I.Purpose

To provide guidelines for the delivery of the RESEA program, including the use of RESEA funds for delivering additional reemployment services.

II.Effective Date

Immediately

III.Background

Authorized through the Social Security Act, the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program is a federal grant program designed to address individual reemployment needs of Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants and to prevent and detect improper UI payments. Because there is strong evidence that these types of reemployment programs and service delivery strategies are effective, they remain a high priority for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

The purposes of the RESEA program, as outlined in Section 306(b) of the Social Security Act, are: 

• To improve employment outcomes of UI recipients and to reduce the average duration of UI receipt through employment;
• To strengthen program integrity and reduce improper UI payments through detection and prevention of such payments to ineligible individuals;
• To promote the alignment with the broader vision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of increased program integration and service delivery for job seekers, including UI claimants; and
• To establish reemployment services and eligibility assessments as an entry point for UI claimants into other workforce system partner programs.  

Co-Enrollment in Employment Services vs. WIOA Program

RESEA program participants must be co-enrolled in the Wagner-Peyser Employment Services (ES) program. There is no requirement for co-enrollment in any other program in connection with the RESEA program. All participants of the RESEA program will be contacted by Employment Services (ES) staff upon completion of the RESEA subsequent appointment and no referral is needed by RESEA advisors to trigger ES follow-up.

All participants of the RESEA program should receive an overview of the services available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program and other programs through the OhioMeansJobs center. The overview may be provided virtually, or in person (by group or one-on-one), by RESEA advisors, WIOA, and/or other OhioMeansJobs center partners. The RESEA participant then decides to receive the services available or not.  When participants of the RESEA program agree to participate in reemployment services (including potential training, On-the-Job Training, etc.) under the WIOA program, a referral is immediately made following the established referral process for the OhioMeansJobs center.

IMPORTANT:  Local workforce areas must not implement local policies that require participants of the RESEA program to be co-enrolled and receive services through the WIOA or other non-mandatory programs.  When the RESEA advisor believes that participation in another program will benefit the job seeker, but the job seeker does not agree to participate, the recommendation should be added to the case notes.

When a job seeker agrees to participate in additional reemployment services, and the service cannot be provided during the RESEA appointment, whether the job seeker is referred to ES or WIOA will depend on which program can provide the service more quickly.  The RESEA advisor must also consider whether delays in providing the reemployment services will result in the stoppage and/or loss of UI benefits to the job seeker.

While DOL requires co-enrollment in ES but not the WIOA program, it is the goal of ODJFS and OWD to have more RESEA participants take advantage of the services available through the WIOA and ES programs. 

Promoting Program Equity

At a fundamental level, equity within the UI program means the provision of UI to eligible workers, including workers who belong to historically underserved communities, in a timely and fair manner, with an application process that is readily accessible to all workers. These historically underserved communities include, but are not limited to, workers who are under-employed, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Indigenous persons, other persons of color, individuals with disabilities, members of religious minorities, LGBTQI+ persons, individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), women, formerly incarcerated workers, and individuals living in rural areas.

When identifying UI claimants who are most likely to exhaust UI, Ohio must not produce results that discriminate in violation of any federal or state law or which otherwise unfairly favor some claimants over those similarly situated with respect to their need for reemployment services.

Within the context of the RESEA program, ensuring equitable access includes, but is not limited to: (1) providing clear and accessible alternatives to digital tools; (2) providing reasonable accommodations, modifications, and auxiliary aids and services, where appropriate, and ensuring that communications with persons with disabilities are as effective as communications with others; (3) ensuring all communications are linguistically and culturally appropriate and that LEP individuals are effectively informed and able to participate in the RESEA program; and (4) ensuring that data is available to understand the impact, if any, of RESEA service delivery on the equitable access to UI for all eligible individuals.

IV.Definitions

Claimant:  An individual who has applied for and is receiving UI benefits

Adjudication Center:  Is part of the OUIO Benefits division which process applications for UI benefits

Individual Opportunity Plan:  An individualized reemployment plan jointly developed by the claimant and program delivery staff that identifies the claimant’s reemployment goals and determines the combination of services needed for the claimant to reach his/her reemployment goals.  The plan may include work search activities, recommendations on accessing services at the OhioMeansJobs center or through self-service tools, and/or training

Initial RESEA:  The first meeting between an RESEA service provider and a UI claimant who reported to the meeting in response to an official notification of selection and required participation in RESEA services

Subsequent RESEA:  A follow-up RESEA meeting that includes, at a minimum, a UI eligibility assessment and a review of the claimant’s work search activities to determine if additional assistance is needed to support the claimant’s compliance with the work search requirements and the claimant’s return to work at the earliest possible time

V.Requirements

Selecting Claimants to Participate in RESEA

Ohio uses a statistical model to score each claimant meeting the requirements for participation in reemployment services (i.e., the claimant has an allowed claim with the first week paid during the prior week, within five weeks of the benefit beginning date, the claimant is not returning to previous employment, the claimant is not attending approved training, and the claimant does not utilize a union hiring hall).  The higher the claimant’s score, the more likely that claimant will exhaust UI benefits and will need assistance with reemployment.

The statistical model uses several data elements, including but not limited to: 

• Claimant’s occupation;
• The unemployment rate in claimant’s county of residence as provided by the state’s Labor Market data;
• The length of time claimant has been unemployed; and
• The length of time claimant worked for their previous employer. 

Claimants are then listed by score from highest to lowest. 

Claimants whose unemployment benefits are based on military wages are given the highest possible score.  Selections are made from the eligibility list until the OhioMeansJobs Center reaches capacity.

Mandatory Participants

Once selected, participation in the RESEA program is mandatory unless the claimant meets the conditions for non-participation.  For more information, see the Reasons for Non-Participation section.

RESEA Program Components

Claimants selected to participate in the RESEA program must complete an initial RESEA and subsequent RESEA session.

For each initial RESEA session, the claimant must, at a minimum: 

• View an online introduction video known as, Ohio’s Introduction Video;
• Complete a UI eligibility review that is conducted on a one-on-one basis, which must include review of work search activities, and referral to adjudication when a potential issue is identified;
• Be provided customized labor market and career information based on an assessment of the claimant’s needs, including information about in-demand occupations;
• Be enrolled in the Wagner-Peyser ES program;
• Receive information and referral to additional reemployment services and other OhioMeansJobs center services, resources, and training, as appropriate; and
• Receive an individualized RESEA Reemployment Plan jointly developed by the claimant and the RESEA advisor that identifies the claimant’s reemployment goals and determines the combination of services needed for the claimant to obtain these goals.  The plan may include work search activities, recommendations on accessing services at the OhioMeansJobs center or through self-service tools, and/or training.

For each subsequent RESEA session, the claimant must, at a minimum: 

• Complete an OhioMeansJobs center orientation (prior to the subsequent RESEA session);
• Complete a UI eligibility assessment and a review of the claimant’s work search activities to determine when additional assistance might be needed to support the claimant’s compliance with the work search requirements and the claimant’s return to work at the earliest possible time;
• Be provided customized labor market and career information, when the claimant is seeking a new type of work;
• Review and revise, when necessary, the claimant’s RESEA Reemployment Plan;
• Be scheduled for additional career/reemployment service and/or training, when needed; and
• Be referred to ES for follow-up.

Program Delivery

Delivery of RESEA Program

RESEA advisors are responsible for delivering program services within the OhioMeansJobs centers, including: 

• Conducting initial RESEA appointments;
• Rescheduling the initial RESEA appointments when notified;
• Scheduling and rescheduling the subsequent/follow-up appointments;
• Providing reemployment services to claimants selected to participate in the program; and
• Providing reminder calls to claimants scheduled to participate in the program and to those selected to participate in the program who have not completed the required tasks in OhioMeansJobs.com.

RESEA funds may not be used to pay for training services, such as GED classes or to pay for licenses for an assessment tool. RESEA advisors may refer claimants to the WIOA program or other available funding streams. If claimants are determined eligible under additional programs, those programs may fund training and other costs related to training.

Allowable RESEA Grant Costs

The RESEA grant is primarily utilized to pay the costs of staff delivering the program with administrative costs of no more than 10% of the total area allocation.

Activities performed by staff delivering the program that are chargeable include the following: 

• Time spent in training on the RESEA program;
• Time spent in training on other OMJ center services available so delivery staff may share this information with RESEA participants;
• Time spent in selecting RESEA participants;
• Time spent directly communicating by phone, in-person, or email with RESEA participants regarding program requirements (e.g., placing reminder calls, assisting claimant with signing into OhioMeansJobs.com, resolving RESEA-related issue reported to UI);
• Time spent in completing computer entries to report RESEA participation and non-participation data;
• Time spent in completing OMJ center orientation videos/workshop curriculum for RESEA participants to complete and;
• Time spent delivering reemployment services such a resume writing workshop to claimants during claimant’s participation in the RESEA program.

This is calculated as follows:

90 minutes per workshop times 2 staff members = 180 minutes 180 minutes divided by 10 participants = 18 staff minutes per participant

Service Delivery Timeline

Scheduling Initial RESEA Sessions

When selected for the RESEA program, the claimant will have 21 calendar days to complete the required activities using OhioMeansJobs.com (i.e., view the introduction video, complete the assessment, and schedule the initial RESEA session).  Once the 21 calendar days or end-date has passed, the links within OhioMeansJobs.com for completion of the assessment and scheduling of the initial RESEA appointment are removed from claimant’s OhioMeansJobs.com account. 

RESEA advisors must assist the claimant in completing the required activities outlined above when: 

• Claimant is legally prohibited from using a computer;
• Claimant has a physical or visual impairment that makes the individual unable to use a computer; or
• Claimant has limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.

Rescheduling Initial RESEA Sessions

Claimants who contact the RESEA advisor  before their RESEA session and request to change the schedule of an initial or subsequent RESEA session date or time due to a scheduling conflict, such as a scheduled job interview, should be accommodated.  When the claimant’s reason for rescheduling is other than a job interview, the claimant must be forewarned that rescheduling may affect benefit payments and that any potential eligibility issues identified as part of rescheduling must be reported to the processing center.

Non-Participation Reasons

Under limited circumstances, claimants selected to participate in the RESEA program may have the participation requirement removed when claimant meets the requirement for being exempted, waived, return/returning to work, or when the UI claim is disallowed. 

Exempted from Participation

After being selected to participate in the RESEA programs, claimants are not required to complete RESEA activities when they have: 

• Completed the same or similar services within the prior 12 months.
  
  Before exempting a claimant from participation due to the claimant attending or completing the same or similar services, the RESEA advisor must consider the services received by a claimant.
  
  When the former employer provides outplacement services, the RESEA advisor must determine whether the claimant receives similar services as those available through the RESEA program (e.g., career and labor market information, job search assistance).  Resume writing assistance alone provided by a former employer is not reason enough to exempt a claimant from the RESEA program.
  
  The Transition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as TAP, provides information, tools, and training to ensure military service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life whether the member or his/her spouse is pursuing education, finding a job in the public or private sector, or starting their own business.  According to the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), this program should not be used in place of the RESEA program since the information provided as part of TAP is not specific to the member’s resident state. 
• Justifiable cause exists for not participating when the claimant has a condition lasting more than four consecutive weeks (e.g., ability, availability). No exemption will apply for an on-going eligibility issue until at least four weeks are affected by the issue and weeks are either denied or not claimed.
• Justifiable cause also exists when the claimant moves to another Ohio county that does not deliver the RESEA program or when the claimant moves out of state, since only Ohio residents are required to participate in the program.

When information available raises the question of whether the claimant should be exempt from program participation, an email must be sent to the RESEA@jfs.ohio.gov account to request approval for exemption.  The email must include the claimant’s name, claimant ID, and explanation of why the claimant should be exempt.  If approved, the RESEA support team will notify the RESEA advisor and report the exemption in Ohio’s designated case management system as defined in OAC 5101:9-30-04.  Only after approval is given should the RESEA advisor inform the claimant that participation in the program is no longer required.

Waived from Participation

At the time of applying for UI benefits, the work search assignment is made by the UI benefit system.  When a claimant has an employer-verified definite return to work date, is attending school/approved training, or seeks work through a union hiring hall and provides proof, the adjudication center will change the work search assignment. 

When a claimant reports attending school/training or seeking work through a union hiring hall after being selected to participate in the RESEA program, the RESEA advisor cannot waive the requirement to participate in the RESEA program unless the adjudication center changes the claimant’s work search assignment in the UI benefit system. 

When information available raises the question of whether the claimant should be waived from program participation, and the work search assignment is not waived within seven days of the claimant’s deadline date, the RESEA advisor must email the RESEA@jfs.ohio.gov account.  The email must include the claimant’s name, claimant ID, and explanation of why the claimant should be waived from participation.  The RESEA support team will work with the  adjudication center to have the work search assignment changed.  If the work search assignment is changed, the RESEA support team will notify the RESEA advisor and report the waiver in Ohio’s designated case management system.  Only after the work search change should the RESEA advisor inform the claimant that participation in the program is no longer required.

Returned to Work

When the claimant has returned to work or will return to work within four weeks of the scheduled appointment or deadline to complete RESEA activities, the RESEA advisor must document the following information:  employer name, address, name of contact person (for agency’s verification purposes), the contact’s phone number, position/job title, rate of pay, and the employment start date.  The requirement to participate cannot be removed unless the claimant provides all required employment information.  This information must also be provided to the adjudication center.

Claim Disallowed

When the claimant’s benefit year is disallowed, the requirement to participate in the RESEA program is removed. 

When information available raises the question of whether the claimant should be required to participate due to the UI claim being disallowed, an email must be sent to the RESEA@jfs.ohio.gov account to request approval for participation removal.  The email must include the claimant’s name, claimant ID, and explanation of why the claimant should not be required to participate.  If approved, the RESEA support team will notify the RESEA advisor and report the exemption in Ohio’s designated case management system.  Only after approval is given should the RESEA advisor inform the claimant that participation in the program is no longer required.  Claimants who wish to receive reemployment services, must be referred to ES staff or community partners for assistance.

Record Retention Schedule

The retention schedule for RESEA records is five years. OhioMeansJobs Centers/local workforce areas must retain the session folder in the office for one year and then forward the folder to the Records Center for retention for four years.

The RESEA advisor will collect and upload into Ohio’s designated case management system the claimant’s resume, job contacts provided by claimant, and any other documents pertaining to a claimant’s participation in reemployment services.

Reporting Program Outcomes

All claimants selected to participate in an initial or subsequent RESEA, who are not exempt, have been waived, have returned to work, or have a claim disallowed must have a reported outcome.  The outcome reported must be one of the following: completed, failed to schedule one-on-one assessment (or initial RESEA), failed to report to scheduled one-on-one assessment (or initial RESEA), or failed to report to scheduled follow-up (or subsequent RESEA).  When a claimant fails to schedule or report for an RESEA session, UI benefits may be denied indefinitely or until claimant participates in the required session.

VI.Monitoring

In addition to local RESEA managers and supervisors, the RESEA support office is also responsible for monitoring delivery of the RESEA program in each local workforce area.

VII.Technical Assistance

For additional information and technical assistance, please email
RESEA@jfs.ohio.gov.

VIII.     References

Unemployment Insurance Policy Letter No. 10-22

Ohio Revised Code, Sections 4141.13(A) (14), 4141.29(A)(7), 4141.29(L)

Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5101:9-30-04