U NEMPLOYMENT THE TRUE BASICS Montana Schools Unemployment Insurance Program Theresia LeSueur, Director (406) Lisa Gowen, UI Technician (406) Great Northern Blvd #301, Helena, MT 59601

S O, YOU ’ RE N EW

Don’t worry, we are here to help! Montana Schools Unemployment Insurance Program Theresia LeSueur, Director (406) Lisa Gowen, UI Technician (406) Great Northern Blvd #301, Helena, MT FAX:

P RESENTATION H IGHLIGHTS Acronym has changed from MSUIP to MTSUIP Our New Logo!! ~ representing member growth and district savings ~ Coverage Options – MTSUIP vs. State Payroll Reporting – Quarterlies Base Period Claims Process 4

UI C OVERAGE O PTIONS State of Montana Large mixed group businesses covered MTSUIP School specific program – pooled insurance 5

W HAT IS MTSUIP? The Montana Schools Unemployment Insurance Program was started in 1994 to collectively save money for Montana school districts. We are not state employees. We work between the State of Montana and the member school district. We do not make any decisions regarding eligibility, but we can represent the district in the appeals process if the district disagrees with the State’s eligibility determination. We serve to protect your best interest!!

B ENEFITS OF M EMBERSHIP Receive better rates by pooling statewide school district accounts Pre-loss legal assistance Assistance in filling out claim forms Hearing Representation Montana Education Law Reporter (MELR) Free training opportunities Excess Contribution Refund Personal relationship with our staff members – Theresia LeSueur and myself

M ONTANA E DUCATION L AW R EPORTER 24/7 O NLINE M EMBER R ESOURCE The MELR is published by MTSBA but is a sponsored product available only to MSUIP members. You must access the MELR by going to all forms can be found in the “community group library”

U NEMPLOYMENT L IABILITY MTSUIP Members’ are insured as “Experienced” employer rates A district does not pay on individual claims that are filled – claims are covered by premiums paid Premiums are based on past claim performance – managing claims keep premium rates lower UI liability exists on employee wages earned in the past 18 months – Base Wage Period (wages earned in the first four of the last five quarters) Maximum Weekly Benefit:$487 up from $471 Minimum Weekly Benefit:$139 up from $134 These increases will take effect 7/5/15 Maximum Liability Per Employee = 26 weeks paid benefits ($13,636)

S TANDARD B ASE P ERIOD Base PeriodLag Quarter Claim Filed Here Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. 10

Q UARTERLY R EPORTING Timely reporting is important – due by the 15 th of the month (Jan, April, July, October) Full Social Security Numbers are required ACH – optional automated payment Online reporting is the most accurate method; go to (there is no longer a link to us on the MTSBA website)

A NNUAL R ATE N OTICE

Q UARTERLY R EPORT F ORM Number of Covered Workers: 1 st month = 10 2 nd month = 12 3 rd month = 9 TOTAL = 13 (total number of employees who were paid during the quarter)

No need to login Note: This is a new website that is under construction and the look/content will change, however, the “Quarterly Reporting” button will remain the same

Most often districts receive UI claims from: Substitutes Coaches Bus Drivers However, ANY school district employee can apply U NEMPLOYMENT C LAIMS

C LAIMS P ROCESS How an employee files a claim Triggering event Call DOLI or file online Initial Claim (8 business days) DOLI review/request information Determination (8 business days) Redetermination (8 business days) Appeal (10 business days) Board of Labor Appeals (BOLA) (30 business days) District Court 16

R EVIEW /R EQUEST I NFORMATION W HEN A C LAIM IS F ILED The State of Montana will send out paperwork with information provided by the claimant and ask that you as the employer verify the information. Typically, there are up to five documents you could receive on each claim. You have eight days to complete the request. Here’s how it works: The State will mail the request to the MTSUIP office, we will it to you, you will return it to us, and we will return it to the State. Please do not correspond directly with the State and they should not be corresponding directly with you.

W HY P USH THE P APERWORK T HROUGH MTSUIP YOU ASK ? When we receive any paperwork from the State of Montana, we electronically scan and file all documentation on each case. If the district should ever need to appeal an eligibility decision, MTSUIP already maintains the case file. We are often asked to provide the State clarification on an individual employee with information provided by the district. Unemployment regulations are very different for a school district employee compared to all other employees and MTSUIP staff can provide the expertise between the two groups.

T HE P APERWORK When a claim is filed, you will typically receive a Claim Filing Notice first This form is computer generated and is always blank Mark this if you anticipate they will return next year – it is not a guarantee of employment

2 ND – S CHOOL E MPLOYMENT F ACT F INDING R EPORT

3 RD – S EPARATION I NFORMATION

4 TH – 8 WK F ORM Information can result in benefits not being charged to the district

5 TH - D ETERMINATION

M ISCELLANEOUS C LAIM F ACTS A determination is made on each “issue” of a claim date claim filed reason for separation from LAST employer (or within past six weeks) monetary eligibility dates of employment Rarely will two employees have the exact same issues... One Year Duration Still Working 3 A’s 24

D ETAILS / D OCUMENTATION Did the claimant give a specific reason for resigning (i.e. domestic obligation, moving, returning to school?) Was continuing work available if the claimant had not quit? Did the employee refuse any work? If so, list the dates and reasons given (if you use an automated system attach the report) Were there any changes to his/her job duties, pay, hours, etc? If so, explain the changes and attach the contract or payroll records. If the position was temporary, did he/she request a leave of absence? If so, explain. Was a written resignation provided by the claimant? If so, attach. R ESPONDING TO CLAIMS IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE MANNER Non-renewal of a non-tenured teacher without cause.

C HARGING N OTICES CLAIMS PAID YOUR SCHOOL NAME NAMESSNBYB POT CHGJULYAUGSEPTOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNEBALANCEBYE John-Boy Walton /15/ /13/2015 Mary Ellen Walton /16/ /14/2014 Mary Ellen Walton /15/ /13/2015 Erin Walton /25/ /23/2015 Benjamin Walton /15/ /13/2015 TOTALS 1, Quarter Total

UI P ROCESS - C ONTACT D ATA MTSUIP – Theresia LeSueur 863 Great Northern Blvd. Ste 301, Helena MT (fax) cell DOLI Helena Phone Center PO Box 8020, Helena MT DOLI Billings Phone Center PO Box 30697, Billings MT If not a MTSUIP member

T HANKS FOR LEARNING ! 28