STATE OF WASHINGTON
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
DATE:  02/20/06 (Revised)
NUMBER:  4050

This document has been formatted for use on this web site. It contains hyperlinks that enable the user to jump directly to specific areas within the document or to related documents. The information and guidance it contains has been revised (major revisions). There are definitions for terms that may be unfamiliar. This communication applies only to ESD staff, however, Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) and partner agencies are welcome and encouraged to use the information when developing local policies and procedures.

BACKGROUND | POLICY | PROCEDURES | DEFINITIONS | WEB SITE
REFERENCES | SUPERSEDES | DIRECT INQUIRIES TO

SUBJECT:  Claimant Placement Program (CPP)

ORIGINATOR:  WIA Title III (Wagner-Peyser) (Labor Exchange Unit)

BACKGROUND

The Employment Security Department (ESD) has always considered Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claimants to be a priority group along with Veterans, Persons with Disabilities, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers.  In addition, the Department’s Claimant Placement Program (CPP), which was in operation for almost 10 years (until mid-1996), and the Reemployment Services for UI Claimants (RSUIC) program, which has been in operation since that time, both provided reemployment services to UI Claimants exclusively.

Combining the activities required by CPP and worker profiling with the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Labor Exchange service delivery model has created a whole new service delivery approach. Traditional services consisted of an informational orientation followed by  one-on-one services as needed.  The new holistic approach includes intensive group level job search activities,  more personalized one-to-one services, leading to facilitated self-service and self-service.  There is a greater use of Electronic Labor Exchange technologies, and information and data sharing between Unemployment Claims TeleCenters and the Labor Exchange system.

The intent of the federally mandated Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services Program (WPRS) is to provide early identification, prioritization and intervention for "new" (UI) claimants who are most likely to exhaust regular benefits and to provide these claimants with reemployment services.  The Worker Profiling program is delivered as the Job Hunter Orientation and Job Search Preparation class by CPP staff.

POLICY

It is the policy of the ESD to provide early intervention reemployment services to “new” UI Claimants who have been identified by the profiling system as being most likely to exhaust their regular UI benefits (Potential Long-Term Unemployed).  This includes older workers.  

Services to the UI claimant often begin at the profiling process.  Claimants are selected and called into a mandatory Job Hunter Orientation.  The Job Hunter Orientation class addresses the claimant's responsibility surrounding their unemployment benefits, describes the job search process, introduces problem-solving strategies, uses a Job Search Readiness Inventory to determine their current knowledge base.  The class provides information about other local resources, explains about the entire Series and allows claimants to register for additional workshops. These services are provided utilizing a group service approach consisting of the seven modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series or a comparable series that is consistent with Job Hunter Quality Standards.  These group activities support customer movement to self-service.  These group level job search activities are open to all job seekers, and other point-of-service staff may refer their customers (e.g., Veterans, Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Dislocated Workers, WorkFirst, etc.) into the Job Hunter Workshop Series whenever such referral would benefit their customers. 

In addition, more personalized one-on-one services may be provided through the "Claimant Progress Tool" .  The "Claimant Progress Tool" provides access to UI claimants who have a work search requirement and who claimed UI benefits the previous week.  ESD staff can utilize the "Claimant Progress Tool" to enhance the standard services UI claimants receive through the mandatory call in process.  In addition, they can provide more personalized services, such as job match activities, job referrals and  follow up services to current UI claimants.

PROCEDURES

Applicant Registration | Profile Scores | Claimant Notification | Exemptions | Not Exempt | Excused
Rescheduling | Reschedule the Same Week | Schedule for Another Week | Claimant Indicates Attended Orientation  | Service Delivery | UI Eligibility Issues |  Recording Services
Data Collection and Reporting | Staff Training

Applicant Registration

During the Initial Claim (IC) process with an Unemployment Claims TeleCenter, all claimants have minimal Job Seeker records established in the Services, Knowledge & Information Exchange System (SKIES).  Claimants are advised that they have a work search requirement and must look for work.  There are situations where there are no work search requirements.  Claimants are exempt from participating in a structured work search if they are:

• Partially Unemployed.

• Shared Work.

• Standby.

• Full Referral Union.

• Commissioner Approved Training (CAT)

In the automatic registration process, SKIES collects sufficient information from the GUIDE system at the time of the IC to create a Job Seeker record.  SKIES uses the most current information in GUIDE to update the name, address, and telephone number fields if different from any existing registration in SKIES. This basic registration in SKIES allows for the recording of services. Point-of-service staff should update the Job Seeker record with desired employment information and valid O*NET codes with each in-person job seeker to support job match activities conducted through SKIES as well as those activities occurring within go2worksource.com.

Profile Scores

A statistical model is used to identify which “new” UI Claimants are most likely to exhaust their UI benefits.  The model uses a combination of individual characteristics and local labor market measures to assign each claimant a score between “0” and “100”.  This score indicates the likelihood of exhausting the total benefit amount.  The higher the score, the greater the likelihood of exhausting benefits.  (Profile scores generally range from 0 through 60 in the new profiling model). 

The data elements used in the profiling system include:

• Education

• SIC code from the base year employer with the largest amount of earnings.

• O'NET code assigned by TeleCenter staff.

• Quarter in which the claim was filed.

• Potential weeks of UI benefits claimed; the base year earnings.

• UI rate in the county of residence.

• Job tenure.

It is the combination of all these data elements, weighted according to the local economy at a given point in time, that determines the profile score for each claimant.

NOTE:  Claimants are automatically excluded from receiving profile scores if they are:

• Shared work participants (must be coded LEC 980) (GUIDE Q02)

• Interstate claimants.

• Approved for Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) (GUIDE Q02, Q17, TR1).

• A Full Referral Union Member (includes PMA Lists A and B) in GUIDE Q02.

• Labor market attached, which includes standby, GUIDE CH#, Q02 (new employer).

• Partially Unemployed (sep code 8, GUIDE expects earnings) GUIDE Q07 (WAC 192.110.015).

The profile list is generated weekly. Scores are calculated when a claim becomes valid and when the first week is claimed.  The score is passed to SKIES on the following Saturday and appears on the Mass Call In under the First Tab the following Monday.

Claimant Notification

On a weekly basis, point-of-service staff work the profile list from high score to low score to select UI Claimants to be provided services. Claimants appear on the profiling list if:

• They have a valid claim;

• They have filed for their first week of benefits, regardless of the effective date of their claim;

• Are required to seek work.

CPP staff strive to serve as many claimants from the profile list as capacity allows. Capacity is defined as staff resources and facilities. Office capacity dictates the number of claimants scheduled.

CPP staff generate Call In letters to the Job Hunter Orientation through SKIES. Call In letters are available in English and Spanish. CPP staff use the Mass Call In process to select and invite UI claimants to attend the mandatory Job Hunter Orientation and Job Search Preparation module. 

The letter indicates that:

• The claimant has been selected to participate in the worker reemployment services required by state and federal law.

• The date, time, and location where the claimant is to report.

• Failure to participate in the Job Hunter class could jeopardize their unemployment benefits.

The call in date is scheduled so that the claimant has time (must allow at least a 7-10 day notice from the mail date) to receive the letters and make arrangements to attend.

CPP staff must document attendance to the scheduled orientation the same day of receiving the service. If the claimant does not attend the mandatory Job Hunter Orientation class or the service is not entered the same week of the scheduled appointment. A Did Not Report (DNR) record will automatically be transferred to GUIDE when:

• The claimant does not attend the mandatory Job Hunter Orientation with the same week scheduled.

• The service is not entered the same week of the scheduled appointment.

An Advice of Rights (AOR) will be generated and mailed informing the claimant of possible denial of benefits for each week the claimant failed to attend. The AOR will instruct the claimant to contact the TeleCenter to clear up the issue. In addition, the AOR will instruct the claimant to contact the WorkSource office if they believe they received the notice in error. The WorkSource office may need to verify attendance for TeleCenter Adjudicators through local office attendance records. Local offices must retain their paper attendance records to the Job Hunter Orientation class for at least 90 days after the scheduled call in date.

NOTE: WorkSource staff are not allowed to clear availability or DNR issues. TeleCenter staff will adjudicate all issues.

Exemptions

If a claimant calls to report that he or she can not attend the scheduled appointment, WorkSource staff will:

• Determine if the claimant should be exempt.

• Check the exempt box on the individual job seeker’s core service call in screen in SKIES.

• Document the exempt reason in the note area in SKIES.

Reasons for absence may be verified. In all such cases, the claimant’s ability to or availability for work is in question.

Rescheduling

Staff may reschedule the UI claimant one time if the claimant calls the WorkSource office. When a claimant calls, CPP staff must determine if the claimant should be exempted, excused  or rescheduled. Questions to ask the claimant should include:

Service Delivery

Group Services | Self-Service and Facilitated Self-Service
One-On-One (Intensive) Services | Other Services

The level of service provided is consistent with ESD’s commitment to universal access and customer choice.  All UI Claimants are made aware of the wide array of reemployment and retraining services available both within the local service delivery site and throughout the local community.  Exactly which reemployment services and retraining opportunities an individual UI claimant may access depends on the claimant’s needs, interests, program availability, and program eligibility requirements.  

During the Orientation and Job Search Preparation Module (the only required service), all workshop modules and other services are marketed with a focus to connect the claimant to the service(s) that would be most beneficial.   The Orientation and Job Search Preparation Module is the gateway to other reemployment services within the WorkSource system.

Claimants should be given the opportunity for referral to any open job orders for which they qualify.  A job match is often the most helpful service that can be provided to a claimant if there is an appropriate job opening available. CPP staff should conduct a job search through SKIES and refer all qualified UI claimants to existing job opportunities at every contact.

Job seekers must have a work history and a desired occupation completed in their record for the Job Match function to correctly match to an open job order.  In addition, the Claimant Progress Tool provides a direct link into WorkForce Explorer, which allows staff to screen job seekers to any open WA, WS or AJB job order listed in SKIES.  Staff may then provide a job referral in SKIES if appropriate. Claimants are encouraged to look for jobs on their own by using the tools available in the Resource Room.  Claimants who are job ready are encouraged to post their résumés in go2worksource.com

Finally, staff continuously encourage claimants to fully utilize all of the self-service and group service opportunities available to them.

Group Services - Most services are provided to UI Claimants utilizing a group service approach consisting of the seven modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series or a comparable series that is consistent with Job Hunter Quality Standards.  The following seven modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series were designed and developed by CPP administrative staff through collaboration with point-of-service staff to meet the need of accessing a group level job search assistance service vehicle.  The modules are:

• Three to three and a half hours in length.

• Flexible in their design and use.

• Provide open entry and open exit.

• Allow customer choice. 

Hands-on learning of computer assisted job search activities supports claimant movement from the group service level into the more independent self and facilitated self-service levels.  Local innovation, flexibility, and creativity in the design and delivery of the workshop modules are encouraged as long as the quality standards are not compromised. 

Claimants are scheduled to attend the Orientation and Job Search Preparation (Module 1) are recorded into SKIES through the Mass Call In form under Job Seeker selection from the SKIES' Main Menu.  Actual attendance for Module One is recorded  under core services as Module 1 Orientation and Job Search Preparation.  Other participants may attend the Orientation, however they are not scheduled through the Mass Call In process.
   
Module 1, Orientation and Job Search Preparation - Claimant participants are introduced to information about the employment and training resources available at the local service delivery site and in their community.  Participants are provided an overview of the seven modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series.  They complete a self assessment (Job Search Readiness Inventory [JSRI]) to help them select the workshop modules that would be of the most benefit to them.  They also engage in a goal setting exercise.

After the JSRI assessment, a job seeker can make a decision whether or not they would benefit from attendance in additional modules, or proceed directly to self-service or facilitated self-service.  It is also possible that a claimant may demonstrate an inability to participate in self-service, facilitated self-service, or group services, or need a particular service that cannot be provided except through a one-on-one (intensive) process (e.g., Individual Employment Counseling, etc.).  Job seekers can always return to the self-service, facilitated self-service, or group service approaches once their more intensive needs have been addressed.

At the end of the Orientation, staff have an opportunity to verify job seeker's 0'NET coding in SKIES, add desired occupations in SKIES (which allows the system to perform better job matches) and ultimately provide job referrals.
   
The other six modules are Knowing Yourself, Skills and Abilities Analysis, The Job Market, Effective Job Search, Employment Applications and Résumés and Interviewing.  

Attendance at each of the modules is recorded by selecting one of the following:

Module 1 - Orientation and Job Search Preparation
Module 2 - Knowing Yourself,
Module 3 - Skills &  Abilities Analysis,
Module 4 - The Job Market,
Module 5 - Effective Job Search,
Module 6 - Applications and Resumes,
Module 7 - Interviewing.

Job Finding Clubs are an excellent follow-up to information attained during the Job Hunter modules. Attendance at job clubs should be recorded accordingly.

In addition to scheduling and facilitating the mandatory Job Hunter Orientation and Job Search Preparation class to claimants, CPP staff should provide appropriate personalized one-on-one services.  CPP staff should verify a job seeker record in SKIES, validate O*Net coding, add or revise a specific desired occupation(s), perform job matches through SKIES and provide a job referral(s) to all qualified job opportunities.  The following are types of services or activities that staff could provide
   

1. Self-Service and Facilitated Self-Service - Self-service in its purest sense occurs when claimants receive absolutely no assistance from point-of-service staff.  Claimants access whatever information they need through the service delivery site’s resource area, from their business or home PC, or from a library, community center, or any other place where a public PC is available.  However, this pure form of self-service is not always practical.  Some claimants have little experience either with computers, Internet capabilities, or adequate knowledge of successful job search practices.  In these instances, some staff intervention (facilitated self-service) is necessary.  This may be accomplished through immediate one-on-one assistance or by scheduling the claimant to attend a relevant module in the Job Hunter Workshop Series.  Exactly what action is most appropriate will depend on the individual situation.  It is expected that as claimants become more capable in this area, the need for staff intervention will diminish.  
   A user friendly resource area is probably the most important component in the self-service/facilitated self-service  concept.  It is essential that it be as user friendly as possible to claimants with disabilities.
      

2. One-On-One Services The following are some examples of the more traditional staff intensive services that are provided one-on-one.  These services are reserved for claimants who demonstrate an inability to participate in self-service, facilitated self-service, group services, or need a particular service that cannot be provided except through a one-on-one process.  One-on-one services may be provided by any point-of-service staff.  Claimants are encouraged to return to the self-service, facilitated self-service, or group service approaches once their more intensive needs have been addressed.
      

   • Job-Development - The process whereby WorkSource staff solicit and secure job interviews for individual claimants who have marketable skills and abilities, but for whom there are no suitable job openings available.
        

   • Employability Planning - A process that identifies a planned series of actions leading to employment and specifies items such as  employment goals, training, and support services to be provided by the ESD or by another service provider to which the claimant is referred.
        

   • State Bonding - The process whereby WorkSource staff obtain fidelity bonding coverage through the State Bonding Program for qualified claimants who, due to their previous personal or employment history, could not otherwise obtain it.
        

   • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) - The process that identifies a claimant's eligibility for WOTC.

   All services are recorded into the SKIES data collection system.
      

3. Other Services - The following represent but a few of the possible services in this category.   

   • Job Referral - The act of bringing an applicant (or group of applicants) who is available to the attention of an employer who placed a suppressed job order with the local service delivery site.
        

   • Testing - A standardized means of measuring a claimant's possession of, interest in, or ability to acquire job skills and knowledge.
        

   • Training - When a claimant's skills and experience are no longer needed in the labor market, staff may refer the claimant to, and place the claimant in, WIA Title I B Institutional Training, Job Corps, or any other federal, state, or local training program for which the claimant qualifies.
        

   • Referral to Support Services - A referral to services designed to assist a claimant to achieve physical, mental, social or economic well being and reduce or eliminate barriers to employment.  These include health and medical services, child care, emergency financial services, relocation assistance, residential support, nutritional and legal services.  Examples are referrals to rehabilitation facilities, health and welfare service agencies, remedial services, other agencies providing Veterans' services, WIA Title I B programs for intake other than On-the-Job Training or work experience, referral to Job Corps, referral to military recruiters and referral to other federal and state training programs.
        

   • Referral to Educational Services - A referral to a program or course designed to develop competency in basic educational skills such as reading, comprehension, mathematics, writing, speaking and reasoning, and/or programs leading to educational credentials such as a GED, high school diploma, or college degree. This may include "English as a Second Language (ESL)" training.

   All services are recorded into the SKIES data collection system.
   

UI Eligibility Issues

Point-of-service staff occasionally detect significant issues that could potentially deny benefits to UI claimants.  This can happen when conducting the work test, job search review, or simply during the course of providing services.  In these instances, staff use the EMS 10320 Report of Potential Issue form mail the form to the appropriate adjudication site.  Staff should email the completed form to their respective TeleCenter Adjudication Unit listed below:

KCUIContact@esd.wa.gov (King County TeleCenter - 770),

SCUIContact@esd.wa.gov (Spokane County TeleCenter - 790).

 Adjudication staff will then follow up with the claimants to resolve the issues.

The SKIES track "no shows" for UI claimants who are scheduled each week (Monday through Friday).  The SKIES system creates and transfers an electronic file to GUIDE every Friday evening after 7:00 p.m. This file allows the Adjudication Center to electronically collect the information for Non Mon decisions.  CPP staff must manually enter all services in SKIES for the UI claimants who attended the JH Module 1 Orientation and Job Search Preparation workshop no later than Friday 6:00 p.m. The Did Not Report (DNR) file will run after 7:00 p.m. Fridays.  The electronic file will contain names and SSN information for claimants who were scheduled (through the SKIES Mass Call In process) to the mandatory Job Hunter Orientation workshop, and who did not receive the Orientation service on their job seeker's record in the same week they were scheduled for the service.

Recording Services

Record attendance to the mandatory workshop as a Job Hunter (JH) Orientation and Job Search Preparation service for any participant, regardless of program affiliation.  Services will be recorded on the same day of the same week the service is provided to support customer tracking and performance evaluations. The referral process for UI claimants to Module 1 Orientation is tracked by the Mass Call In entries. The profile list is correlated to a single service delivery site. Users assigned to multiple offices will designate the appropriate site during sign on in order to generate the corresponding list.

When a claimant reports to JH Orientation from the mandatory call in letter, CPP staff must document the service for the Job Hunter Orientation Module 1 the same day of the same week of receiving the service.  The service must be entered no later than 6:00 P.M. on Friday of the week of attendance.  If the service is not entered timely, an Advice of Rights (AOR) will be mailed advising the job seeker of the potential denial of UI benefits for the week of the scheduled appointment.

If the service in not entered timely CPP staff must:

• Enter the service late.

• Document the reason in SKIES.

• Make a note in GUIDE Q22 comments Inquiry screen.

• Email the TeleCenter via the UI Contact folder (KCUIcontact or SCUIContact).

• Indicate "DNR reported in error" on the subject line of the email.

NOTE:  WorkSource staff may use the WPRS DNR Report (located under case management; Query type, Job Seeker: query, Seeker WPRS Failure to Report) to verify that the Job Hunter Orientation service for those who attended was properly entered into SKIES.  Immediately notify the TeleCenter when and if any errors occur.

Data Collection and Reporting

Data is collected and tracked for all job seekers, including claimants.  Staff emphasis is on providing and recording services.  There are five performance measures related to all claimants.  Two measures are directly related to the Claimant Placement Program:

• Job Hunter Orientation, Module 1, Target = 70% attendance rate of profiled claimants who are scheduled to attend.

• Percent of Benefits Used at 73% of their claim.

Reports displaying each local area's performance will be available on a monthly basis through the WorkSource Operations Division website at http://insideesd/wsod/LX/CPP/default.htm.

These measures work together in tracking participant's activity in each local area. The purpose of the Claimant Placement Program is two fold--to assist UI claimants back to work (entered employments) and to reduce the time participants are unemployed (percent of benefits used).

Staff can achieve these goals (outcomes) by:

• Delivering the Job Hunter Job Search Workshop Modules, or equivalent, per the Quality Standards.  

• Accessing claimants through the Claimant Progress Report and providing more personalized one-on-one services tailored to each customer's reemployment needs.

• Updating job seeker's O*Net codes in SKIES to reflect desired occupations.

• Providing relevant labor market information. 

• Providing appropriate job referrals.

Staff Training

Quality services require highly trained, highly professional staff.  The WorkSource Operations Division has developed training to equip point-of-service staff with the necessary tools to provide a full array of high quality services to UI claimants and other job seekers.  Partners’ staff  are also encouraged to participate in the training when appropriate. WorkSource Operations Division training staff will make every effort to coordinate and deliver all requested training in a timely manner.

DEFINITIONS

               Claimant Progress Tool |Choices CT | Facilitated Self-Service | Go2Worksource.com
 Group Services | Job Search Readiness Inventory | Job Search Review | Justifiable Cause | Labor Market Attached | Older Workers | One-On-One Services | Partially Employed | Potential Long-Term Unemployed | Registration | Self-Service | Similar Services | Workforce Explorer | Work Test | Verifiable Work

1. Claimant Progress Tool - The Claimant Progress Tool is a new use of technology to provide
   ESD staff access to job seekers who have a work search requirement and who have claimed UI benefits the previous week.  The Report links staff to active claimants attached to each of our local offices.  The Report provides detailed characteristics of individuals drawing UI benefits, provides information on which businesses are currently laying people off and provides information on local job openings.  Through the use of the Report, ESD staff now have an efficient process to better unite job seekers and employers to accomplish our reemployment goals and objectives.
    

2. Choices CT - Choices for Career Transitions (Choices CT) is computer software that provides job seekers with a vast array of information to help them through various career exploration, decision making, planning, and transition activities.  Choices CT provides job seekers with a solid information foundation, a structured search strategy, a career planning process, and assistance in developing a plan.
      

3. Facilitated Self-Service - A service strategy wherein job seekers are provided access to self-service resources at a WorkSource site generally through a dedicated Resource Room.  Because this may be many job seekers first exposure to self-service tools and computer-based systems, one or more staff are assigned to assist those job seekers who need help in using the resources.  These staff interact with job seekers, as needed, to facilitate their job search using the resources provided (e.g., personal computers, word processing and/or resume writing software, fax and copy machines, etc.), and online access to Internet-based tools (e.g., America's Job Bank (AJB),  Go2Worksource.com, America's Talent Bank (ATB), America's Career InfoNet, Washington Online Reemployment Kiosk (WORK), etc.).  After being shown how to use the resources and tools, many customers are able to use them  without additional assistance both on-site and at other locations with access to the Internet (e.g., schools, libraries, home, etc.).
    

4. Go2WorkSource.com -The WorkSource Washington at Go2worksource.com provides online access to Washington State job seekers and employers who are searching to find or fill a job.  Job listings are posted by employers directly in WorkSource or through America's Job Bank and by WorkSource staff assisting the employer. Registered job seekers may post a resume, apply online for jobs, find career information and access their own online account.  Registered employers may view resumes by skills or location, find labor market information and access their own online account. The Go2WorkSource website provides direct connections between job seekers and employers.
      

5. Group Services - A service strategy wherein groups of job seekers are provided the skills necessary to find and secure their own jobs.  This is accomplished through at least the seven modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series or a comparable series that is consistent with Job Hunter Quality Standards.  This can also be accomplished through the use of federally defined job search workshops (minimum of 6 hours of classroom participation) and job finding clubs (plus up to five additional days of structured, supervised work search activity).
      
   The modules in the Job Hunter Workshop Series are of variable duration and are conducted as a series of topics from which job seekers can pick and choose.  Local innovation, flexibility, and creativity in the design and delivery of the workshop modules is encouraged as long as the quality standards that were developed and agreed to by the CPP Design Team are not compromised.  The workshop modules do not qualify as Job Search Workshops or Job Finding Clubs by federal definition.
      

6. JSRI - A Job Search Readiness Inventory (JSRI) is a self-scoring assessment tool that assists job seekers to identify their specific needs regarding job search education and tools. 
      

7. Job Search Review (JSR) - After receiving five weeks of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, active claimants with the exception of claimants who are employer attached, including Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) lists A and B; members of full-referral unions; or in Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) will be subject to review and verification of job search activities.  These targeted UI claimants will be randomly selected by GUIDE and scheduled by WorkSource staff (Claimant Placement Program (CPP), Labor Exchange, etc.) to report in person showing their documented job search activities.  This includes claimants that have in the past been coded as “futile work search”.  This action is required by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 50.20.240.  See the UI Manual, Worker Profiling section 5810 for additional information. 
         

8. Justifiable Cause -  Justifiable cause for failure to participate in reemployment services as directed will include factors specific to the individual which would cause a reasonable person in similar circumstances to fail to participate. Justifiable cause includes, but is not limited to: (a) illness or disability of the individual or the individual's immediate family; (b) the individual's presence at a job interview scheduled with an employer; or (c) severe weather conditions precluding safe travel. In all such cases, the individual's ability or availability for work is an issue.
      

9. Labor Market Attached - Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants are labor market attached if they are on recall status with their employer and approved by the Department; making exclusive use of full-referral union hiring halls; or working part-time and receiving partial UI benefits.  Partially employed is different from Part time.  Part time workers should receive a profiling score and be scheduled.  Partially employed means they worked full time for an employer and due to whatever, the employer reduced their hours. They are coded as "partials" and not required to seek work.
      

10. Older Workers - Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants who are 50 years of age or older.  Claimants who reach their 50th birthday during the benefit year are considered 50 years of age.  Priority service to this group is required by RCW 50.62.  Age is not a data element and is therefore not a basis for scoring in the profiling system.
       

11. One-On-One Services - A service strategy wherein claimants are provided individual attention.  This strategy is employed only when a claimant has demonstrated an inability to participate in self-service, facilitated self-service, or group services, or when a particular service cannot be provided through self-service, facilitated self-service, or group services (e.g., Individual Employment Counseling, Employability Planning, etc.).
       

12. Partially Employed - Employment that was once full time and the hours have been reduced.
       

13. Potential Long-Term Unemployed - All “new” UI claimants who are identified by the profiling system as being most likely to exhaust their regular UI benefits.  The profiling model uses a combination of individual characteristics and local labor market measures to assign each UI claimant a score between “0” and “100”.  This score indicates the likelihood of exhausting the total benefit amount.  The higher the score, the greater the likelihood of exhausting benefits.
       

14. Registration - The act of officially recording within an electronic data collection system, a job seeker's availability for referral to job opportunities, and other employment and employment-related services.  This definition is specifically related to WIA Title III (Wagner-Peyser)  Registration.  (The UI interfaces create job seeker records; registration occurs after receiving a first staff-assisted service.)
       

15. Self-Service - A service strategy wherein customers are provided access to self-service resources at a service delivery site generally through a dedicated Resource Area, or at other locations with access to the Internet (e.g., schools, libraries, at home, etc.).  Claimants conduct their own job search using the resources provided (e.g., personal computers, word processing and/or resume writing software, fax and copy machines, etc.), and online access to Internet-based tools (e.g., America's Job Bank (AJB), America's Talent Bank (ATB), America's Career InfoNet, WorkSource Washington, etc.).  There is generally no staff intervention.
       

16. Similar Services - Services that UI claimants are currently receiving or have received in the previous year.  Similar services must be comparable to the services set forth in the Group Services and One-On-One Services definitions.  A similar service for the Job Hunter Orientation would include but not be limited to the following elements in a workshop and should be at least 3 hours in length:
    
    UI information including the claimant's responsibilities surrounding their UI claim.
     
    Goal setting exercise.
    Identify skills and abilities.
    Labor Market Information.
    Job Search Techniques.
    Resumes.
    Job Interviewing.
       

17. Workforce Explorer - Provides customers labor market information, including supply and demand data for occupations, wages by occupation, the occupations found within each industry, lists of industries, wages for each occupation by industry and lists of local employers in each industry. Workforce Explorer displays the most recent data and offers articles about employment for users to explore.
          

18. Work Test - The Work Test consists of (1) referring or attempting to refer Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants who are required to seek work to jobs for which they are qualified; (2) detecting any possible issues that may affect their eligibility to receive UI benefits; and (3) promptly reporting any such issues to a UI adjudicator.  Some examples include failure to accept a job referral; failure to report to a job interview with an employer; refusing a job offer; failure to report to work; or failure to report when called in for job search assistance when such assistance is being provided at no cost to the claimant(s).
     

19. Verifiable Work - Employment capable of being verified; confirmable.

WEB SITE

http://www.wa.gov/esd/policies/

REFERENCES

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Public Law 105-220 (WorkSource); the Wagner-Peyser Act as amended by WIA (Labor Exchange); the Social Security Act, Sections 303(a)(10) and 303(j) (UI Claimants); the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 20, Chapter V, Part 652 (Labor Exchange); the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapters 50.62 and 50.24, Sections 50.20.010, 50.20.011, 50.20.230, and 50.20.240 (UI Claimants); and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Chapter 193.180 and 192.23.019 (UI Claimants).

SUPERSEDES

This communication cancels and supersedes Policies and Procedures communication number 7028, Claimant Placement Program (CPP), dated April 3, 1989, and all draft policies, procedures, and other publications related to Reemployment Services for UI Claimants (RSUIC) or Worker Profiling/Reemployment Services (WP/RS).

DIRECT INQUIRIES TO:

Barbara Korst
Employment Security Department
Employment and Career Development Division
P.O. Box 9046, Mail Stop 6000
Olympia , WA 98507-9046
E-Mail: bkorst@esd.wa.gov       
Telephone:  (360) 438-4615
Fax:  (360) 438-4014