To provide states with operating, financial, and reporting instructions for the full federal funding of the first week of unemployment compensation (UC) authorized by section 2105, Temporary Full Federal Funding of the First Week of Compensable Regular Unemployment for States with No Waiting Week, of the CARES Act of 2020, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-136.

To provide states with an overview of STC program provisions in Title II, Subtitle A of the CARES Act, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-136, and to provide guidance regarding 100 percent federal reimbursement of certain state STC payments.

This Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) provides states with reporting instructions for provisions contained in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-127, Division D, EUISAA, and informs states of an amendment of section 903(h)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (SSA) (42 U.S.C. §1103(h)(2)(B)), as enacted by EUISAA, by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Pub. L. 116-136, enacted March 27, 2020. The attachment to the UIPL also provides a set of related Questions and Answers.

To advise states that the ETA 205 report, “Preliminary Estimates of Average Employer Contribution Rates,” will be discontinued and the information from the report will be merged into the ETA 204 report, “Experience Rating Report.”

As states have gained experience administering the FPUC program under the CARES Act, they have identified questions about aspects of the program’s operation. The purpose of this UIPL is to address those questions and provide further guidance about the FPUC program authorized by Section 2104 of the CARES Act, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-136, and provide instructions for completing Form ETA 9178-P, Quarterly Narrative Progress Report - Employment and Training Supplemental Budget Request Activities.

To encourage and assist states in applying for grant funds for STC programs and issue guidance on the process to apply for the grants provided for under Section 2110 of the CARES Act, which supports the Secretary of Labor's (Secretary's) commitment to provide resources and assistance during re-opening of businesses and help employers and workers avert layoffs.

To provide guidance to states to ensure that they comply with their statutory and regulatory obligations to provide access to Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, services, and information, as outlined in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 02-16.

To remind states of program integrity functions required for the regular UI program and to provide states with guidance regarding required program integrity functions for the UI programs authorized by Sections 2102 (PUA), 2104 (FPUC), and 2107 (PEUC) of the CARES Act.

As states have gained experience administering the PEUC program under the CARES Act, they have identified questions about aspects of the program's operation. The purpose of this UIPL is to address those questions and provide further guidance about the PEUC program authorized by section 2107 of the CARES Act of 2020, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-136.

To provide guidance and respond to state inquiries related to the Federal-State EB program and temporary changes to the program in accordance with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, specifically Division D, Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020 (EUISAA), Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-127, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act) (Pub. L. 116-136).