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States have new flexibility in administering the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, according to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. The following elements are the new core components of a RESEA that must be included in the initial session with an unemployment compensation claimant:
- UI eligibility assessment, including a review of work search activities and an adjudication referral if an issue or potential issue is identified
- Labor market and career information that addresses the claimant’s needs
- Enrollment in Wagner-Peyser Act-funded Employment Services
- Support to develop and implement an individual reemployment plan
- Information and access to American Job Center (AJC) services and referrals to reemployment services and training to support the claimant’s return to work
As in the past, initial and any subsequent RESEAs must be provided one-on-one and in-person. Here is a comparison of key changes. This comparison has been shortened for space.
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FY 2017 Requirements
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FY 2018 Requirements
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Summary of Changes
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UI eligibility assessment and referral to adjudication if an issue is identified
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UI eligibility assessment, including review of work search activities and referral to adjudication if needed
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Clarifies that review of claimant’s work search is part of eligibility assessment
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Requirement for claimant to report to AJC
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No similar requirement
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States have discretion to require participants to report to AJC or alternative location, such as libraries or schools. RESEA services must continue to be provided in-person.
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Orientation to AJC services
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No similar requirement
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States have discretion to continue orientation services as allowable activity.
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Registration with state’s job bank
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No similar requirement
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States have discretion to require registration with job bank as allowable activity.
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Development or revision of individual reemployment plan that includes work search, accessing services through an AJC or using self-service tools, and/or training
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Providing support to claimant to develop and implement an individual reemployment plan
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States have discretion to use alternative approaches to support individual reemployment plans. These approaches must be tailored to claimant’s needs and require some one-on-one interaction.
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Provision of at least one additional career service, such as
--Coordination with other workforce activities, including WIOA Dislocated Worker Program
--Labor Exchange, including information about in-demand industries and occupations
--Career readiness activities, including assistance with resumes
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Providing access to AJC services and referrals to reemployment services and training to support claimant’s return to work
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Career services is an allowable RESEA activity that may be charged against RESEA grant. However, states are no longer required to provide these services during RESEA session(s).
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Read the entire Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 8-18 here, including information on funds still available for FY 2018.
Looking for a proven and fast way to help claimants create tailored individual reemployment plans, plus give consistent structure to your one-on-one RESEA meetings? Request complimentary review samples of the best-practice, self-guiding employment tools, published by Career Action Resources.
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