TEN-14-14-Acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES FROM PORTIA WU s Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Unemployment Insurance Integrity Center of Excellence Online Portal 1. Purpose. To announce the availability of a new online tool that enables state workforce agencies to communicate with the Unemployment Insurance UI Integrity Center of Excellence Center about integrity activities share successful integrity practices and rapidly disseminate information about current and emerging fraud schemes. 2. References. Training and Employment Notice TEN No. 18-11 Unemployment Insurance Community of Practice COP and Unemployment Insurance Program Letter UIPL No. 28-12 Supplemental Funding Opportunity for the Establishment of an Unemployment Insurance UI Integrity Center of Excellence . 3. Background. In September 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor Department selected the State of New York to establish the Center through a cooperative agreement with the goal of promoting the development and implementation of innovative integrity strategies to support all states in the prevention and detection of UI overpayments. The key deliverables for the Center as identified in UIPL 28-12 are Development of sophisticated new data analytics and predictive modeling tools to improve the prevention and detection of improper payments Development of a secure portal for the communication of fraud schemes in the UI program Development and dissemination of integrity training modules Development and dissemination of information related to best practices and model UI program operations and Piloting projects with states and providing products to help states improve their integrity operations and offer states onsite technical assistance to identify operational changes that will improve program integrity. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 14-14 DATE December 1 2014 2 4. Design. The new portal is accessed through the existing COP site announced in TEN 18-11 and located at http ui.workforce3one.org . Like the UI COP the portal is a dynamic resource available to all staff within the UI community. This new resource will be a premier online clearinghouse of content for all things related to UI integrity. The recently launched portal contains information on successful state integrity practices information about the Center and its deliverables and links to submit states integrity practices to the community. Users can find successful practices by state size strategy goals and strategy topic area for increased efficiency. The portal allows users to find what they need quickly and easily. The Center will expand the portal soon to include news and information on UI fraud schemes state and Federal program contacts and access to the Center-designed integrity training materials. In the coming months the portal will also add functionality to enable state fraud investigators to exchange encrypted information about ongoing and active cases to assist prevention efforts. The portal will also provide opportunities for states to engage learn from each other and share valuable lessons learned. The success of the portal will only be as good as the efforts of its members. Ongoing usage input and feedback will be required to populate effectively and continuously improve the portal and make it a better resource for states. 5. Action Requested. The Department asks State Administrators and UI Directors to support and promote participation in this initiative by encouraging their UI staff to register on the UI 3 COP and regularly visit the portal as members and contributors. Federal and state UI staff members who have not already registered on the COP may do so by visiting http ui.workforce3one.org member register . 6. Inquiries. The Center is available to provide technical assistance to the UI system on the use of this online tool. Please direct comments questions or requests for technical assistance to Mr. Jon Rickert Project Coordinator of the Secure Portal Center of Excellence at 518 485-6321 or at jon.rickert labor.ny.gov .