DIRECTIVE	:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 12-97
TO	:	ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
FROM	:	MARY ANN WYRSCH Director Unemployment Insurance Service
SUBJECT	:	Continuation of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Workload Validation

1. Purpose. To inform States of the status of the Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 UI Workload Validation.

2. References. UIPL 11-96, "Continuation of Unemployment Insurance (UI) Workload Validation"; UIPL 10-96, "Implementation of New Time Lapse and Quality Measures for UI Benefits Operations"; ET Handbook No. 361; and ET Handbook No. 401, 2nd Edition, Change 7.

3. Background. Beginning in 1993, a team of senior State Employment Security Agency (SESA) managers and Unemployment Insurance Service staff known as the Performance Enhancement Workgroup developed the framework for a comprehensive new closed-loop system for helping ensure continuous improvement in UI operational performance. This new system, called UI Performs, is described in UIPL 41-95, issued August 21, 1995, which solicited comments from SESAs. The UI Performs design continues to be refined in light of the responses to UIPL 41-95; the system will be phased in over 3-4 years as the various components are completed.

   When complete and fully operational, UI Performs will comprise a renewed affirmation of long-standing principles for Federal-State cooperation; a redesigned process for operational planning and the execution of improvement activities; various mechanisms to ensure that performance in key areas meets or exceeds certain minimum levels; and the redesign of many performance measurements plus the regular validation of key performance measures. The measures were selected to enable the UI system's success to be judged by how well it serves its ultimate customers--claimants and employers. Most of the data used to construct existing and new UI Performs measures are already in State databases; UI Performs should not appreciably increase measurement effort overall.

   The measurement redesign aspect embraces the results of three initiatives which predated UI Performs: Tax Performance System (TPS), (formerly Revenue Quality Control), which developed new measures for tax performance to replace those previously gathered under the Quality Appraisal (QA) system; the Benefits Time Lapse and Quality system which evolved from the Performance Measurement Review project, which modified the QA benefit payment timeliness and quality measures; and data validation. The team designing UI Performs also proposed substantial changes in the Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) (formerly Benefits Quality Control (BQC)) system for measuring benefit payment accuracy, including the assessment of the accuracy of decisions to deny eligibility.

4. FY '97 Workload Validation. States are advised that all workload items normally scheduled are to be validated with the exception of nonmonetary determinations, which is optional. The non-monetary determination exception is due to the change in definition which will be effective January 1, 1997. As a result of this definition change, it will no longer be possible to utilize the Workload Validation methodology for validating non-monetary determinations. States may, however, at their option, validate nonmonetary determinations for the first quarter of FY 1997 in accordance with existing Workload Validation criteria, if they feel it is appropriate.

   Continuing Workload Validation is essential to maintain the validity of the workload data that currently is being reported, particularly since the data are used not only to finance State UI program operations but to provide vital economic information as well. Workload validation plans for FY 1997 are currently due and will be reviewed by the National Office (NO) as they are received.

5. Action Required. Share with appropriate staff.

6. Inquiries. Questions should be directed to the appropriate Regional Office.