Ongoing Workload-Based Administrative Funding for Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) Under the CARES Act

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the U.S. Department of Labor issued Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 02-25 to guide State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) in obtaining ongoing workload-based administrative funding for various programs under the amended Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The document details instructions for funding requests concerning Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC). States are required to submit an SF-424 form for each relevant program to apply for continued funding following the expiration of initial CARES Act grants. The letter outlines specific reporting requirements for each program and emphasizes that administrative costs are subject to sequestration of 5.7%. The funding period is set to begin on July 1, 2024, and end on December 31, 2025. To ensure compliance, states must maintain accurate reports, retain claims data, and disclose information regarding potential unemployment compensation fraud. The communication serves as an essential resource for managing state unemployment compensation programs effectively amidst the ongoing implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.