The U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $413,000 in funds as its part of $164.5 million granted to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to make technology upgrades that will improve the operation and security of unemployment insurance systems.
“Unemployment insurance programs play a key role in supporting dislocated workers,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a U.S. Department of Labor statement Tuesday. "Making sure that claims and benefits are processed and paid in a timely, consistent and secure manner is critical to providing workers with the income security needed to actively seek re-employment," she said.
Funds will go to a variety of projects designed to improve services for unemployment insurance claimants and employers. Some of these projects include: modernizing systems to improve and speed unemployment insurance benefit payments, tax collections and appeals processing; helping consumers avoid debit card fees when collecting benefits; improvements in information technology contingency and security plans; and strategies to improve overall program integrity.
This funding was provided following supplemental budget requests by nearly all states and is made available through the fiscal year 2009 budget and appropriations for state administration of the Unemployment Insurance Program.
For more information on Department of Labor unemployment insurance operations and the full range of employment and training programs and services, visit www.doleta.gov.
