US Department of Labor awards $6.85M to promote equitable access to unemployment insurance benefits in Delaware, Montana, Wyoming

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $6,848,992 in grants to state employment insurance systems in Delaware, Montana and Wyoming to enhance awareness and improve delivery of unemployment insurance benefits to people who face obstacles to access.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the latest round of grants will support states’ projects that seek to ensure age, race, ethnicity, language proficiency, disability status, geographic location or other systemic barriers do not prevent those in need from accessing unemployment insurance benefits.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, unemployment insurance equity grants support projects designed to expand outreach, promote awareness, enhance identification requirements, improve technology, streamline instructions, provide translation services, increase staffing and address other accessibility issues marginalized communities encounter.

The awards include $2,283,000 each to Delaware and Wyoming, and $2,282,992 to Montana. 

In August 2021, the department informed states of the availability of $260 million in grants to promote equitable access to unemployment insurance benefits. To date, the department has announced the award of more than $157 million to 31 states and the District of Columbia.