Telecommunicated requests and responses for interstate wage transfers

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Washington, D.C. 20210
Classification: UI
Correspondence symbol: TEUMC
Issue date: April 13, 1990
Rescissions: None
Expiration date: April 30, 1991
Directive: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER 25-90
To: ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
From: DONALD J. KULICK, Administrator for Regional Management
Subject: Using the Telecommunicated Request for Transfer of Wages (TC-IB4) and Transfer of Wage Responses (TC-IB4R)

1. Purpose. To advise the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) of procedural requirements for the telecommunication of the Combined Wage Transfer Request and Response using the TC-IB4.

2. References. ET Handbook 399; UIPL 55-89.

3. Background. By April 2, 1990, SESAs have been requested to have the ability to telecommunicate a Combined Wage Request for wages and the Response to that request. Several questions have been raised with regard to data entry procedures as SESAs install and test the Combined Wage Transfer software. The following series of Questions and Answers covering the use of the Telecommunicated Wage Requests and Responses will clarify the use of the data entry requirements and provide additional instructions to accommodate certain situations.

4. Questions and Answers.

Question: Where do we data enter the UCFE employment information, currently provided in Item 13, on the TC-IB4?

Answer: When requesting UCFE employment on the TC-IB4, use the "comments" line. Much of the information contained on the back of the IB4 form is contained in the employer information. However the following items need to be added.

The "Comments" line should look like this: Comments: SF-8: N, if no, issued? Y, DOB: 010269, covered emp fs? Y Eventually, screen layouts and data entry fields will be provided to accommodate this information.

Question: If there are wages available for transfer, but there will be more, do we send available wages?

Answer: Yes. All available wages are transferred upon receipt of the request except when the response is held for a quarter change that will occur within 7 days. The item "More information to follow" should be marked on all partial transfers and an explanation in "comments" is appropriate.

Question: When we have the additional wages, do we send the entire response again?

Answer: No. When the additional wages are available for transfer, the additional wages should be sent with an explanation in "comments" so the Paying State can be alerted to which wages are new.

Question: The ETA 586 Report includes Combined Wage Time Lapse. Does the TC-IB4 software calculate this?

Answer: The TC-IB4 software contains the programs to calculate and provide the CWC information for the ETA 586 Report. Only TC-IB4 responses marked "transaction completed" will be counted. It will be important when purging to purge the completed TC-IB4s to a file that will be available for the ETA 586 Report.

Question: What actually must be in place on April 2, 1990?

Answer: By April 2, 1990, SESAs are expected to have the capability to transmit and receive a TC-IB4-Request and to transmit and receive the Response (TC IB4-Response). To achieve that, the second generation of TC-IB4 data entry screens and transmission programs must be in place. However, it is highly recommended that an interface to each State's benefit and wage files be written to take full advantage of the Telecommunicated Transfer of Wages.

Question: When will the paper IB4 form no longer be in use?

Answer: No date has been set to eliminate the paper IB4 yet. SESAs may wish to contact the States with whom they have high volume and come to individual cooperative agreements regarding not sending the paper forms.

5. Action Required. State administrators are requested to distribute this information to all concerned parties including, but not limited to, the State Interstate Program Coordinator, the Internet Coordinator, if different, and the Internet Data Processing Programmer.

6. Inquiries. Direct all inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.