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Tier 2 EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) Now Available
- Beginning with the week of March 29-April 4, 2009, unemployed Delaware workers will be eligible for up to thirteen additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits under the provisions of the federal Emergency Unemployment
Compensation (EUC) program.
These additional weeks of benefits have become available under the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 that was enacted last November and provides for a Tier 2 level of EUC if certain economic conditions exist in a
state. Specifically, Delaware now qualifies for a Tier 2 level of EUC because the state's three-month seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate (TUR) is now equal to or greater than 6.0%.
The Division of Unemployment Insurance will mail notices with information and instructions to individuals who have already exhausted the 20 weeks of EUC that were initially available to them and may now be entitled to these
additional weeks of benefits if they are still unemployed. Notices will also be mailed to individuals who are currently collecting EUC when they exhaust their initial 20 weeks of these benefits.
These additional weeks of benefits increase the number of weeks of EUC now available to unemployed Delaware workers from a maximum of 20 weeks to a maximum of 33 weeks.
Discrimination in Employment Regulations to Take Effect January 1, 2009
- In accordance with 19 Del. C. § 712(a)(2), Secretary Sharp has approved the final regulations to govern the Discrimination
in Employment Administrative Process. The new regulations include requirements for filing and answering discrimination complaints;
timetables and deadlines; and procedures for mediation, investigation, and conciliation.
Read a user-friendly summary of the regulations in the Delaware Employment Law Blog!
Expansion of the Extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- On Friday, November 21, 2008, President Bush signed the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008
that amends Title IV of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 that was enacted this past June. Title IV
of that legislation created the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. Under the provisions of this
latest legislation, unemployed Delaware workers are now eligible for up to seven additional weeks of extended
unemployment insurance benefits through an expansion of the EUC program that will run through the end of August
2009. As a result, the number of weeks of EUC benefits now available to unemployed Delaware workers has been
increased from a maximum of 13 weeks to a maximum of 20 weeks. The Division of Unemployment Insurance will mail
notices about the expansion of the EUC program to individuals who may be entitled to these additional benefits.
Extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
- On June 30, 2008, President Bush signed Public Law 110-252, the
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008. Title IV of this legislation
created the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program that will
provide up to thirteen weeks of additional unemployment insurance
benefits for unemployed workers who have exhausted their regular state
unemployment insurance benefits on an initial claim filed with an
effective date of May 7, 2006 or later. EUC benefits will be available
from the week ending July 12, 2008 through the week ending July 4, 2009
under this legislation. The Division of Unemployment Insurance will
mail notices about the EUC program to individuals who may be entitled
to these additional benefits if they are currently unemployed.
Workers' Compensation Health Care Payment System
- In accordance with 19
Del. C. § 2322, and effective 5/23/08, the
Governor appointed Health Care Advisory Panel (HCAP) established a
Workers' Compensation Health Care Payment System (HCPS) for Delaware.
This new system includes health care practice guidelines; certification
of health care providers; a fee schedule; health care provider and
employer forms; and utilization review.
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Workers' Compensation Requirement for Independent Contractors
- On May 23, 2007 Governor Minner signed Senate Substitute 1 for Senate
Bill Number 68 that amended workers' compensation insurance
requirements for contractors, independent contractors' partners and
sole proprietors. Section 2308 of title 19 extends
the election of an exemption to four members of a limited liability
corporation. Section 2311 of title 19 clarifies
the obligation that partners and sole proprietors must maintain
workers' compensation insurance in the construction industry. Four
executive officers who are stockholders of a corporate entity or four
members of a limited liability corporation may elect to be exempt from
coverage provided the election is in writing. This requirement also
applies to the construction industry as defined in 30DelC25.
The effective date of the mandatory insurance coverage is July
17, 2007.  For additional information please
contact the Office of Workers' Compensation, Department of Labor at
302-761-8200 in Wilmington or 302-422-1392 in Milford.
Unemployment Insurance
- Pursuant to HB 144 signed into law on June 18, 2007, the taxable wage
base will be increased from $8,500 to $10,500 effective January 1,
2008. Accordingly, starting with unemployment insurance taxes due for
the first quarter of calendar year 2008 and thereafter, employers will
pay unemployment insurance tax on the first $10,500 of earnings of each
employee instead of the first $8,500 of earnings of each employee. And
for “benefit wages” charged to employer accounts based on unemployment
insurance benefits claims filed effective January 1, 2008 and
thereafter, the maximum “benefit wage” charge per claim also increases
from $8,500 to $10,500. Any questions regarding the increase in taxable
wage should be directed to the UI Tax Operations Unit at (302)
761-8482.
DOL Prevailing Wage
- Delaware's Prevailing Wage Law 29 Del.
C. § 6960 requires the predetermination of wage rates
which are prevailing on state-funded construction projects. The Office
of Labor Law Enforcement identifies projects by end use and classifies
them into three categories of construction. To request a certified
prevailing wage rate category determination to be used in bid packets please click this link.
- Pursuant to 29 Del.
C. § 6960(c), effective June 30, 2007, all contractors and
subcontractors performing work on public work projects are required to
furnish sworn payroll records on a weekly basis to the Department of
Labor. The sworn payrolls are to be mailed to: Delaware Department of
Labor, Office of Labor Law Enforcement 225 Corporate Boulevard, Suite
104 Newark, Delaware 19702. Click
this link to obtain a sworn certified payroll report form.
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