ADVISORY:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 4-04, Change 1
TO:	STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:	CHERYL ATKINSON  /s/ Administrator       Office of Workforce Security

SUBJECT:

Installation of the Revised Automated Quarterly Statement of Benefits Paid to Combined Wage Claimants, TC-IB6

1. Purpose.To advise State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) that the required operational date for the new ICON-IB6, Release 2 software, which is used for processing quarterly bills for unemployment claims that combine wages from two or more states, has been changed from the billing cycle for the quarter ending March 31, 2004, to the billing cycle for the quarter ending June 30, 2004.

2. References. Section 3304(a)(9)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code; 20 CFR 616; ET Handbook 399; IB6 Implementation Guide; IB6 Non-Model Code Guide; and IB6 User Guide; Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 04-04, dated December 8, 2004.

3. Background. SWAs were notified in UIPL No. 04-04 that the deadline for installing Release 2 and becoming operational was the billing cycle for the quarter ending March 31, 2004. However, in response to SWAs requests for additional time and in consultation with the Interstate Benefit Committee at its February 2004 meeting, a decision was made to change the deadline to the billing cycle for the quarter ending June 30, 2004. Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., the ICON contractor, has alerted SWAs’ ICON programmers and Interstate Program Coordinators of the new deadline.

As a result of SWA’s testing, there have been several modifications to the model code since the initial release. SWAs may obtain an updated copy of the model code that includes all of the modifications from the ICON HUB.

4. Individual SWA Testing of the New IB6 Subsystem.When a SWA is ready to test the transmission of its Release 2 IB6 data, it may send the test data to the ICON HUB for review. Please contact Michele Fulkerson via email at Michele.Fulkerson@acs-inc.com or by phone at 407-306-7133 to obtain the job control language needed to send the SWA’s test data.

RESCISSIONS	EXPIRATION DATE
None	March 31, 2005

5. Action Required. SWA Administrators are requested to provide a copy of this advisory to the appropriate program and data processing staff and ensure that Release 2 of the automated IB6 is installed and operational for the second quarter 2004 combined wage billing cycle.

Prior to the second quarter 2004 IB6 billing cycle, the IB6 data will continue to be transmitted in the Release 1 format. On July 1, 2004, and thereafter, all IB6 data must be transmitted in the new Release 2 format.

6. Inquiries. Any questions should be addressed to the appropriate Regional Office.