Space Force identification code for unemployment claims

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                Unemployment Insurance
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                           CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                       OUI/DUIO
             Washington, D.C. 20210                      DATE
                                                         September 18, 2023


ADVISORY:       UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 14-23

TO:             STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:           BRENT PARTON
                Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:        Implementation of the Federal Identification Code (FIC) for the United States
                Space Force (USSF) and related updates to the Unemployment Insurance (UI)
                Interstate Connection Network (ICON) and the Military-State Data Exchange
                System (MSDES)

1. Purpose. To provide State Workforce Agencies (states) with the new FIC (810-destination
   0001) for the USSF to be used for all Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers
   (UCX) claims and billing activities related to this military branch.

2. Action Requested. The United States Department of Labor’s (Department) Employment and
   Training Administration (ETA) requests that state administrators provide information
   contained in this Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) to the appropriate staff.
   State agencies are required to implement this change no later than the quarter that starts
   January 1, 2024.

3. Summary and Background.

   a. Summary – For USSF UCX claims, ETA has designated a new FIC 810-destination
      0001. ICON and MSDES have also been updated to allow states to request claims and
      billing information from the USSF through these systems. This guidance also provides
      instructions for processing a UCX first claim with two Certificates of Release or
      Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214 (DD214), for service performed during the
      state base period.

       For claims filed by former civilian employees of the USSF under the Unemployment
       Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program, states will continue to use the
       Civilian US Department of Air Force (USAF) FICs, as stated on the Standard Form 8
       (SF-8).

   b. Background – On December 20, 2019, the President signed the 2020 National Defense
      Authorization Act (Public Law 116-92), establishing the USSF as a new branch of the US
      Armed Forces, one of the eight US uniformed services, and the sixth armed service
      branch. While the USSF is an independent branch under USAF, its military and civilian

  RESCISSIONS                                             EXPIRATION DATE
  None                                                    Continuing

       personnel funding remains in the USAF’s budget. USAF has been processing all UCX
       claims filed for both branches under the USAF FIC for UCX claims (FIC 803). Using the
       same FIC code makes it impractical for the USAF and ETA to distinguish between USAF
       and USSF claims for tracking and accounting purposes. To resolve this issue, ETA and
       the USAF agreed to designate a separate FIC for USSF UCX claims.

4. Guidance. In accordance with the Department’s authority under 5 U.S.C. § 8509(f), ETA has
   assigned FIC 810-destination 0001 to the USSF for processing UCX claims. The Federal
   Agencies Claim Directory has been updated with the new FIC and point(s) of contact
   information. States must use this new FIC for any USSF-related UCX claims, billing, and
   reporting activities.

   To ensure that ETA is able to determine how to properly bill the branches, beginning on the
   quarter that starts October 1, 2023, but no later than the quarter that starts January 1, 2024,
   states must implement the programming changes to use the new FIC when filing new UCX
   claims for ex-servicemembers who were discharged from the USSF. ETA is recommending
   implementing this change at the start of the quarter to mitigate billing errors. States may refer
   to the ICON and MSDES User Guides for more information.


  a. Transfer of Service and Multiple DD214. The USAF has advised ETA of the following: 1)
     Ex-servicemembers who transferred from the USAF to the USSF will receive a DD214,
     from both the USAF and the USSF when separated; 2) When a member transfers from the
     USAF to the USSF, and time remains on their contract (if enlisted) or they had a
     remaining active-duty service commitment (ADSC) (if an officer), those periods of time
     transfer with the member to the USSF; and 3) If a former USSF servicemember presents
     DD214’s from both the USAF and the USSF, and was discharged honorably, they will be
     deemed to have completed their first full term of active service.

  b. Initial Processing for Individuals with Multiple DD214. When processing the initial claim
     for an ex-servicemember who transitioned from the USAF to the USSF during an
     applicable base period, states must submit a Type 1 record to the Federal Claims Control
     Center (FCCC) for both military branches to capture the total base period wages
     attributable to the USAF/USSF for that ex-servicemember. The Type 1 responses will
     contain wage calculations for each branch. The state will submit one Type 2 record to the
     FCCC indicating the separating military branch as the most recent employer. In addition,
     the record must indicate which quarter(s)’ wages will be used from the respective military
     branches. States must use the designation “08” on Type 1-6 records for USSF. Space
     Force will be listed as an option in the “pick list” on the Type 1-6 Data Entry web
     application.

  c. Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). When processing claims
     for former civilian employees of the USSF under the UCFE program, states should use the
     civilian USAF FIC as provided on the Standard Form 8 (SF-8).

5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.


6. References.

   •   2020 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92);
   •   5 U.S.C. Chapter 85, Subchapter II, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-
       Servicemembers (5 U.S.C. 8521-8525);
   •   5 U.S.C. Chapter 85, Subchapter I, Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees
       (5 U.S.C. 8501-8509);
   •   5 U.S.C. 8509(f), Federal Employees Compensation Account;
   •   20 CFR Part 614, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers;
   •   20 CFR Part 609, Unemployment Compensation for Federal Civilian Employees;
   •   Training and Employment Notice (TEN) No. 20-12, Unemployment Compensation for
       Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) – UCX Claims Processing Enhancements, issued on January
       24, 2013, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-notice-
       no-20-12;
   •   TEN No. 27-13, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Military-
       State Data Exchange System (MSDES), issued on April 8, 2014,
       https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-notice-no-27-13;
   •   ET Handbook No. 384, Second Edition, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-
       Servicemembers, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/handbooks/et-handbook-
       no-384; and
   •   UCX Decision Tree in ICON: https://www.naswa.org/icon/ucx-decision-tree.

7. Attachment(s). None.