COVID-19 Information for State Unemployment Insurance Agencies
Below is a list guidance, policies, and resources to help states respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unemployment Insurance Program Letters (UIPLs)
- UIPL 02-25: Instructions to States for Ongoing Workload-Based Administrative Funding for the Federal Benefit Programs Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as amended
- UIPL 17-24: Supplemental Budget Request (SBR) Opportunity for Additional Administrative Funding to Support States’ Ongoing Administrative Activities Associated with Certain Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Unemployment Compensation (UC) Programs
- UIPL 07-24: Implementation of Sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) for Mandatory Unemployment Insurance Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
- UIPL 05-24: Application of State Finality Laws Regarding Temporary Unemployment Compensation (UC) Programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- UIPL 06-23: Administrative Funding to Support States’ Participation and Correspondence with Federal Partners Regarding Ongoing Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Program Activity
- UIPL 16-22: Announcement of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Improper Payment Estimate Reviews and the cancellation of the 2022 Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Paid Claims Peer Reviews.
- UIPL 20-21, Change 1: Additional State Instructions for Processing Waivers of Recovery of Overpayments under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as Amended
- UIPL 20-21: State Instructions for Assessing Fraud Penalties and Processing Overpayment Waivers under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as Amended
- UIPL 19-21: Benefits Held by Banks and Financial Institutions as a Result of Suspicious and/or Potentially Fraudulent Activity and the Proportional Distribution Methodology Required for Recovering/Returning Federally Funded Unemployment Compensation (UC) Program Funds.
- UIPL 16-21: Identity Verification for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claims.
- UIPL 14-21, Change 1: State Responsibilities After the Temporary Unemployment Benefit Programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as amended, End Due to State Termination of Administration or When the Programs Expire.
- UIPL 14-21: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) – Key Unemployment Insurance (UI) Provisions.
- UIPL 9-21: Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 (Continued Assistance Act) – Summary of Key Unemployment Insurance (UI) Provisions.
- UIPL 28-20, Change 5: Extension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 28-20, Change 4
- UIPL 28-20, Change 4: Support for States to Resolve Outstanding Items from the Expired Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Unemployment Compensation (UC) Programs, Including Additional Funding to Assist States with Reporting and Detection and Recovery of Overpayments
- UIPL 28-20, Change 3: Extension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 28-20, Change 2
- UIPL 28-20, Change 2: Additional Funding to Assist with Strengthening Fraud Detection and Prevention Efforts and the Recovery of Overpayments in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Programs, as well as Guidance on Processes for Combating Identity Fraud.
- UIPL 28-20, Change 1: Additional Funding for Identity Verification or Verification of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Claimants and Funding to Assist with Efforts to Prevent and Detect Fraud and Identity Theft as well as Recover Fraud Overpayments in the PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Programs.
- UIPL 28-20: Addressing Fraud in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) System and Providing States with Funding to Assist with Efforts to Prevent and Detect Fraud and Identity Theft and Recover Fraud Overpayments in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Programs
- UIPL 27-20 Change 1: Presidential Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)—Unemployment Insurance (UI) Related Technical Assistance for States Administering Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Questions and Answers
- UIPL 27-20: Presidential Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Unemployment Insurance (UI)-Related Technical Assistance for States Administering Lost Wages Assistance (LWA).
- UIPL 25-20: Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Program Operations in Response to the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
- UIPL 24-20, Change 1: Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act (Continued Assistance Act) of 2020 – Provisions Affecting the Federal-State Extended Benefits Program
- UIPL 24-20: Temporary Changes to the Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) Program in Response to the Economic Impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Pandemic Emergency.
- UIPL 23-20: Program Integrity for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program and the UI Programs Authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Programs.
- UIPL 22-20, Change 1: New End Date of the Application Period for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program Grants.
- UIPL 22-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program Grants.
- UIPL 21-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program Provisions and Guidance Regarding 100 Percent Federal Reimbursement of Certain State STC Payments.
- UIPL 20-20, Change 1:Instructions for Reconciling Funds Made Available to States Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Section 2105.
- UIPL 20-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions for Section 2105: Temporary Full Federal Funding of the First Week of Compensable Regular Unemployment for States with No Waiting Week is posted.
- UIPL 18-20, Change 2: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) - Amendments to the Emergency Unemployment Relief for State and Local Governmental Entities, Certain Nonprofit Organizations, and Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes.
- UIPL 18-20, Change 1: Amendments to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Emergency Unemployment Relief for State and Local Governmental Entities, Certain Nonprofit Organizations, and Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes
- UIPL 18-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Emergency Unemployment Relief for State and Local Governmental Entities, Certain Nonprofit Organizations, and Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes Fact
- UIPL 17-20, Change 3: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) - Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Program: Extension, Elimination of Transition Rule, Increase in Total Benefits, and Extension of Coordination Rule.
- UIPL 17-20, Change 2: Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020—Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Program: Extension, Transition Rule, Increase in Total Benefits, and Coordination Rules.
- UIPL 17-20, Change 1: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020-Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Program: Questions and Answers, and Revised Reporting Instructions for the PEUC ETA 227.
- UIPL 17-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020-Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Program Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions
- UIPL 16-20 Change 8: Extension of Time to Submit Request for Funding under Grant Opportunity Announced in Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 16-20, Change 7
- UIPL 16-20 Change 7: Supplemental Budget Request (SBR) Opportunity for Additional Administrative Costs under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program
- UIPL 16-20 Change 6: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program: Updated Operating Instructions and Reporting Changes
- UIPL 16-20, Change 5: Continued Assistance to Unemployed Workers Act of 2020-Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program: Expanded Eligibility Provisions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program
- UIPL 16-20, Change 4: Continued Assistance to Unemployed Workers Act of 2020-Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program: Updated Operating Instructions and Reporting Changes
- UIPL 16-20, Change 3: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Eligibility of Individuals who are Caregivers for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) in the Context of School Systems Reopening
- UIPL 16-20, Change 2: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Additional Questions and Answers
- UIPL 16-20, Change 1: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program Reporting Instructions and Questions and Answers
- UIPL 16-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions
- UIPL 15-20, Change 4: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) - Extensions to the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) Program
- UIPL 15-20, Change 3: Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers (Continued Assistance) Act of 2020 — Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program Reauthorization and Modification and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) Program Operating, Reporting, and Financial Instruction
- UIPL 15-20, Change 2: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020—New Data Collection Instrument and Revised Reporting Instructions for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
- UIPL 15-20, Change 1: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program Reporting Instructions and Questions and Answers.
- UIPL 15-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program Operating, Financial, and Reporting Instructions
- UIPL 14-20, Change 1: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 - Questions and Answers
- UIPL 14-20: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Summary of Key Unemployment Insurance (UI) Provisions and Guidance Regarding Temporary Emergency State Staffing Flexibility
- UIPL 13-20, Change 3: Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Division D Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020 (EUISAA) – Ending the Emergency Flexibilities Authorized under Section 4102(b)
- UIPL 13-20, Change 2: Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Division D Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020 (EUISAA) - Review of State Compliance for Receipt of Emergency Administrative Grants and Clarification on Benefit Offset Requirements
- UIPL 13-20, Change 1: Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Division D Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020 (EUISAA) - Reporting Instructions, Modification to Emergency Administrative Grants Application Requirement, and Questions and Answers.
- UIPL 13-20: Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Division D Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020
- UIPL 12-01, Change 1: Outsourcing of Unemployment Compensation Administrative Functions – Claims Taking
- UIPL 12-01: Outsourcing of Unemployment Compensation Administrative Functions
- UIPL 10-20, Change 2: Unemployment Compensation (UC) for Individuals Affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Short-Time Compensation (STC) for Reopening the Economy
- UIPL 10-20, Change 1: Unemployment Compensation (UC) for Individuals Affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Interpretation of "Between and Within Terms" Denial Provisions in Section 3304(a)(6)(A) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA)
- UIPL 10-20: Unemployment Compensation (UC) for Individuals Affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- UIPL 4-17, Change 1: Requirement for States to Refer Allegations of Unemployment Compensation (UC) Fraud, Waste, Abuse, Mismanagement, or Misconduct to the Department of Labor's (Department) Office of Inspector General's (DOL-OIG) and to Disclose Information Related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to DOL-OIG for Purposes of UC Fraud Investigation and Audits
Additional Guidance and Resources
- Limited circumstances when multistate PUA claims are permitted
- CARES Act Termination – Message to Terminating State Unemployment Insurance Agencies on September 3, 2021
- UI Program Progression under the CARES Act (chart)
- TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE No. 05-21; Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) - Operations Checklist
- Continued Assistance Act - Changes To Unemployment Provisions Of Cares Act And EUISAA
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fact Sheet (additional language translations)
- Operational Flexibilities — E-Blast to State Unemployment Insurance Agencies on March 18, 2020
- Operational Flexibilities Update — E-Blast to State Unemployment Insurance Agencies on June 12, 2020
- Operational Flexibilities Update (UI Tax Flexibilities) — E-Blast to State Unemployment Insurance Agencies on October 7, 2020
- Operational Flexibilities Update — E-Blast to State Unemployment Insurance Agencies on December 31, 2020
- ET Handbook No. 301 (5th Edition, Change 1), UI Performs: Benefits Timeliness and Quality Nonmonetary Determinations Quality Review
- ET Handbook No. 395 (5th Edition), Revision to the State Operations Handbook for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) Program
- Short-Time Compensation (STC) landing page on WorkforceGPS
Fraud Alert
- FBI PSA - Cyber Criminals Using Spoofed Unemployment Benefit Websites to Defraud US Public (October 15, 2021)
- U.S. Department of Justice News Release - Justice Department Warns About Fake Unemployment Benefit Websites (March 4, 2021)
- Fraudulent Websites/Links and Phishing (March 4, 2021)- U.S. Department of Justice, National UI Fraud Task Force
- 1099-G Alert (February 26, 2021) - U.S. Department of Justice, National UI Fraud Task Force
- New Text Message Phishing Scheme (January 29, 2021) - U.S. Department of Justice, National UI Fraud Task Force
- Fraud Alert - Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor
- UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PHISHING FRAUD ALERT ( Español )
- FBI News Release - Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims (July 6, 2020)
- U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General- Money Mule Awareness Campaign (September 22, 2020)
Funding to States
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding to States
- Weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Funding to States
- Emergency Administration Grants; Latest 3 Months Initial Claims for Allotment II
CARES Act Program Data
FEMA Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance Program
- UIPL 27-20 Change 1: Presidential Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)—Unemployment Insurance (UI) Related Technical Assistance for States Administering Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Questions and Answers
- UIPL 27-20: Presidential Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Unemployment Insurance (UI)-Related Technical Assistance for States Administering Lost Wages Assistance (LWA).
- Presidential Memorandum on Lost Wages Assistance
- FEMA Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance
- FEMA Supplemental Lost Wages Payments Under Other Needs Assistance Frequently Asked Questions