Changes in Reporting Unemployment Compensation Benefit Payments--Department of Commerce and Bureau of the Census

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Washington, D.C. 20210
Classification: UI
Correspondence symbol: ISUeRA
Issue date: October 13, 1992
Rescissions: None
Expiration date: October 31, 1993
Directive: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 49-92
To: ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
From: BARBARA ANN FARMER, Administrator for Regional Management
Subject: Changes in Reporting Unemployment Compensation Benefit Payments--Department of Commerce and Bureau of the Census

1. Purpose. To provide guidance to State employment security agencies (SESAs) on how to report unemployment compensation (UC) benefit payments occurring after September 30, 1992.

2. Background. Beginning in FY 1993, changes will occur in how UC benefit payments for the Department of Commerce (DOC) (Code 450) and the Bureau of the Census (Code 909) are reported on the ETA 191, Statement of Expenditures and Adjustments of Federal Funds for Federal Employees and Ex-service members.

   Prior to FY 1988, SESAs were instructed to report all DOC benefit payments to Code 450. Later, DOC requested that the Bureau of the Census be assigned a separate code (909 was assigned) in order to better capture those payments that were specifically related to UC paid in 1990 to decennial workers. Congress included in DOC's FY 1991 appropriation, restrictive language that would limit the Census Bureau from reimbursing the Federal Employees Compensation (FEC) Account for any benefits that were based on decennial wages earned after April 20, 1990.

   The President's FY 1993 budget request contains language that ends the exception-from-payment policy effective October 1, 1992. For the State agencies, this means that all Census benefit payments occurring after September 30, 1992, will be assigned to DOC (Code 450). The only payments assigned to the Bureau of the Census (Code 909) will be those that are associated with UC occurring prior to the end of FY 1992. Also, Code 909 should be used to report those benefits that should have been charged to Census but were incorrectly assigned to DOC in a prior quarter and are being adjusted after September 30. When codes are assigned properly in the initial claims taking process, an important feature that helps to ensure that agencies are billed correctly, the FEC Account can be reimbursed.

   We have also requested DOC's assistance in this transition by ensuring that the separation information on each ES 931, Request for Wage and Separation Information--UCFE, is explicit and that the correct agency code is used on both the ES 931 and the SF 8, Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Compensation.

3. Action Required. SESAs are requested to inform appropriate staff of the above change in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new reporting arrangement.

4. Inquiries. Direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.