123-3 How To Anticipate Monthly UIB Income
This section provides information on how to use the Department of Labor (DOL) screens in the DOL system as verification of UIB income when applicants or recipients have already applied and have a determination of eligibility from DOL.
The caseworker must use verification tools readily available, such as the UIB monetary determination notice or the DOL data screens. Calls directly to UI Support Unit should be limited to determining the status of a current benefit when the caseworker has conflicting information from the client and what is found on-line. The Support Unit will only give information on current UIB status, and will not give information about possible eligibility for UIB.
The client is always the first source of information. Once they have applied for UIB, find out what they know about their claim. Ask if they filed or are planning to file for their weekly benefits and if they know of a reason that they will not receive payment. If the information on the DOL screens supports what the client tells you, no further verification is necessary.
To anticipate UIB income when there is no recent payment history, discuss the potential UIB income with the client to determine if the individual expects to file for and receive the amount shown on the DOL system. DOL sends the individual information about their UI benefit amount (called the monetary determination) when the DOL establishes the claim, and gives the individual a claimant handbook instructing how to claim UIB payments. The individual may also have additional information from DOL about the claim’s status.
Note:
Caseworkers can also refer to the UI claimant handbook available online at <http://www.labor.state.ak.us/esd_unemployment_insurance/uihandbook.pdf> for more information about receiving UIB payments.
If the individual indicates that they do not expect the full weekly UIB payment or that the payment will be delayed, the DPA worker should ask the individual for verification they have about the situation, such as a notice from DOL.
123-3 B CHECK DOL DATA SCREENS
The caseworker must check the DOL data system for information regarding UIB income and UIB eligibility related to the Alaska Temporary Assistance, Adult Public Assistance, and Medicaid programs’ development of income requirements. The system also can be used to verify receipt of UIB for applicants and recipients of all DPA programs.
When an individual applies for UIB, information about the benefit year, balance of benefits on the claim, weekly benefit amount, and duration of benefits will appear on the BC20 (Client ES/UI Information) and BB05 (Full Program Entitlement) screens in the DOL data system.
An individual must file for a weekly benefit in order for the benefit to show on the BB52 (Week Claimed Entitlement). DOL must issue a payment on a claim before data displays on the BB53 (Weekly Disbursements.)
If the individual has established a new UIB claim, the data displays on the BB05, and the individual plans to file for the UIB payment amount shown for the new claim, the caseworker:
Anticipates that the first week after the benefit year beginning date will be the required waiting week. No payment is made for this week.
Anticipates that payment for the second week’s benefit will be issued during the third week.
Anticipates that future benefits will be filed every two weeks and payments made for two weeks at a time.
Example:
A Temporary Assistance applicant has a new UIB claim established on April 9, 2008. April 6 is the benefit year start date (always a Sunday) for the new claim. An individual must file their claim between Sunday and Saturday each week. The benefit is then issued the night the file is claimed. If the individual files their claim after Saturday of the week in question, they will lose that week’s benefit. During the week of April 20, the individual files for the waiting week, April 6, and the first possible week of benefits, April 13. The applicant will not be able to file for further UIB until the week of May 3, so the worker will anticipate one week of UIB will be received for April, allowing time for the payment to be directly deposited or delivered by mail. The worker will anticipate future month’s income based on payments being filed every two weeks.
Once DOL issues a payment on a UIB claim, data on the BB52 (Week Claimed Entitlement) and BB53 (Weekly Disbursements) screens can be used to determine the payment history and anticipate future payments. If the client is regularly filing for UIB benefits and they are regularly being paid, the amounts shown on these screens are sufficient for estimating and verifying income.
If there is a gap in the claim and payment histories, and the client says they have, or are going to reopen their claim, use the BC20 (Client ES/UI Information) screen to determine if the claim has been reopened. This will show in the field titled Last Reopen. If the date in that field corresponds with the client's statement that they are going to begin claiming benefits and expect to receive them, this information along with that on the BB05, can be used to estimate and verify the UIB income.
If the amount of UIB payments or when they will be received is unknown, do not anticipate this income and remind the client of their reporting requirements.
Note: The UIB information updates overnight on the DOL system. When the client or DOL staff takes an action on a claim, the resulting information will not be available on the system or from DOL/UI Support staff until the next day.
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