Status of Unemployment Insurance Related Projects and Reports
1) The National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)
The primary purpose of the NDNH is child support enforcement. However, recent legislation allows SWAs to access the NDNH for the purpose of administration of Unemployment Insurance programs.
One of the greatest reasons for erroneous UI benefit payments is due to UI beneficiaries failing to report earned income correctly. Cross matching with the NDNH will assist SWAs in detecting more of those types of overpayments. The CFO's report (link provided below) provides an analysis of the cross match pilot.
In 2005 and 2006 ETA provided approximately $6.8 million to 43 states, through SBRs, for this project. Currently 49 are accessing the NDNH, and the remaining states should be matching by mid 2009. States are starting to use the NDNH for reemployment measures and 46 states have their BAM investigators matching their cases against it. States are now required to match BAM cases against the NDNH (this began with the first batch in January 2008).
For more information on this project contact Susan Hilliard (202) 693-3608.
Unemployment Insurance National Directory of New Hires Pilot Report
2) Evaluation of the Unemployment Insurance Benefits Program
This study is intended to provide detailed, empirical information on the effectiveness and impact of receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits. The study will identify: changes in the labor market, population and economy pertinent to the UI program, detailed characteristics of who receives and does not receive UI benefits; macro-economic impacts of the program; and an analysis of the new Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment Initiative (REA). Overall, the study will provide fresh data and data analyses that can be used in developing policy and in planning future research, including demonstration projects.
Currently the contractor for this study, IMPAQ International, has completed:
- A report on the REA initiative that contains a two state impact analysis (using FY2005 data), and a four state operational case study. http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2349&mp=y
- An Analysis of UI Non-Filers – (using the 2005 CPS Supplement Survey Data): http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2414&mp=y
- Trends in the Structure of the Labor Market and Unemployment: Implications for the UI Program. http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2418&mp=y
The contractor has also begun work on a study of UI as an Automatic Stabilizer for the National Economy which will be completed by June, 2009. The entire study is being conducted over a five year period, which began in July 2004. For more information on this project contact Wayne Gordon at (202) 693-3179 or at gordon.wayne@dol.gov
Final Reports for Recently Completed Projects:
A) Development of a SUTA Dumping Detection System: DOL issued a report to Congress titled Evaluation of State Implementation of Section 303(K), Social Security Act -"SUTA Dumping" Final Report. The full text of the report can be found here: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2361&mp=y.
B) Reed Act Distribution Implementation Study: The Center for Employment Security Education and Research (CESER) conducted a process evaluation of the uses of Reed Act distributions by states. The study reviewed states' implementation, policies, institutional outcomes, and individual state outcomes, and policy consequences. A final report is available at: http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=Reed2008.htm.
C) Strengthening the Connection between UI Remote Services and One-Stop Center Services Demonstration Project: A demonstration grant to the State of Wisconsin to test new methods of service delivery to enhance the connection between UI Call Centers and One-Stop services. This report is available at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2396&mp=y.
D) Study to Improve Worker Profiling Models: The report discusses several approaches for evaluating the accuracy of worker profiling models, and suggests some best practices in operating and maintaining worker profiling models. The full text of the report can be found here: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/keyword.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_resultDetails&pub_id=2346&mp=y.
