TEN 05-25.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 05-25 DATEFebruary 2 2026 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO STATE GOVERNORS STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIRECTORS STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS STATE LABOR MARKET INFORMATION DIRECTORS STATE RAPID RESPONSE COORDINATORS STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES STATE CTE DIRECTORS STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL APPRENTICESHIP DIRECTORS AMERICAN JOB CENTER OFFICE MANAGERS ALL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION GRANTEES FROM HENRY MACK Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Impact of a Temporary Suspension of Federal Government Services on Department of Labor s Employment and Training Administration and Office of Career Technical and Adult Education Funded Programs and Activities 1. Purpose. To provide Employment and Training Administration ETA and Office of Career Technical and Adult Education OCTAE grant award recipients and stakeholders with information about how a temporary suspension of Federal Government services impacts the execution of ETA and OCTAE funded programs and services. 2. Action Requested. Please review the attached Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration ETA General Questions and Answers Regarding the Impact of a Lapse in Congressional Appropriations and share with appropriate staff. 3. Summary and Background. a.Summa ry This Training Employment Notice TEN informs the education and workforce systems of the availability of the attached Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration ETA General Questions and Answers Regarding the Impact of a Lapse in Congressional Appropriations. 2 b. Background H.R. 5371 the Continuing Appropriations Agriculture Legislative Branch Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act 2026 Public Law 119-37 was enacted on November 12 2025 and continued funding to ETA at the same level under the same authority and conditions and for the same projects and activities as were provided for in H.R. 1968 the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025 Public Law 119-4. The latest continuing resolution expired on January 31 2026 at 12 00 AM. Federal departments and agencies without additional Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations including ETA will engage in orderly lapse-in- appropriations activities and then be shut down until appropriations are enacted. Agencies will be permitted to perform only activities that have already been funded and do not require significant Federal oversight or excepted activities which may include those activities related to the orderly suspension of operations and otherwise fall into a narrow definition of allowable activities. Most ETA staff will be furloughed and unable to work during the government lapse in appropriations. ETA provides grant administration services supporting the Department of Education s OCTAE programs under an Interagency Agreement signed in May 2025. Because this information is applicable to the OCTAE grants that ETA supports OCTAE grant award recipients have been included in this Notice. 4. Questions and Answers. The attachment titled Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration General Questions and Answers Regarding the Impact of a Lapse in Congressional Appropriations describes the impact of a lapse in appropriations on the execution of ETA and OCTAE funded programs and services including the a. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs b. Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service c. American Job Center operations d. Job Corps e. Competitively funded grants f. Trade Adjustment Assistance g. Foreign Labor Certification Programs h. Dislocated Worker Grants i. Registered Apprenticeship programs including Registered Apprenticeship grants j. DOL-sponsored online career tools k. Unemployment Compensation programs including Disaster Unemployment Assistance and l. OCTAE programs. You may find common questions for the above programs and services in the attachment. 5. References. H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations Agriculture Legislative Branch Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act 2026 Public Law 119-37 H.R.5371 - 119 th Congress 2025-2026 Continuing Appropriations Agriculture Legislative Branch Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act 2026 Congress.gov Library of Congress 3 H.R. 1968 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025 Public Law 119-4 H.R.1968 - 119th Congress 2025-2026 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025 Congress.gov Library of Congress H.R. 2882 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 Public Law 118-47 H.R.2882 - 118th Congress 2023-2024 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 Congress.gov Library of Congress Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 03-22 Impacts of Lapses in Federal Appropriations on State Administration of Unemployment Insurance UI Programs and Federal Agencies issued November 22 2021 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER No. 03-22 U.S. Department of Labor dol.gov . 6. Attachment. I. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration General Questions and Answers Regarding the Impact of a Lapse in Congressional Appropriations. Attachment I I-1 Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration General Questions and Answers Regarding the Impact of a Lapse in Congressional Appropriations Grants and Cooperative Agreements Operating Under Obligated Funds This section does not apply to Unemployment Compensation grants which are addressed in a separate section of the document. 1 Question Under a lapse in appropriations will current Employment and Training Administration ETA Federal financial assistance grant recipients including cooperative agreement recipients and Department of Education Office of Career Technical and Adult Education OCTAE program recipients be able to draw down funds Answer Grant recipients including cooperative agreement recipients will be able to draw down funds for grants for which ETA has made the funds available through the Department of Health and Human Services HHS Payment Management System PMS which is expected to be operational. This includes grant recipients for the Department of Education OCTAE programs. For ETA programs grant recipients will need to continue submitting a justification with their payment requests in HHS-PMS and designated ETA staff will review and approve these payment requests in Defend the Spend as appropriate. If technical assistance is needed PMS will provide limited assistance and will provide updates on their website concerning services. 2 Question What happens to grants if there is a lapse in appropriations Answer For those grants to which ETA has obligated funds the grant recipients will be able to continue operating with funds already available through grant actions by ETA though there could be issues in accessing funds as detailed in this section. If there is a lapse in appropriations ETA will be unable to award new grants with exceptions for Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant DWG actions and Disaster Unemployment Assistance DUA grant actions as discussed further in Q As 28 29 and 37. Grants funded by prior appropriations acts may also be awarded as necessary. There will be delays in making other funding available. Please note that grant recipients will not have access to federal project officers when developing their grant applications. 3 Question What will happen if a grantee is on a restricted drawdown as a sanction or a special award condition for a high-risk recipient and cannot get federal approval to request the drawdown of funds from the PMS Answer This question is only applicable to a handful of grants. ETA has identified the grants in question and will notify grant recipients they may experience delays in securing an approval for submitting a payment request to PMS. I-2 4 Question How would a government lapse in appropriations impact the Department s ability to answer day-to-day questions from grantees or resolve technical issues with reporting Answer For most programs staff will not be available to answer questions provide technical assistance or to resolve any technical issues with performance data or financial report submissions. Additionally daily Departmental functions associated with the grants will cease with the few exceptions discussed in these Q As. 5 Question What impact would a government lapse in appropriations have on the Department s grant recipients Answer As a standard practice grant recipients with a few exceptions discussed in later Q As draw down funds through the HHS-PMS in the amount needed for disbursement. This practice is expected to continue during a period of lapse in appropriations. The remaining unexpended balances should be accessible and the HHS-PMS should be operational. This includes grant recipients for OCTAE programs. For ETA programs grant recipients will need to continue submitting a justification with their payment requests in HHS-PMS and designated ETA staff will review and approve these payment requests in Defend the Spend as appropriate. Also in the event of problems in HHS-PMS technical assistance may be extremely limited or not available. 6 Question Will grant amendments modifications be approved Answer ETA will not be able to process most grant amendments including adding additional funds however ETA will process Disaster Recovery DWG actions and DUA grant actions as discussed further in Q As 28 29 and 37. ETA may execute other limited grant actions for programs that may occur in instances of an emergency or for previously appropriated funds. 7 Question What would be the impact on American Job Center AJC operations if there is a lapse in appropriations Answer States and local areas can continue normal operations at AJCs within the resources already awarded as grant awards have been made for program year PY 2025 July 1 2025 June 30 2026 . 8 Question How do grant recipients contact excepted personnel for other excepted or emergency activities including state applications for disaster DWGs Answer The phone number to contact excepted personnel at ETA is 202 693-2772. Messages will be returned. This phone number is NOT toll free. I-3 Performance and Financial Reporting for Grant Recipients This section does not apply to Unemployment Compensation grants which are addressed in a separate section of the document. 9 Question Would competitive and formula grant recipients need to submit fiscal and performance reports during a lapse in appropriations Answer If grant recipients have funding grant recipients will continue to be responsible for following all the terms and conditions of the grant including fiscal and performance reporting requirements. Many of ETA s Management Information Systems such as Enterprise Business Support System EBSS Grantee Performance Management System GPMS Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System RAPIDS and Workforce Integrated Performance System WIPS will be available during a lapse in appropriations. However ETA will only provide limited support until the government re- opens. Grant recipients should make back-up documentation plans accordingly. Once the government re-opens grant recipients will be responsible for submitting reports for the next quarterly due date. OCTAE grant recipients will need to continue to be responsible for following all terms and conditions of the grant. Contracts Management 10 Question How would a lapse in appropriations impact the Department s contracts Answer The Department will likely issue stop work orders to certain contractors depending on various considerations. The servicing Contracting Officer will let the affected contractors know at the appropriate time if they will need to stop work. Contractors who do not receive stop work orders should continue performance of their contracts. Many Contracting Officers and Contracting Officer s Representatives will not be available during a lapse in appropriations. As a result there may be a delay or inability to process contractor invoices and it is anticipated that payments will not be made until after the government re-opens. This is true even if a contract has sufficient funding to allow performance. Please note that there will be some excepted federal staff supporting exempt program contracts see the Q As 11-17 relating to Job Corps . Job Corps 11 Question Will Job Corps centers have enough funds to operate if the government was to have a lapse in appropriations Answer Job Corps center operators will continue operations utilizing available funding. ETA is actively monitoring the funding situation and will issue additional information as needed. Essential services including student meals healthcare and security will remain a priority. Center operators should remain in close communication with their Regional Directors for updates and further instructions. I-4 12 Question What if an incremental obligation is due during a lapse in appropriations Answer ETA will continue to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. Centers should report urgent financial concerns to their Regional Directors and incremental obligations may be made on a case-by-case basis with available funding. 13 Question Whom should I contact if there is an emergency at my Job Corps center Answer The Job Corps Regional Director in each region will be working and will serve as the primary point of contact for all center issues in their region. Centers should submit emergency requests through their designated Regional Director. 14 Question What if we experience a facility emergency Answer National Office facilities personnel will be available on an emergency basis. The Job Corps Regional Directors will coordinate emergency requests with the Division Chief for Facilities and Asset Management in the National Office as needed. 15 Question What should centers do during this shutdown period Answer Job Corps centers should continue to focus on three critical areas in executing the program s mission 1 safety of students and staff 2 program accountability and 3 student achievement. It is imperative that centers continue to keep students as the number one priority by providing a safe learning and living environment and helping students achieve their career goals. Operators should increase their accountability activities to monitor center and staff compliance with the Job Corps policies procedures and requirements. 16 Question Will new student enrollments be affected during a lapse in appropriations Answer Job Corps centers should continue to enroll new students in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Centers should work with their Regional Directors regarding enrollment keeping in mind that only a small number of federal staff will be available to oversee Job Corps operations. 17 Question Will the Office of Job Corps continue to conduct scheduled compliance assessments and monitoring trips Answer During a lapse in appropriations only a small number of Federal staff will be available to oversee Job Corps operations. These staff members will not conduct routine compliance assessments or monitoring visits but will travel only in cases of safety or security emergencies. Regional Directors as part of this limited team will conduct desk audit activities where possible to help maintain oversight despite travel restrictions. I-5 Grant Competitions 18 Question Will potential applicants be able to submit applications through Grants.gov for Funding Opportunity Announcements FOA Answer Grants.gov is used to publicize grant solicitations and receive applications. HHS which operates Grants.gov anticipates that the Grants.gov system will remain in operational status but with reduced federal support staff presence during a lapse in appropriations. In addition HHS anticipates that the Grants.gov Contact Center will remain available and provide assistance to callers. All application due dates will remain as published. All applications must be submitted by the date and time specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. 19 Question Will potential applicants be able to get answers to questions related to the open Funding Opportunity Announcements Answer Under a lapse in appropriations grants specialists and the program and grants policy staff that would normally provide assistance will not be available. Staff will answer questions after they return to work but applicants should adhere to currently posted deadlines regardless of when staff can respond to questions. Trade Adjustment Assistance TAA 20 Question What venues will be available for the public to submit petitions for TAA benefits and services Answer On July 1 2022 the TAA Program began a phased termination. As a result the ETA cannot accept or conduct investigations on any petitions. 21 Question What venues will be available for workers whose petitions have been denied to file requests for reconsideration Answer Due to the phased termination of the TAA Program which began on July 1 2022 Applications for Reconsideration are no longer being accepted. 22 Question Will states be able to access available TAA training funds from the Reserve Account Answer States will not be able to receive Reserve funds for TAA training during a lapse in appropriations because federal staff will not be available to review requests authorize funds or answer any questions about funding. Once awarded funds run out additional funding for administration of the program will not be available until a continuing resolution or an annual appropriation is enacted. I-6 23 Question How will ETA determine the date new petitions are received when staff is not available to accept new petitions during a lapse in appropriations and what issues will result from that delay Answer See question 20. Effective May 14 2025 the online portal was fully decommissioned. 24 Question Will states be able to pay Trade Readjustment Allowance TRA Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance ATAA and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance RTAA Answer Yes. States may pay TRA ATAA RTAA benefit. States cannot use FY 25 funds to pay for FY 2026 benefits however additional funding is available for TRA ATAA and RTAA benefits in FY 2026 through advances made from the Unemployment Trust Fund. 25 Question Which TAA funds are available Answer States may use FY 2024 and FY 2025 Training and Other Activities funds that remain available. Once funds run out additional funding for administration of the program will not be available until a continuing resolution or an annual appropriation is enacted. Foreign Labor Certification 26 Question How will a lapse in appropriations affect the processing of employer applications for foreign labor certification programs Answer In the event of a lapse in appropriations the Office of Foreign Labor Certification OFLC will continue processing prevailing wage determinations and labor certification applications for temporary and permanent employment in the United States. Dislocated Worker Grants 27 Question ETA typically makes decisions on DWG applications within 45 calendar days of receiving a complete and fundable DWG application. If there is a lapse in appropriations will the clock continue ticking during this time Answer If a lapse in appropriations occurs ETA will take action on any new and pending Disaster Recovery DWG applications and modifications during this time ETA will resume reviewing all other DWG applications and modification requests when government operations resume with timelines extended to account for the number of days the government has a lapse in appropriations. In the event of a lengthy lapse in appropriations ETA will be unable to meet this timeline. 28 Question Will Disaster Recovery DWG applications be accepted during a government lapse in appropriations I-7 Answer If a lapse in appropriations occurs ETA will monitor Grants.gov to determine if any new Disaster Recovery DWG applications are submitted because of any Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA state or other federal agency disaster declarations during the lapse in appropriations period. ETA will continue to analyze make decisions and as appropriate award pending and new or incremental funding in response to Disaster Recovery DWG applications and modifications during this time although turnaround times could be prolonged because of federal staffing restrictions. Registered Apprenticeship 29 Question What would be the impact of a lapse in appropriations on Registered Apprenticeship activities Answer ETA s Office of Apprenticeship OA is the Registration Agency in 27 states and territories. Federal staff are directly responsible for the registration of new programs and oversight of new and existing programs and apprentices in these states. Generally program sponsors in these states would experience delays in registration of new programs and new apprentices and verification of their status as registered apprenticeship programs during this period in which federal staff are unavailable to complete these registrations or verify an employer s status as a bona fide registered apprenticeship program. Such delays may impact some employers ability to hire new apprentices and or to bid on new projects that require proof of registered apprenticeship program status. Federal staff would not be able to issue Davis-Bacon certifications necessary to verify that an apprentice is registered with OA and therefore can be paid less than the prevailing wage. Without such certifications employers could be found to be in violation of wage and hour laws and regulations. Registered Apprenticeship program reviews for compliance and other core program elements would also be on hold during this period. Apprentices who complete an apprenticeship during the period of a lapse in appropriations would experience delays in receipt of the certificates of completion of apprenticeship which could affect their wages. In many licensed trades to sit for the licensing examination the apprentice must present proof of a DOL Certificate of Completion. Without this certificate apprentice graduates who are unable to complete the licensure examinations would then experience delays in receiving wage increases associated with being a licensed professional in their skilled trade. For Registered Apprenticeship grant programs cooperative agreements and contracts the impacts of a lapse in appropriation on these activities is explained earlier in this document. Online Career Tools 30 Question Will the DOL ETA Toll-Free Helpline be available during a lapse in appropriations Answer No. The ETA Toll-Free Helpline at 1-877-US-2JOBS that provides information to job seekers and others to identify state and local employment unemployment training and related programs and services will not operate during a lapse in appropriations. I-8 31 Question Will individuals be able to access online career tools and will workforce professionals be able to access the technical assistance website WorkforceGPS Answer Online career tools such as www.CareerOneStop.org www.MyNextMove.org www.OnetOnline.org will continue to operate. The WorkforceGPS technical assistance website will continue to be accessible during a lapse in appropriations. However the content will not be refreshed no information will be added or updated and no live webinars will occur during a lapse in appropriations. Unemployment Compensation ETA published Unemployment Insurance Program Letter UIPL No. 03-22 on November 22 2021 describing the impact of lapses in federal appropriations on state administration of UI programs and federal agencies. This guidance remains in effect. As noted below state agencies are responsible for processing UC applications and paying benefits and will continue doing so for existing and new claimants as long as allocated administrative funds remain available. States will be able to withdraw benefit funds from appropriate accounts to pay eligible claimants. Claims processing for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees UCFE and Unemployment Compensation for Ex- Servicemembers UCX could be delayed. 32 Question Will administrative funds be available for regular UC UCFE UCX Extended Benefits EB and TAA TRA ATAA and RTAA Answer Administration of all these programs is funded through a grant. These benefits would continue to be paid as long as allocated administrative funds remain available. All funds allocated to states before a lapse in appropriations may be used during the lapse in appropriations in accordance with the grant agreement. Previously appropriated funding may be available to provide a limited amount of advance funding for states remaining FY 2026 UI base administration grants. This funding is subject to remaining availability of unobligated amounts under previous appropriation s . However once those funds run out additional funding for administration of these programs will not be available until a continuing resolution or an annual appropriation is enacted. 33 Are Federal employees who are furloughed as a result of the lapse in appropriations eligible for UCFE or UCX benefits What about excepted or exempted employees who continue to work during the period of the lapse in appropriations but who are not receiving pay Answer Furloughed employees are individuals who are not working or receiving pay during a lapse in appropriations. Eligibility requirements for federal civilian employees are the same as for the regular UI program. While each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility of UI benefits a furloughed employee will usually qualify if they meet work and wage requirements and any additional state requirements. I-9 Excepted employees are individuals who are not furloughed because they are performing excepted functions and are required to continue working either on a full-time or intermittent basis. Excepted employees are not paid during the shutdown for their work due to the lapse in appropriations but are entitled to pay for the hours worked during the lapse. Intermittent workers who work only as necessary to perform excepted functions will have a varied schedule that may include some periods of full-time work some periods of part-time work and some periods of no work at all i.e. furlough status . Excepted workers working full-time are not considered unemployed and would not be eligible for UI benefits. In contrast intermittent workers may be eligible for benefits for weeks in which they do not work full- time. Exempt employees are individuals who are not furloughed because their positions are either funded by sources other than the lapsed appropriation or are not subject to furlough e.g. Presidential Appointees who are not covered by the leave system in 5 U.S.C. chapter 63 or an equivalent formal leave system. . Exempt workers working full-time are not considered unemployed and would not be eligible for UI benefits. If an individual receives back pay or retroactive pay that covers the same time for which they received UI benefits they must promptly report this information to the state UI agency in accordance with the state s instructions. The state UI agency may contact that individual for additional information and establish an overpayment of any UI benefits received. ETA issued guidance addressing these questions in UIPL No. 03-22 on November 22 2021 and published Questions and Answers for Federal Employees and Contractors available at https oui.doleta.gov unemploy ucfe Federal Employees and Contractors UC factsheet.pd f. 34 Question Will there be anyone available in federal agencies to get information on wage credits and reasons for separation for federal employees who file for unemployment benefits Answer Some federal agencies may have staff working during a lapse in appropriations to respond but processing may be delayed. Where feasible ETA will coordinate with other federal agencies to provide a list to state UI directors of contacts available during a lapse. Note that if a federal agency does not respond to a Form 931 Request for Wage and Separation Information within the allotted time within 12 days of the request date the state agency will follow normal operating procedures which use an affidavit process to determine both monetary and non-monetary eligibility. For UCFE claims states will complete a Form 935 Claimant s Affidavit of Federal Civilian Service Wages and Reason for Separation and ask the federal employee to provide credible evidence of federal employment such as a SF-50 earnings and leave statements or a W-2. One copy of the Form 935 will be forwarded to the federal agency and one copy will be retained by the state as supporting documentation. If an affidavit is used to file the claim and the Federal agency later returns wage and or I-10 separation information that does not match the affidavit the state will determine if benefits were paid improperly. This may result in an overpayment and where appropriate a fraud determination. For UCX claims states will send a Type 1 to the Federal Claims Control Center and if there is no record of the DD 214 on file at the Federal Claims Control Center and there is no response from the military branch the state will take an affidavit based on the claimant s member copy of the DD 214. If an affidavit is used to file the claim and the military branch returns the DD 214 and the information returned does not match the affidavit the state will determine if benefits were paid improperly. This may result in an overpayment and where appropriate a fraud determination. 35 Question Should states advise applicants who were furloughed that any UCFE paid will be required to be repaid once they receive back pay Answer States should advise applications to promptly report if they receive back pay or retroactive pay that covers the same time for which they received UI benefits. The state UI agency may contact that individual for additional information and establish an overpayment of any UI benefits received. ETA issued guidance addressing these questions in UIPL No. 03-22 on November 22 2021 and published Questions and Answers for Federal Employees and Contractors available at https oui.doleta.gov unemploy ucfe Federal Employees and Contractors UC factsheet.pd f. 36 Question Will funding for Disaster Unemployment Insurance DUA be available Answer Yes. Excepted staff at DOL will be made available to process DUA funding authorizations from FEMA and FEMA will have excepted personnel available to process disaster requests. 37 Question Should states continue to submit Unemployment Insurance UI required reports Answer Yes. States will continue to submit UI required reports just as they did before the lapse in appropriations using the same process software and deadlines. Please be aware there will be no technical or operational support available. State users are reminded to utilize the recently deployed Unemployment Insurance Reporting System UIRS for reporting the UI Required Reports and for the Data Validation and Tax Performance System programs see UIPL No. 15-24 Change 1 . States should continue to use the legacy Unemployment Insurance Database Management System UIDBMS for reporting and analysis under the Benefit Accuracy Measurement BAM program. Any adjustments to the currently planned February 9 2026 launch of the BAM application in UIRS will be addressed at a later date. I-11 38 Question Will states be able to obtain Title XII advances from the Federal Unemployment Account FUA in the Unemployment Trust Fund UTF Answer Yes. On January 31 2026 DOL estimates that the FUA account will have sufficient resources to support the remaining amount of advances for which states have been authorized to cover February 2026. DOL also estimates that funding remaining available in the FUA on March 1 2026 will be sufficient to cover the amount of advances for which states have been authorized to cover March 2026. These funds are available even if an annual appropriation or a continuing resolution is not enacted. 39 Question Will states be able to receive new and or supplemental Title XII advances or submit repayment requests to the Department Answer Yes. States will be able to submit and the Department will review and approve as appropriate state requests for new or supplemental Title XII advances. States will also be able to submit repayments for existing advances. The Loan and Repayment Application System LARAS will remain available for states to use to submit these applications. However there will be no technical system support and new user accounts will not be established until a continuing resolution or an annual appropriation is enacted. If states are unable to use LARAS they may submit their application via email to ETA-UI- Inquiries dol.gov or postal mail and are encouraged to notify ETA s Office of Unemployment Insurance at 202 693-3029 of the state s submission. 40 Question Will there be any restrictions on state transfers to their accounts in the UTF Answer There will be no restrictions on state transfers to the UTF. 41 Question Will the weekly UC claims report be published Answer No. Federal staff will not be available to publish the weekly claims report. 42 Question If Total Unemployment Rate TUR trigger data is not available during the lapse in appropriations and after resumption of operations TUR trigger data show that a state s EB status would have changed absent the lapse in appropriations will states be required to retroactively change a claimant s entitlement status for the affected weeks and either pay additional amounts or attempt to collect benefits paid that wouldn t have been paid absent the lapse in appropriations Answer No. If there is a lapse in appropriation and no additional TURs are published then states EB status would continue to be based on the latest published TUR until a new TUR trigger is published. As soon as new TURs are published state s EB status would be re- determined prospectively only. 43 Question Will the Extended Benefits EB trigger notices be published and if not what information will be used to determine entitlement status for claimants I-12 Answer No federal staff will not be available to publish the EB trigger notice during the lapse in appropriations. States will continue to report Insured Unemployment Rate IUR triggers on the ETA-539 report. If the lapse in appropriations is more than one week in duration entitlement status established by the IUR indicator will be determined by new trigger notices issued retroactively after the enactment of an appropriation. 44 Question If funds are needed or problems with funding are encountered will Federal staff be available to perform the necessary operations and to answer questions Answer Yes a limited number of excepted Federal staff at DOL and the Department of Treasury will be available to provide assistance and perform necessary functions within the UTF. 45 Question Will states be able to access Reed Act Funds Answer States will have full access to Reed Act Funds in their accounts in the UTF and any other funds they received and have not drawn down such as remaining funding from EUISAA emergency administrative funds. 46 Question Will there be any impact on the crossmatch with the Social Security Administration SSA Answer No impact is expected. SSA has advised ETA that the crossmatch will be operational for states use as under normal conditions. 47 Question Will there be any impact on states participating in the Department s identity verification services with Login.gov and the US Postal Service USPS Answer ETA is currently providing transaction costs for states to participate in online ID verification through Login.gov and or in-person ID verification services through USPS. States that are participating at the time of a lapse in appropriations will continue to have access to such services. 48 Question Will there be any impact on the National Directory of New Hires NDNH Operation Answer HHS which administers the NDNH database has advised ETA that the NDNH system will be operational. However there will be minimal or no technical support should any issues arise. 49 Question Will the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement SAVE system be operational Answer The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS has indicated that SAVE should be operational during the lapse in appropriations although with limited staff available for technical assistance. I-13 50 Question Will states be able to access the Payment Management System PMS Answer Yes see Q A 1 and Q A 33 for information specific to state UI Administrative funding. Limited staff will be available for technical assistance and with the exceptions noted under Q A 33 will not be able to add funds to a state s account. Additional funds outside of the noted exceptions can only be made available after enactment of an appropriation. 51 Question How do states contact excepted personnel in ETA s Office of Unemployment Insurance Answer Excepted personnel at ETA s Office of Unemployment Insurance may be contacted at ETA-UI-Inquiries dol.gov or 202 693-3029 note that this phone number is NOT toll free . Rulemaking Question What impact if any would this have on any pending rulemaking deadlines Answer ETA will not work on or publish any rules during a lapse in appropriation. Depending on the length of a lapse in appropriation regulatory actions and anticipated deadlines could be delayed. If there are any proposed rules or other Federal Register Notices posted at the time of the lapse in appropriations please check the Federal Register or Regulations.gov.