DIRECTIVE	:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 10-92
TO	:	ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
FROM	:	DONALD KULICK Administrator for Regional Management
SUBJECT	:	Evaluation of the Department of Labor's (DOL) Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

1. Purpose. To announce the evaluation of the DOL's TAP and inform Regional Offices (ROs) and State employment security agencies (SESAs) that selected ROs and SESAs will be contacted by the contractors conducting the TAP evaluation.

2. Background. The DOL's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has funded a contract for the evaluation of the TAP. The TAP provides seminars on job search skills to assist separating military personnel to successfully enter the civilian labor force. Martin Marietta Energy Systems (MMES) is the contractor for this effort with assistance from Systems Research and Applications and Meridian corporations as subcontractors. The contractor anticipates contacting approximately 7-10 States to obtain certain data on sampled ex-servicemembers. The DOL has authorized the contractors to collect this data.

3. Scope of Work of this Contract. The TAP evaluation will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will concentrate on individuals who separated from the military in late 1990 and will result in an evaluation report scheduled for submittal to Congress in May 1992. Phase II will concentrate on individuals with military separation dates in late 1991. A Phase II report currently is scheduled for completion by the end of calendar year 1992.

   The total TAP evaluation addresses several activities and issues. Part of the TAP evaluation requires an analysis of benefits received through the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX) and regular unemployment insurance (UI) programs. To accomplish this activity, the contractor will contact:

   1. The Louisiana Claims Control Center (LCCC) to identify those servicemembers being sampled for the evaluation for whom SESAs have made inquiries concerning UCX benefits. MMES will provide the LCCC with two lists of social security numbers (SSNs). The first list was provided in the October-November 1991 timeframe, the second list in mid-1992. In return, the LCCC will provide MMES all information on file concerning these specific SSNs for which a UCX inquiry has been made, e.g., the State(s) and local office(s) through which the inquiry was made, name of the branch of military service, date claimant entered active duty, date claimant was discharged from active duty, net amount of time the person actively served in the military, amount of payable accrued leave accumulated, military separation station at the time of claimant's discharge from military service, dates of leave without pay, and dates of prior inquiry information, if applicable.

   2. Selected DOL ROs to discuss schedules and to obtain SESA points of contact for State UCX and UI program information. The first contact with some ROs occurred in late November 1991, the second contact will occur in mid to late 1992.

   3. Selected SESAs in December 1991 through January 1992 and again in late 1992 to obtain information from the SESAs benefit history, payment history and wage record files for specific SSNs. Information pertaining to UCX and UI benefits will be examined.

4. Conditions Affecting Release of UCX and UI Program Information. MMES has been advised that any requests for information from the LCCC or the SESAs must be made under the terms and conditions of the Privacy Act and the Computer Matching Act and that any costs incurred for gathering the data must be absorbed by the MMES or the subcontractors. States are expected to execute agreements governing the terms and conditions under which the information is disclosed to MMES or the subcontractors.

5. Action Required. SESA Administrators are requested to provide the above information to appropriate staff.

6. Inquiries. Direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.