Reemployment and Eligibility Assessments (REAs)

The re-employment of UI claimants and the reduction of erroneous payments are high priorities for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and states. A number of studies have found that attention to claimants’ efforts to find new jobs and attention to their reemployment service needs result in shorter claim durations and fewer erroneous payments. The REA initiative addresses both of these priorities. Providing reemployment services to UI claimants has taken on a greater importance in today’s economy. USDOL has issued new guidelines for the REA initiative for fiscal year 2010. Through a partnership between the UI system and the One-Stop system, UI claimants receive services designed to speed their reemployment. The REA guidelines have been strengthened this year to require that an agreement or Memoranda of Understanding be developed to define the role of the UI system and the One-Stop Career Center partners who will be providing the services to claimants. States must develop a feedback loop through which the participation of claimants will be tracked and any UI issues addressed, as appropriate. The Webinar will address the REA requirements and criteria for funding of states’ REA proposals for 2010 with a goal of strengthening the REA initiative overall. The appropriate use of the UI REA funds and the funds to provide the services will also be explained. Finally, the timelines for submission of the 2010 REA proposals will be addressed.