UIPL_04-04.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY SYSTEM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Washington D. C. 20210 CLASSIFICATION OWS CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL DUIO ISSUE DATE December 8 2003 RESCISSIONS None EXPIRATION DATE December 31 2004 ADVISORY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 04 -04 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES FROM CHERYL ATKINSON s s Administrator Office of Workforce Security SUBJECT Installation of the Revised Automated Quarterly Statement of Benefits Paid to Combined Wage Claimants 1. Purpose. To advise State Workforce Agencies SWAs that new software ICON -IB6 Release 2 used for processing quarterly bills related to unemployment claims that combine wages from two or more states must be installed an d operational with the billing cycle for the quarter ending March 31 2004. Due to the interaction of states in this process all states must implement Release 2 of the IB6 model code or procedures conforming to specifications provided to states not using model code at the same time. 2. References. Section 3304 a 9 B of the Internal Revenue Code 20 CFR 616 ET Handbook 399 IB6 Implementation Guide IB6 Non -Model Code Guide and IB6 User Guide. 3. Background. Over the past three years the automated IB6 has been upgraded to include features suggested by the states. These upgrades have been discussed by two workgroups convened for this purpose and approved by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies Interstate Benefits IB Committee. The electro nic IB6 represents the automation of the Statement of Benefits Paid to Combined Wage Claimants Form IB6. The three basic functions of the IB6 subsystem model code are the Export Import process the Edit Reconciliation process and the discrepancy handling process. The Export Import function prepares the IB6 records for transmission and handles incoming IB6 data. The Edit Reconciliation function compares IB6 data with data from the IB5 identified in the key to insure accuracy of charges and to identify d iscrepancies. The discrepancy handling feature allows for the viewing and correction of errors identified during the reconciliation process. 4. Distribution of Guides and Model Code. On September 30 2002 the ICON HUB distributed the Non -Model Code Guide to the non -IBM states for their use in developing conforming code. Release 2 of the IB6 model code has been installed and tested by Alabama Maryland New Jersey West Virginia and Wisconsin. Maine and Tennessee non -IBM states h ave also developed conforming code and participated in the testing. On October 14 2003 the states ICON programmers were notified that Release 2 of the IB6 subsystem is available for distribution and states were provided with an installation guide and c opies of two Power Point presentations that were given at the 2003 Interstate Benefits National Training Meeting. These presentations provide an overview of Release 2 of the IB6 subsystem and information technology notes that the pilot states compiled duri ng testing. On October 22 2003 the revised IB6 User Guide was distributed electronically to all the states Interstate Program Coordinators and ICON Programmers. 5. Summary of Changes. The revisions made to the IB -6 model code include many changes that wer e requested by users of Release 1. These include Processing adjustments first Editing for all errors unless IB5 not found Saving all Discrepancy Codes Allowing the Max Chargeable Exceeded message to be overridden Retaining information from prior quarter s on the Claimant Detail File In Progress file to hold discrepancies PF Key standardization Help Function Report listing net charges that are credits Online Data Entry writing to IB6 File In Progress File Batch import program developed to indicate when net amount from state is credit amount Payment authorization reports run at import time IB13 comments saved on IB6 record 6. Individual State Testing of the New IB6 Subsystem. When a SWA is ready to test the transmission of its Release 2 IB6 data it may send th e test data to the ICON HUB where it will be reviewed. Please contact Michele Fulkerson via email at Michele.Fulkerson lmco.com or by phone at 407 -306 -7133 to obtain the job control language JCL needed for the state s test data. 7. Action Required. State Ad ministrators are requested to provide a copy of this advisory to the appropriate program and data processing staff and ensure that Release 2 of the automated IB6 is installed and operational for the first quarter 2004 combined wage billing cycle. Prior to the first quarter 2004 IB6 billing cycle the IB6 data will continue to be transmitted in the Release 1 format. On April 1 2004 and thereafter all IB6 data must be transmitted in the new Release 2 format. 8. Inquiries. Any questions should be addressed to the appropriate Regional Office.