Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
a. 3. Describe strategies developed to support training and awareness across core programs and the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program and the training provided for Employment Services and WIOA staff on identification of UI eligibility issues and referral to UI staff for adjudication
Current Narrative:
ESD’s WorkSource Information Notice (WIN) 0090 provides guidance on assisting UI claimants in WorkSource Offices. Local Workforce Development Boards and contractors, as well as Employment Security Regional Directors, must distribute this guidance broadly throughout the system to ensure that WorkSource (One-Stop) System staff are familiar with its content and requirements.
ESD’s Unemployment Insurance Division has created training in support of this WIN. ES staff are required to complete this training and partner staff are encouraged to complete it. This training differentiates between basic UI services all staff can provide versus Meaningful UI assistance that can only be provided by ES staff with a higher level of training. These staff are designated as Unemployment Insurance Ambassadors (UIA). All one-stop staff can perform functions that are informational in nature and are not directly connected to determining the claimants’ initial or continued eligibility for benefits. This includes things like helping individuals understand the claims filing process, explaining work search requirements, explaining how to apply for Training Benefits, directing claimants to online tools and resources, such as the Handbook for Unemployed Workers, eServices or ESD.WA.GOV, and more.
Examples of Meaningful UI Assistance that can be provided by properly trained ES staff include UI basic claims filing assistance, facilitating direct access to the UI Claims Center, escalating hardship requests, reopening basic claims or providing information beyond that which is readily available. This includes coordinating access to the UI Claims Center for claimants who request language assistance or use of auxiliary aids.
Employment Services Wagner-Peyser staff assisting UI claimants are required to notify the UI Claims Center via Report of Potential Issue (RPI) with any information about potential UI eligibility issues such as a claimant’s ability to work, availability for work, or the suitability of work the claimant is Page 3 of 6 seeking or being offered (20 CFR 652.210 (b)(3)). RPI’s must be submitted the same day the issue is detected.