$87M in Grants Awarded to Improve State Unemployment Insurance Programs

Connecticut receives $1,677,909

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced awards totaling more than $87 million to improve state unemployment insurance programs. The funding, awarded to 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, will allow state agencies to implement program integrity and system improvement activities, as well as implement or expand reemployment and eligibility assessment programs.

“These grants will allow state agencies to upgrade and enhance their unemployment insurance programs by adopting new technologies, ensuring payments are given to those eligible to receive them and incorporating programs to ensure recipients of unemployment insurance are given the resources they need to find a new job quickly,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez.

Connecticut received $1,677,909 in program integrity funding. To qualify for a program integrity grant, states must have implemented or committed to implement a set of required integrity activities. These include the implementation and expansion of State Information Data Exchange System; an enhanced National Directory of New Hire cross-match strategy; Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers automation; SIDES Monetary and Potential Employer Charges Data Exchanges; as well as other optional strategies identified by the department.

In addition to program integrity grants, the DOL awarded five state consortia grants totaling approximately $15.8 million for projects designed to improve overall program quality, performance, and integrity. State consortia have also committed to implementing the full range of required integrity activities in order to qualify for UI information technology modernization funding.

Finally, approximately $5 million is awarded to states for the reemployment and eligibility assessment program. The REA program introduces claimants to the reemployment services that are available at the American Job Center, helps them to develop an individual reemployment plan, and includes a complete review of the claimant’s eligibility to assist in preventing UI improper payments.