2026 National Unemployment Insurance Convening Reimbursement Instructions

The Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 08-26 provides instructions for State Workforce Agencies to receive reimbursement for travel, lodging, and per diem costs for up to two individuals per state attending the 2026 National UI Convening in Washington, D.C., on March 10-11, 2026. The purpose of this convening is to strengthen program integrity and achieve performance goals, including a national improper payment rate below 10 percent. States must submit a grant application package, including Form SF-424 and a detailed travel reimbursement document, via Grants.gov within thirty days of the guidance's publication. Reimbursable expenses, such as coach-class airfare, POV mileage at $0.725/mile, hotel accommodation (up to $276.00/night for three nights), and per diem (up to $92.00 for full days and $69.00 for travel days), must not exceed federal rates. States must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) issued Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 08-26 to provide reimbursement instructions for states attending the 2026 National UI Convening in Washington, D.C., from March 10-11, 2026. This letter informs states that the Department will reimburse travel, lodging, and per diem costs for up to two individuals per state. States must submit a grant application package, including Form SF-424 and a detailed travel reimbursement document, via Grants.gov within thirty days of the guidance's publication. Reimbursable expenses, such as coach-class airfare, train fare, POV mileage, hotel accommodation, and per diem, must not exceed federal rates. This convening is part of ETA's initiative to strengthen program integrity and achieve performance goals related to improper payment rates, nonmonetary determination timeliness, and first payment timeliness.