References. Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 32-96; UIPL 17-95 and Change 1. Background. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, enacted on December 8, 1994, required States to deduct and withhold Federal income taxes from unemployment benefits upon claimants' requests. The moneys withheld are currently transferred to the IRS by the State issuing the benefit payment, generally through the Electronic Funds Transfer Payment System (EFTPS). The Bureau of Public Debt (BPD) in the U.S. Treasury has offered to make tax withholding transfers directly from each State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund to the IRS through the Unemployment Trust Fund Accounting System (UTFAS), which is used to make deposits to and withdrawals from the Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF). The specific system operations are explained in the next section. The new process should prove more efficient because States can then use the UTFAS for all UTF transactions. There will be only one transfer for all withholding payments, and that transfer can be done daily, much like making daily deposits to the State UTF account. System Operations. Accountants in the BPD, Trust Fund Management Branch (TFMB), will use the FEDTAX II system to make transfers to the IRS using the State's Employer Identification Number (EIN). Each State will notify the TFMB of the daily withholding amount by entering a book transfer in the UTFAS. This book transfer will move the withholding amount from the State UTF account to a UTF income tax liability account daily. From the liability account, TFMB will upload to the FEDTAX II the withholding information, and then the withholding amount will be transferred to the IRS. Specific instructions will be sent in an update to the UTFAS user's manual. Each State will continue to prepare and mail 1099s and file the Form 945 using its own EIN. Action required. SESA Administrators are encouraged to use the UTFAS for withholding payments by registering with the BPD. To register, each State should send a letter providing the following information: a. The EIN the State uses for 945 filing. b. The name record used for 945 filing. c. The name and phone number of the State point of contact for withholding issues. d. Authorization for the BPD, Office of Public Debt Accounting, Division of Federal Investments, Trust Fund Management Branch, to make payments from the State UTF account to the IRS. The letter should be signed by the same person authorized to enter or amend banking arrangements and drawdowns from the UTF or to delegate such authority. The letter should be sent to: Bureau of Public Debt Attention: Deborah Ali PO Box 1328, Room 114HB Trust Fund Management Branch Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328

Authorities and References: Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33) (amending Title IV-A of the Social Security Act); the Non-citizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-306); and the Welfare-to-Work Interim Final Rule, 20 CFR Part 645 (published at 62 FR 61588 (Nov. 18, 1997)). Background: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorizes the Department of Labor to provide WtW grants to public and private entities in States and local communities for transitional employment assistance to move hard-to- employ Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients with significant employment barriers and certain non-custodial parents into unsubsidized jobs. Seventy-five percent of WtW funds (less small set- asides for specific statutory purposes) are available to States in amounts based on the statutory formula set forth in Section 403(a)(5)(A)(v) of the Social Security Act. A State is required to allocate at least 85 percent of the formula funds among the Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) in the State and may retain up to 15 percent of the funds for WtW projects that focus on helping long-term welfare recipients enter unsubsidized employment. At Section 403(a)(5)(A)(iv)(II), the statute originally provided that a State receiving formula funds must obligate all funds allotted to it by the end of the fiscal year in which those funds were appropriated. Any funds not obligated would be added to the amount to be allotted by formula to States in the subsequent fiscal year. This provision had the effect of requiring States to obligate the entire formula allotment each fiscal year or face the consequence of losing any unobligated funds. States fulfilled the obligation requirement for the majority of the funds when they allocated the 85 percent funds to SDAs. However, in States that have only one SDA, which is usually an agency of the State government that also serves as the grant recipient, the obligation of these funds presented particular difficulties. In addition, the provision also required States to fully obligate the 15 percent of funds reserved for special projects. This requirement generally conflicts with other authority provided in the Social Security Act allowing funds to be expended over a three-year period. Technical Amendment Affecting the Obligation of Funds: On October 28, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Non-citizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-306). The technical amendment harmonizes the obligation requirement and the three-year expenditure provision. It also reiterates that States, excluding single SDA States, are required to expeditiously allocate the 85 percent of the formula funds among the SDAs in the State; and that these formula grant funds must be allocated by the end of the fiscal year in which the funds were appropriated. The requirement to obligate funds by the end of the fiscal year does not apply to the 15 percent of funds reserved by the States for special projects or to the funds that are available to single SDA States. However, the provision would continue to require States to expeditiously allocate formula funds among the SDAs in the State. Retroactivity: The technical amendment is retroactive to the date of the passage of the Balanced Budget Act, which was signed into law August 5, 1997. Action Required: States should provide this guidance to appropriate staff.

References: a. Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 7-95, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Intertitle Transfer of Funds. b. TEGL No. 3-97, JTPA Allotment for PY and CY 1998 and Wagner-Peyser Act Preliminary Estimates for 1998. c. TEGL No. 4-97, Program Guidance and Allocations for CY 98 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP). d. TEGL No. 2-98, Instructions for Title II JTPA Quarterly Financial Report. e. Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) No. 14-93, Change 2, Notification of the Office of Management and Budget=s (OMB) Approval of Revision and Extension of the Worker Adjustment Formula Financial Report, ETA 9041. f. TEIN No. 39-97, Annual Reporting Requirements for JTPA Title II-A/C Service Delivery Area (SDA) Programs. g. DOL Appropriation Act of 1997, P.L. 104-28; the 1998 Appropriation Act, P.L. 105-78; and 1999 Appropriation Act, P.L. 105-277. Background: TEGL No. 7-95, dated July 31, 1996, provided guidance on the use of intertitle transfers. Since that time, further legislative actions have extended the authority for such transfers. Transfer Authority: The attached table from TEGL No. 7-95 is updated to reflect intertitle transfer authority through PY 1999, based on the DOL appropriation laws for FY 1997 (P.L. 104-28), FY 1998 (P.L. 105-78) and FY 1999 (P.L. 105- 277). Transfer authority for FY 1998/PY 1998 and PY 1999 is the same as it was for PY 1997/FY 1997. Service delivery areas (SDAs) and sub-state areas (SSA), with the approval of the Governor, may transfer up to 100 percent of the funds for Titles II-B and II-C between the two programs; and they have the authority to transfer up to 20 percent between Titles II-A and III. It should be noted for Program Year 1999, funds for both the Title II-B Summer Youth program and the Title II-C year-round Youth Training Grants are available for obligation on April 1, 1999. Thus, the Summer Youth program is no longer on a fiscal year period. Transfer authority remains the same, i.e., up to 100 percent of the funds can be transferred between the two programs. Further guidance on the use of the remaining JTPA funds after PY 1999 under the Workforce Investment Act will be provided at a later date. Question 13 in TEGL No. 7-95 dealt with the impact of intertitle transfers in excess of 20 percent on National Reserve Account (NRA) grant requests. With the start of PY 1997, the maximum transfer between Titles II-A and III is 20 percent of the applicable sub-state formula allocation; therefore, this policy is no longer applicable. Reporting: The JTPA Title II Quarterly Status Report (JQSR) was revised to report on intertitle transfers between Titles II-A and III. Line 37 of the JQSR was added for Titles II-A and III transfers. Instructions for the above was provided in TEGL No. 2-98 dated July 28, 1998. The Worker Adjustment Formula Financial Report was also changed to report intertitle transfers with the addition of Line 10a to report on transfers. Guidance on Title III reporting was provided in TEIN No. 14-93, Change 2. Action: State JTPA Liaisons are requested to distribute this information to all SDAs and sub-state areas.

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Reference: Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 7-98 dated October 29, 1998. Background: TEGL No. 7-98 informed States of the availability of Title III demonstration funds for incumbent worker system building at the State level for PY 1998. Authorization effective July 1, 1998, allows for the use of Secretary=s JTPA Title III Discretionary funds under demonstration authority for incumbent worker training. The projects funded by the Department would be grants with a maximum period of performance of 12 months, not to exceed $50,000 each, with a total not to exceed $2,600,000. Submission of State Applications: It has come to the attention of the National Office that additional time is needed by the States to prepare applications for these funds. States= Incumbent Worker System Building Demonstration grant applications should be submitted as soon as possible, but not later than December 31, 1998, an extension of the previous deadline of December 15, 1998. The applications, including an SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance and SF 424A, Budget Information form, should be submitted to the appropriate Regional Office, with a copy sent at the same time to: Janice E. Perry, Grant Officer Attn: Incumbent Worker System Building Demonstration Plan Employment and Training Administration U.S. Department of Labor, Room S4203 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210.

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Reference: TEGL No. 6-98, dated September 21, 1998. Background: TEGL No. 6-98 explains the amended eligibility criteria for custodial and non-custodial parents under the 70 percent targeted portion of the WtW program. Questions arose concerning the eligibility of custodial caretaker relatives who receive TANF benefits for themselves and on behalf of the children in their custody. While the number of these cases nationwide is relatively small, we wish to clarify that custodial caretaker relatives, who are TANF recipients, are subject to the same TANF participation requirements, time limitations and other requirements under section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) as other TANF recipients and, therefore, may be eligible for the WtW program. Clarification of the Interpretation of the Technical Amendment to the Eligibility Criteria for Custodial Caretaker Relatives: On July 16, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998, which included a technical amendment to Section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act regarding the eligibility of non-custodial parents under the 70 percent targeted portion of the WtW program. Pursuant to the technical amendment, the eligibility criteria have been changed so that the individual to be served in a WtW program must be the one who meets the eligibility requirements, whether the individual is the TANF recipient (which includes the custodial parent or the custodial caretaker relative) or a non-custodial parent. The purpose of this letter is to clarify that the requirements for the non-custodial parent are the same whether the TANF recipient is the custodial parent or a custodial caretaker relative. Effective Date: These revised eligibility requirements are effective as of July 16, 1998. Action: States should provide this guidance to appropriate staff.

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