UI Eligibility Training for Workforce Centers 04/14/2016

Potential Eligibility Issues

UI Eligibility In order to be eligible for UI Benefits, job seekers must be: Able to Work Available for Work Actively Seeking Work Willing to Accept Suitable Work

Able to Work The Job Seeker must be able to perform the duties of the jobs they are seeking; The job seeker must have the capacity to complete the required functions of the jobs they are seeking; AND, The job seeker must have the skills and training to complete the required functions of the jobs they are seeking

Available for Work Job Seekers should not have any limitations that would prevent them from: Applying for jobs; Attending interviews; or, Accepting a job Each contact on the Job Seeker’s Work Search Log is for a position they can and will accept if it is offered to them; and, The required number of job contacts are made each week Actively Seeking Work

Willing to Accept Suitable Work The job seeker must be able to perform the duties of the jobs they are seeking; and, They must have the capacity to perform the required functions of those jobs The job seeker must be willing to accept a position that is offered to them if it is suitable work UI determines whether an offer of employment is “suitable” in the case the customer declines it

Potential A&A Issues (Able and Available)

Able & Available 101 Anything that interferes with the job seeker’s ability to work, availability to work, actively search for work and/or willingness to accept employment may result in a denial of UI Benefits If you identify a potential A&A issue, think about: What is the reason the job seeker is unable to seek and accept work? How does this particular issue prevent them from being able and available for work? Do ways exist for Workforce Representatives to address barriers to employment?

Documenting A&A Issues If you identify a potential A&A issue there are two possible ways to document it: If it is identified or within the week of the RESEA appointment, use the A0 screen to document If it is identified outside the week of the RESEA appointment, enter a manual NE code For manual codes, please utilize subcodes: NE – A0 = potential eligibility issue related to RESEA NE – R0 = potential eligibility issue related to Links NS – A0 = no-show related to RESEA NS – R0 = no-show related to Links

Examples of A&A Issues School/Training What School and during which dates? Does the class schedule conflict with the hours the job seeker would work? Potential Eligibility Note: “In Den. Comm. Coll. 1/15/16-5/15/16 during the day. Looking for office 9-5 jobs.” Medical Does the job seeker have a medical condition that interferes with their being able and available? Confidentiality is Key – UI investigates specifics Potential Eligibility Note : “Medical issue that may interfere with work search.”

Examples of A&A Issues Transportation What is the transportation issue? Has the job seeker considered all the options? Potential Eligibility Note : “No car, and no other transportation options.” Current Employment Where is the job seeker working? Full or part time? When did the job start? Is UI aware of the job? Potential Eligibility Note : “Started F/T work on 1/25/16 at EmployerX.”

Examples of A&A Issues Volunteer Work What kind of volunteer work? Does the schedule conflict with the hours the job seeker would work? Potential Eligibility Note : “Volunteering at Denver Food Bank during the day. Looking for F/T office 9-5 jobs.” Care of Another Person For whom is the job seeker caring? Childcare included Does that care interfere with seeking and accepting work? Potential Eligibility Note : “Unavailable to work search because caring for child/parent/etc fulltime.”

Examples of A&A Issues Commission Sales Who is the employer? When did the job start? Is the job full or part time? Is UI aware of the job? Potential Eligibility Note : “Working F/T on commission since 1/15/16 at EmployerX, not looking for other work.” Self-Employment What type of business? When did the job start? Is the job seeker still looking for other work? Potential Eligibility Note : “Self-employed in graphic design business since 1/15/16, not looking for other work.”

Examples of A&A Issues Officer of a Corporation What position does the job seeker hold? What is the Corporation? Potential Eligibility Note: “Acting as paid Chairman of Board for EmployerX, not looking for other work.” Other A&A Issues Please refer issues which, in your assessment, prevent the customer from being able and available to seek and accept work Unemployment Insurance provides qualified claimants with financial assistance while looking for work. Claimants must complete the requirements and respond to requests from UI in order to receive payment For each issue referred please include your assessment of how it prevents the job seeker from looking for and/or accepting a job in the notes. UI does not expect all of the information, but enough to know what questions to ask

Other Potential Eligibility Issues Job Refusal The job seeker declined a bonafide job offer Whether the offer was bonafide is determined by UI, please refer all refusals Potential Eligibility Note : “Reported job refusal on 1/15/16 from Employer X because pay was too low.” Job Separation The job seeker separates from employment, regardless of how long they worked Please refer any separation that hasn’t already been reported Potential Eligibility Note : “Job separation – 1/1/16- 1/31/16 Employer X.”

It is important to refer all of these issues to the Division of Unemployment Insurance because the job seeker may be receiving monies they are not entitled to due to not meeting UI eligibility requirements. This may cause overpayments and unnecessary charges to employers.

When an Issue is Referred The NE Code will set an issue for UI to investigate A Deputy within UI will be assigned the issue The Deputy will review the issue within Connecting Colorado (NE Code comments as well as ES Notes) to determine the issue at hand The Deputy will follow up with the job seeker as necessary to investigate the issue The information you provide in Connecting Colorado will assist the Deputy in their investigation and determination

In Summary It is important that UI be notified of any potential eligibility issue: Able and Available (A&A) Job Refusal Job Separation Use an NE Code, with subcodes as necessary If within the week of, and related to, RESEA, use A0 screen rather than manual NE Code UI will investigate the referred issue

Questions? For any additional questions, contact: Sue Rusch