2014-00668. Announcement Regarding a Change in Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claimants in Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Rhode Island, the Virgin Islands and Washington in the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) Program

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) produces trigger notices indicating which states qualify for EUC08 benefits, and provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying state. The trigger notices covering state eligibility for this program can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/​unemploy/​claims_​arch.asp.

The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding states' EUC08 trigger status:

• Colorado triggers “off” Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/14/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Colorado was 6.9%, falling below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to remain “on” Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending December 14, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Colorado who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

• Florida triggers “off” Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/14/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Florida was 6.8%, falling below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to remain “on” Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending December 14, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Florida who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

• Michigan triggers “on” Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 12/8/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Michigan was 9.0%, meeting the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger “on” Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Michigan who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility.

• Rhode Island triggers “on” Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 12/8/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 9.1%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger “on” Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Rhode Island who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility.

• Washington triggers “on” to Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 12/8/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on November 22, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Washington was 7.0%, meeting the 7.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger “on” Tier 3 of EUC08. The week beginning December 8, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Washington who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

• The Virgin Islands triggers “on” to Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 11/10/2013.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on October 22, 2013, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in the Virgin Islands was 9.8%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger rate threshold necessary to trigger “on” in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week beginning November 10, 2013, was the first week in which EUC08 claimants in the Virgin Islands who had exhausted Tier 3 and were otherwise eligible, could establish Tier 4 eligibility.

Information for Claimants

The duration of benefits payable in the EUC08 program, and the terms and conditions under which they are payable, are governed by Public Laws 110-252, 110-449, 111-5, 111-92, 111-118, 111-144, 111-157, 111-205, 111-312, 112-96, and 112-240, and the operating instructions issued to the states by the Department.

In the case of a state beginning or concluding a payable period in EUC08, the State Workforce Agency (SWA) will furnish a written notice of any change in potential entitlement to each individual who could establish, or had established, eligibility for benefits (20 CFR 615.13 (c)(1) and (c)(4)). Persons who believe they may be entitled to benefits in the EUC08 program, or who wish to inquire about their rights under this program, should contact their SWA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tony Sznoluch, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Frances Perkins Bldg. Room S-4524, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or by email: [e-mail].

Signed in Washington, DC, this 6th day of December, 2013.

Eric M. Seleznow,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.