular funding for non-
   monetary determinations and not through the UI REA grant.

   States proposing to expand their state UI REA program or to implement a new UI REA
   program must follow the UI REA Guidelines published in UIPL No. 10-14.

5. Application Instructions. States wishing to expand their existing UI REA program must
   complete an application consisting of the following documents published as attachments to
   UIPL No. 10-14:

   •   Attachment C – Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment
       (REA) Proposal Outline for States Continuing a UI REA Program;
   •   Attachment B – Elements of an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment and
       Eligibility Assessment (REA) Grant Proposal Abstract; and
   •   Attachment D – The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment and Eligibility
       Assessment (REA) Data Concerns.

   States wishing to implement a new UI REA program must complete an application consisting
   of the following documents published as attachments to UIPL No. 10-14:

   •   Attachment A – Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment
       (REA) Proposal Outline for First Year UI REA Grants; and


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   •   Attachment B – Elements of an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Reemployment and
       Eligibility Assessment (REA) Grant Proposal Abstract.

   All applicants must submit with the proposal a form SF-424 (OMB No. 4040-0004)
   http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf and a form SF-424A
   (OMB No. 4040-0006) http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424A-V1.0.pdf
   signed by the SWA Administrator. If any changes to an application are required after ETA
   review, revised forms will be required before award of the grant funds.

6. Availability of Funds. The performance period for FY 2014 UI REA grants begins on April
   1, 2014, and ends on March 31, 2015. ETA will obligate funds during this time. However,
   to allow for potential changes that might occur, the deadline specified by the Grant Officer
   on the Notice of Obligation for the obligation of these funds will be shown as September 30,
   2015. All estimated cost figures for applications for FY 2014 UI REA grants under this
   UIPL should be based on this time period. For states that are awarded funds to continue a UI
   REA program, any prior year funds remaining unobligated after March 31, 2014, should be
   applied to the ongoing UI REA workload before using the FY 2014 UI REA grant funds
   awarded on June 24, 2014 or under this UIPL.

7. Action Requested. ETA requests SWA Administrators to:

   •   Provide information contained in this UIPL to appropriate staff; and
   •   Submit the completed UI REA application, concurrently with any 2014 UI Integrity SBR
       application that the SWA files in accordance with the requirements in UIPL No. 13-14,
       by e-mail to ETA’s Office of Unemployment Insurance at [email protected] by the
       close of business on Thursday, July 31, 2014, with an electronic copy provided to the
       appropriate regional office. The subject line of the e-mail should include the name of
       the state and the title “REA Expansion SBR 2014.”

8. Inquiries. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional office.




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