OMB extension for Benefits Accuracy Measurement data collection

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Advisory System
Washington, D.C. 20210
Classification: UI Performs
Correspondence symbol: OWS/DPM
Date: March 25, 2005
Rescissions: None
Expiration date: March 31, 2006

ADVISORY: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 18-05

TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM: CHERYL ATKINSON /s/
Administrator
Office of Workforce Security

SUBJECT: Extension of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Approval to Collect Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Program Data

1. Purpose. To inform states that OMB has approved the extension of data collection to support the BAM Program.

2. Background. By investigating small representative weekly samples of both paid and denied UI claims, BAM enables each state to estimate reliably the number and dollar value of proper and improper payments of UI benefits; the rates of occurrence of these proper and improper payments and denials; and the error types, error causes, and the parties that are responsible for the errors.

3. OMB Approval. This reporting instruction has been approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, under number 1205-0245 through June 30, 2007. Persons are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB number. Respondent's obligation to reply is mandatory (SSA, Sec. 303 (a)(6)).

4. Burden Disclosure. Public reporting burden for this collection of information, which includes both paid and denied claims, is estimated to average 8,139 hours per state. For paid claims, investigators spend 5.1 hours, on average, to complete a BAM paid claims investigation, with an additional 3.17 hours for coding and entering data into a computerized database, reviewing completed cases, and transmitting the data to the Department, for a total of 8.27 hours per investigation. For denied claims, the average times for completing and transmitting data by type of denial are: monetary denials - 6.825 hours; separation denials - 6.525 hours; and nonseparation denials - 6.625 hours. Claimant, employer, and third party responses are approximately 0.5 hours per response per case.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workforce Security, Room S-4231, Washington, D.C. 20210 (Paperwork Reduction Project 1205-0359).

5. Inquiries. Inquires should be directed to Kari Bauman at 202-693-3286 or Delores Mackall at 202-693-3183.