Additional Steps to Link UI Claimants to Job Openings Take Effect Next Week

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 11 -- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development issued the following news release:

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is reminding the public that additional steps to connect Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants to job openings will go into effect starting the week of Sunday, October 13. New UI claimants who are required to search for work will also have to register with JobCenterofWisconsin.com.

"Over the past six weeks we have trained hundreds of staff, engaged community partners and educated the public throughout Wisconsin about the advantages for claimants who complete this one-time online registration requirement after they file for unemployment," DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said. "As DWD has a responsibility to enforce this legal requirement, in doing so we are motivating claimants to use a variety of Job Center resources and services, including access to tens of thousands of online job postings across in a variety of occupations."

"For those who need assistance, we are ready to deliver one-on-one guidance to help claimants complete the requirement, either in person at our 26 comprehensive Job Centers and dozens of additional sites, or by phone through DWD's Job Service Call Center toll-free line."

Highlights of the upcoming changes include:

- Starting October 13, UI claimants who apply for benefits and are informed they must register for work will be alerted at several points throughout the filing process that they have 14 days to register with Wisconsin Job Service using JobCenterofWisconsin.com in order to receive benefits. This includes creating a Job Match profile and uploading or creating a resume. The requirement will be applied prospectively, meaning the vast majority of affected claimants will be those filing initial claims.

- Individuals will receive a special reminder flyer in the packet that's mailed to them after they file that they have 14 days from the time they file their claim to register on JobCenterofWisconsin.com. Claimants will not receive benefits until they register on JobCenterofWisconsin.com. DWD will send an automated reminder by phone to those who haven't registered by the 12th day that they must register in order to receive benefits.

- Wisconsin Job Service staff at dozens of Job Center locations and operating the Job Service Call Center will be ready to provide step-by-step guidance through the JobCenterofWisconsin.com registration process. Staff in the UI Call Centers will also connect individuals who need registration help to Wisconsin Job Service for help.

- An alternative registration method will be available to help claimants who face significant barriers that impact their ability to complete the online registration.

Wisconsin has implemented the work registration mandate, a longstanding federal requirement, by requiring claimants to register with Wisconsin Job Service. However, while many states across the country including in the Midwest enforce work registration, Wisconsin has not uniformly enforced the requirement since the mid-1990s, when the state transitioned from in-person filing at UI offices to telephone claims-taking.

In 2011, DWD added the requirement that claimants who must register with Wisconsin Job Service do so using JobCenterofWisconsin.com, and urged claimants to comply. Since then DWD has worked to set in place both the technology and resources to not only enforce the requirement uniformly and effectively, but also to provide affected individuals with ample opportunity and support to meet the requirement.

Secretary Newson noted that community education efforts will continue in the coming weeks. A 30-second radio spot will air for the next three weeks in dozens of radio stations across Wisconsin to remind the public of the new requirement. In addition, posters about the requirement will be displayed in Job Centers for those who visit.

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