UIPL_28-20_Change3_acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY SYSTEM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Washington D.C. 20210 CLASSIFICATION Unemployment Insurance CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL OUI DPM DATE September 17 2021 RESCISSIONS None EXPIRATION DATE Continuing ADVISORY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 28-20 Change 3 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES FROM LENITA JACOBS-SIMMONS s Acting Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Extension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter UIPL No. 28-20 Change 2. 1.Purpose. The purpose of this UIPL is to advise states that the deadline for submitting an SF- 424 for grants to assist states with fraud detection and prevention including identity verification and overpayment recovery activities in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation PEUC programs is extended to October 31 2021. 2.Action Requested. The U.S. Department of Labor s Department Employment and Training Administration ETA requests that State Workforce Agency Administrators provide information contained in this UIPL to appropriate staff. 3.Summary and Background. a.Summary On August 11 2021 the Department issued UIPL No. 28-20 Change 2 advising states of the availability of funding for fraud detection and prevention identity verification and overpayment recovery activities in the PUA and PEUC programs. In that UIPL states were advised that SF-424 requests for grants should be submitted no later than September 13 2021. The Department has determined that states may need additional time to submit SF-424s and is extending the deadline to October 31 2021. b.Background The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security CARES Act was enacted on March 27 2020 Public Law Pub. L. 116-136 and created new temporary unemployment benefit programs including PUA and PEUC. These programs extended unemployment benefits and provided unemployment benefits to individuals who were not typically eligible to obtain benefits e.g. individuals who were self-employed . See UIPL No. 14-20. The CARES Act was subsequently amended by the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 Continued Assistance Act Pub. L. 116-260 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA Pub. L. 117-2 both of which further amended and extended the CARES Act programs. See UIPL Nos. 09-21 and 14-21 2 respectively. With each new enactment states were required to modify their computer systems and service delivery processes as well as to notify individuals of changes to eligibility requirements for the PUA and PEUC programs. Addressing both eligibility fraud and identity fraud remain a top priority for the Department and the entire unemployment compensation UC system. As discussed in UIPL Nos. 23 -20 28 -20 and 28 -20 Changes 1 and 2 ETA strongly encourages states to adopt an array of solutions and techniques to detect and fight fraud have robust strategies in place to verify the identity of individuals applying for unemployment benefits and strengthen efforts to recover overpayments including fraudulently paid UC benefits. 4. Guidance . Section 5.c. of UIPL No. 28 -20 Change 2 provides instructions for applying for a grant under this opportunity . One of the allowable uses for these funds is to procure implement and pay reoccurring subscription costs and or ongoing maintenance costs of identity verification and fraud detection solutions including using funds to pay for services provided through an order for a state issued by the Department against one of the Department s identity proofing Blanket Purchase Agreements BPAs . Th e Department plans to issue instructions to states on the BPAs and the procedures for the Department to issue orders under those BPAs in accordance with federal procurement regulations. The Department has determined that states may need additional time to review UIPL No. 28 - 20 Change 2 and to develop an SF -424 in response to the solicitation. Therefore the Department is extending the deadline for submission of the SF -424 to October 31 2021. All other information in UIPL No. 28 -20 Change 2 remain s the same. 5. Inquiries . Please direct inquiries to COVID -19 dol.gov with a copy to the appropriate ETA Regional Office. 6. References . American Rescue Plan Act Pub. L. 117 -2 enacted March 11 2021 Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act Pub. L. 116 -260 enacted December 27 2020 CARES Act Pub. L. 116 -136 enacted March 23 2020 UIPL No. 14 -21 American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ARPA Key Unemployment Insurance UI Provisions issued March 15 20 21 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 5669 UIPL No. 09 -21 Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 Continued Assistance Act Summary of Key Unemployment Insurance UI Provisions issued December 30 2020 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 3831 UIPL No. 28 -20 Change 2 Additional Funding to Assist wit h Strengthening Fraud Detection and Prevention Efforts and the Recovery of Overpayments in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation PEUC Programs as well as Guidance on Processes for Combatting Identity Fraud issued August 11 2021 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 7207 3 UIPL No. 28-20 Change 1 Additional Funding for Identity Verification or Verification of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance PUA Claimants and Funding to Assist with Efforts to Prevent and Detect Fraud and Identity Theft as well as Recover Fraud Overpayments in the PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation PEUC Programs issued January 15 2021 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 9897 UIPL No. 28-20 Addressing Fraud in the Unemployment Insurance UI System and Providing States with Funding to Assist with Efforts to Prevent and Detect Fraud and Identity Theft and Recover Fraud Overpayments in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation PEUC Programs issued August 31 2020 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 8044 and UIPL No. 14-20 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security CARES Act of 2020 - Summary of Key Unemployment Insurance UI Provisions and Guidance Regarding Temporary Emergency State Staffing Flexibility issued April 2 2020 https wdr.doleta.gov directives corr doc.cfm DOCN 3390.7.Attachment s . 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