COVID Q&A - Texas Workforce Commission



COVID-19 RECOVERY Q&ATexas Workforce CommissionWorkforce Development DivisionQuestions and Responses Beginning May 2020Updated November 5, 2021Includes general information on COVID-19 National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG).The most recent revisions are identified in the table of contents with “UPDATE.” of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u General/Administrative PAGEREF _Toc84411019 \h 4Information Technology PAGEREF _Toc84411020 \h 7Programs PAGEREF _Toc84411021 \h 8General PAGEREF _Toc84411022 \h 8Choices and Non-Custodial Parents (NCP) PAGEREF _Toc84411023 \h 9Rapid Response PAGEREF _Toc84411024 \h 12Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative PAGEREF _Toc84411025 \h 13Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) PAGEREF _Toc84411026 \h 19Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) PAGEREF _Toc84411027 \h 20UPDATE: October 8, 2021 PAGEREF _Toc84411028 \h 20Unemployment Benefits & RESEA PAGEREF _Toc84411029 \h 20WIOA Adults & Dislocated Workers PAGEREF _Toc84411030 \h 23WIOA Youth PAGEREF _Toc84411031 \h 25Workforce Systems PAGEREF _Toc84411032 \h 27(Interim ETPS) Interim Eligible Training Provider System PAGEREF _Toc84411033 \h PAGEREF _Toc84411034 \h 29NEW: October 8, 2021 PAGEREF _Toc84411035 \h 29COVID-19 National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) PAGEREF _Toc84411036 \h 30National Dislocated Worker Grant PAGEREF _Toc84411037 \h 30Allowable Activities under NDWG PAGEREF _Toc84411038 \h 31TWIST Data Entry for National Dislocated Worker Grant PAGEREF _Toc84411039 \h 33TWIST Reports for the COVID-19 Pandemic PAGEREF _Toc84411040 \h 33Monitoring PAGEREF _Toc84411041 \h 33Safety Training PAGEREF _Toc84411042 \h 33General/AdministrativeQ: The checklist provided to Boards requires that they have a process to close local Workforce Solutions Offices for deep cleaning following an incident in which an individual (staff or customer) in the office shows symptoms or is determined to be positive for COVID-19. Please define “deep cleaning.”A: The TWC Risk and Security Management (RSM) department recommends that Boards use current Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 guidance, Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility, available at: cleaning, which requires office closure, must be performed by certified cleaning services. Regular disinfecting of offices, which does not require office closure, may be performed by staff or contracted janitorial services. Q: Will TWC provide a list of approved personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers with which Boards may contract? Does TWC have a similar list for certified deep cleaning services?A: TWC provided Boards with the list of vendors that TWC uses on December 8, 2020.TWC recommends that Boards check current contracted janitorial services to determine whether the services are certified to perform deep cleaning. The Texas Municipal League (TML) has published helpful information, including its List of Possible PPE Vendors, available at: : Are Boards allowed to use Employment Service (ES) funding to order PPE for the Workforce Solutions Offices? We may purchase plastic panels, masks, and other related items, such as hand sanitizer pump stands. A: The ES operating grant exists to finance costs associated with state ES merit staff assigned to Boards. Consistent with the terms of the ES operating grant and the “allocable costs” cost principle, funds may not be used to fund PPE for the entirety of the Workforce Solutions Offices but may be used for the allocable portion of PPE cost that is incurred in support of the following:Allowable ES activities and state ES merit staff assigned to BoardsThe temporary workers funded with the additional funds Q: What process must be followed when disposing of used and/or contaminated PPE?A: Response provided by TWC RSM. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) COVID-19 Team refers to CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 medical waste available at the following address: , as follows:“CDC’s guidance states that management of laundry, food service utensils, and medical waste should be performed in accordance with routine procedures. There is no evidence to suggest that facility waste needs any additional disinfection.”Boards must follow the Facility Safety steps required in the Guidance Checklist for Safely Reopening Offices to the Public, provided by TWC. Other relevant CDC guidance related to COVID-19 includes:Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility When Someone Is Sick; andWorkplaces and Businesses Plan, Prepare, and Respond.Q: We would like clarification on PPE, specifically regarding masks for customers. Are these allowable expenditures under Executive Order GA-36?A: (Response from Fiscal TA)Under current active Executive Orders through GA-36, customers may be encouraged but must not be required to wear a face covering. However, to continue to help minimize exposure risk to frontline staff and other customers, TWC considers it necessary and reasonable for Boards to use TWC grant funds to purchase a “reasonable supply” of face masks for use by customers who arrive at Workforce Solutions Offices or Workforce Solutions events without their own face coverings but wear them while at the office or event. Face masks should not be provided to individuals who already have adequate face coverings and should not be distributed for general use outside of Workforce Solutions Offices and Workforce Solutions events. Care should be taken to handle the storage and distribution of the mask inventory in a manner that prevents the masks from being exposed to the virus prior to or while being distributed. Similarly, precautions should be taken to handle the disposal of used masks in a manner that minimizes the potential of infection from exposure to a contaminated face mask.Please note:“Face masks” refers to disposable masks that cover the nose and mouth (for example, surgical face masks) and does not include purchases of N95 respirators or purchases of handmade cloth coverings.“Reasonable supply” means an estimate of the quantity of masks needed in consideration of relevant circumstances, such as estimated customer traffic, observations about the tendencies of individuals in the local area to bring their own face coverings when in public, and current knowledge about the continuation of recommendations by government officials to wear face coverings while in the public. Reorders should be adjusted to align with relevant changes in circumstances. Where aggregate purchases fall within the micro-purchase or small purchase procurement thresholds, the supporting documentation does not need to include detailed itemization of the specific factors considered to determine the quantity needed. A statement such as, “Estimate of COVID-19-related customer face mask needs for the X event,” “Estimate of COVID-19 related customer face mask needs for the period of X to X,” or even “Estimated initial stock [or restock] needs for COVID-19-related customer face masks,” will generally be sufficient to justify the purchase. Where the purchase covers face masks for both customers and staff, adjust the statement accordingly.Bulk purchasing is not prohibited, provided that at the time the order is placed, the quantity ordered is not anticipated to result in a large surplus of unused face coverings in the future when recommendations for face coverings end.As with other costs, the cost is to be charged or assigned to programs/awards in accordance with the relative benefit received.Q: Can Boards refuse to provide services to customers who arrive at local Workforce Solutions Offices without face coverings?A: No. Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34 on March 2, 2021, rescinding several executive orders, including GA-29, which mandated that face coverings be worn with limited exceptions. GA-34 does not prohibit “businesses or other establishments from requiring employees or customers to follow additional hygiene measures, including the wearing of a face covering.” On May 18, 2021, the governor issued Executive Order GA-36, prohibiting governmental entities and officials from mandating the wearing of face coverings or restricting activities in response to the COVID-19 disaster. Boards are governmental entities. Effective May 21, 2021, Boards may no longer impose mask or other face covering requirements for individuals seeking services at Workforce Solutions Offices. Boards may offer face masks, if available, to individuals who do not have their own but may not restrict physical access to services to individuals who choose not to wear masks or face coverings.Q: If Workforce Solutions Offices temporarily close to in-person services, is the Board required to inform TWC?A: Yes. If a Board temporarily closes a Workforce Solutions Office, it must notify Shunta Williams at covid.affectedoffices@twc.. Boards must post information related to office closures in a manner accessible to the public, for example: at affected Workforce Solutions Offices;on Board websites;on social media outlets managed by the Board, if applicable.Boards must also call participants to notify them of the closure and offer alternative communication and appointment options.Q:?Must paid time off be provided for staff exposed to individuals testing positive for COVID-19 or showing symptoms of such exposure?A: Employees working for Board contractors will have their Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) eligibility determined by the contractor. Employee leave will be administered under the contractors’ policies. The funding component of such employees’ pay will not change; if they are on paid time, the source of the payment will not change. TWC will determine FMLA or Emergency leave eligibility for TWC employees.Q:?Some ES staff members were trained to answer selected unemployment insurance (UI) questions from customers. Are Boards able to charge this time to UI?A: Regarding the increased volume of claimant calls with claims-related questions that staff could be trained to answer, we provided additional UI training to some of the ES staff members who volunteered last year. With training on 10 common UI questions—beyond administrative requests such as password or PIN resets—staff members are able to respond quickly to issues that would otherwise be redirected back to the UI Tele-Center. Because this represents a significant commitment of time, staff time spent on this activity will be charged to UI by staff exception-keying to UI in the Comprehensive Human Resources and Payroll System (CHAPS). As discussed previously, we know this will require staff time, and we encourage ES staff to exception-key while also asking you to monitor the number of hours keyed to ensure that the amount reflects only time spent on claims-related activities. UI funds are limited, so we have a shared interest in the hours keyed agreeing with the hours of assistance provided.Integrated Service Area Managers (ISAMs) staff will provide the appropriate CHAPS project code to ES staff members who are assisting UI claimants. The same staff members are also required to enter these services in (WIT) as Service Code A17–(37) Basic UI Claim Info. TWC staff will review the CHAPS totals and WIT service reports as they are received to review the demand on staff time and the services provided, and on or before May 1, we will talk with Boards about next steps. Please keep us informed of any concerns as they arise. The following are examples of services topics that staff members have been trained to answer questions about and are expected to both record in WIT and exception-key time spent to UI:1.Payment of claim 2.Status of appeal 3.Status of 1099G4.Reporting of or status of overpayments 5.Verification of ID questions (ID.me)Information TechnologyQ: How can claimants use “Larry The Bot” to request contact from TWC? A: Click the “Chat with Us” box at the bottom of the TWC web page.? Type “Call me” in the search box.? The bot will respond with “If you need to reach a customer service representative for assistance, please click here to request contact from TWC.”?Click on the “Request contact from TWC” button. Fill out the form within the chat box, which includes the following fields: First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email, Date of Birth, Last 4 of your SSN, and Reason for Contact.?The Reason for Contact field includes the following: Benefit Payment, Unemployment Claim, Log In or PIN/Password Issues, Wages or Earnings, Reporting possible identity theft or Other.? Depending on which Reason for Contact item they select in step 4, they can pick one of the following items to further describe their problem: Benefit Payment:I forgot to request payment.I am unable to request payment.I have not received my benefits.I need to reset my PIN.Unemployment Claim:I want to file a new claim.I need to update my claim.Claim status (filed more than 30 days ago)Log In or PIN/Password Issues:I don’t remember my User ID. I can’t reset my password. My SSN is associated with another User ID.Wages or Earnings:My DUA/PUA wages are incorrect.I need to correct my earnings.Reporting possible identity theftOther (This opens a small box of 50 characters to give us a few words about their issue.) Using this form will help divide the list for our volunteers to research and contact the claimant.?ProgramsGeneralQ: If a Board is not able to obtain physical signatures from customers, may Boards use email submission of documents from customers in place of their signature on these documents? What are acceptable alternatives to a physical signature?A: Boards must review the ability to send and/or receive digital signatures using technology acceptable under 1 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 203, Subchapter B. Electronic signature applications, such as DocuSign and Adobe E-signature, comply with state law. Until a Board is able to obtain physical signatures—or has access to digital signature tools—an email or text exchange between staff members and customers containing the following will be acceptable:Explanation of document detailsRequest for acknowledgmentCustomer agreementDocumentation must be included in participant case files in accordance with existing guidance. Boards must ensure that once the collection of signatures (physical or digital) is available, applicable documents are updated with such signatures for all active participants.Q: May local staff accept copies of required documents—such as driver’s licenses or Social Security cards—from applicants through email or a secure site like (WIT)?A: Yes. During the pandemic, if staff members are unable to review physical documents, copies of such documents may be accepted. WIT allows customers and staff to upload and download documents directly into customer accounts. Staff may use this function to collect required documentation. Additionally, WIT provides Boards with a secure method for transmitting and receiving documents that require a customer’s signature. (In WIT, see Assist Individual > Individual Profiles > Personal Profile > Documents.)Note: Staff must discourage customers from sending personally identifiable information (PII) through unsecure methods, such as unencrypted emails. Any communication methods used must comply with guidance provided in WD Letter 02-18, issued on March 23, 2018, and titled “Handling and Protection of Personally Identifiable Information and Other Sensitive Information.” Choices and Non-Custodial Parents (NCP)Q: Do TANF recipients continue to be exempt from mandatory participation in Choices?A: No. Effective August 1, 2021, the requirement for TANF recipients to participate in Choices services will be reinstated by HHSC. HHSC will require that TANF applicants attend a Workforce Orientation of Applicants (WOA) before determining eligibility for TANF effective August 1, 2021. Boards must ensure that appropriate staff members:update Workforce Solutions Office calendars to include WOAs, beginning in August;begin outreaching mandatory TANF individuals in July 2021 for Employment Planning Sessions (EPS) beginning August 1, 2021; and request Choices penalties, as applicable, beginning August 1, 2021. Q: If a Choices or NCP Choices participant was actively participating in Work Experience when his or her work site was shut down due to a COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, do we continue to pay the participant even though he or she is not working?A: On March 24, 2020, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released TANF Program Instruction (PI) 2020-01, which includes information on “TANF pandemic assistance for Choices and NCP Choices providing a NRST benefit to make up for lost subsidized employment due to COVID-19.” In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, TANF funds may be used to provide Nonrecurring Short-Term (NRST) benefits for Choices and NCP Choices customers participating in a subsidized work activity whose subsidized employment location was closed due to COVID-19. This is optional policy guidance; that is, it is not a requirement.NRST benefits are not to be used to pay employers but are to be paid directly to Choices and NCP Choices participants.The ACF guidance provides examples of NRST benefits that might be helpful with the impact of COVID-19, including short-term benefits to make up for lost wages, short-term rental or mortgage assistance, utility and energy assistance, housing search and placement services, clothing allowances, family support services to deal with stressful events, financial and credit counseling, certain legal services (see questions 19 and 20), and administrative costs associated with any of these activities. These benefits could come in the form of cash, vouchers, or direct services.For Choices and NCP Choices participants who have lost their subsidized employment because of the pandemic before the end of their agreement period, Boards may pay NRST benefits in an amount up to the remainder of the subsidized wages to Choices and NCP Choices participants who have actively started participating at their subsidized employment location at the time of the pandemic-related closure.Choices and NCP Choices participants with a subsidized employment agreement but have not started working on-site at their assigned work location when the pandemic closure occurred are not qualified for NRST assistance for lost wages.Per Board policy, Boards determine the amount of subsidized employment wages that can be reimbursed based on:the unpaid portion of the subsidized employment agreement remaining at the employer closure date and/or the date wages were paid through; andthe Board’s available TANF funding, as no new TANF funds will be provided for this purpose.Boards have the discretion to pay:NRST benefits to make up for the loss of subsidized employment agreement wages to Choices and NCP Choices participants who meet the requirements above; andother emergency needs assistance for Choices and NCP Choices participants who request assistance (such as those listed in the example above).Boards that choose to pay NRST benefits in lieu of subsidized employment agreement wages should document the payment in TWIST Service Tracking, Support Services tab, as follows:Using service code 207 (Other) and document the payment reason (subsidized employment agreement pandemic wages); orUsing service code 206 (Needs related payment) and document the payment reasonSubsidized employment hours will not be tracked under these service codes, as Choices participants have been granted Good Cause for nonparticipation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Q: A Choices participant and employer had a signed work site agreement, And the employer voided the assignment before the actual start date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Is the customer considered as actively participating? Can we pay this participant based on the terms that were agreed upon in the work site contract even if the participant was declined a work assignment before the actual first day of work?A: No. If the customer has not started the assignment he or she is not considered actively participating in the activity.Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the NCP Choices program?A: Boards must be aware and prepared for the following:Many IV-D judges are hosting remote hearings by using teleconferencing and signing agreed orders remotely. In turn:OAG staff members are working to reach agreed orders through telephone conferences and processing the orders through DocuSign; and OAG staff is adding the Authorization to Release form to DocuSign so that the noncustodial parent (NCP) can sign it and provide the copy to local workforce staff.Court order referrals will continue in smaller numbers.Courts may not find any NCP in contempt without an in-person hearing on the matter; therefore, case closure approvals may take longer. Local staff must continue to provide workforce services as required in the NCP Choices Guide.Q: What is the procedure for NCP court orders that are received electronically?A: To comply with NCP case management requirements, staff members must continue to provide applicable workforce services as required by the NCP Choices Guide. Services may be provided in-person or through other means in accordance with program guidance and WD 06-13, Change 1. Rapid ResponseQ: How can Boards provide Rapid Response orientations to employers?A: There are no restrictions on providing Rapid Response orientations via telephone, email, videoconferencing, and other remote options. Rapid Response coordinators must continue to submit to TWC state-level staff the layoff notifications form, even with limited information, so that TWC staff can immediately assign a number to an impacted business. Rapid Response staff must continue to follow local guidance when delivering Rapid Response services.Boards must provide information and guidance to assist employers with the following:UI benefits, comprehensive Workforce Solutions Office services, and employment and training activitiesGuidance or financial assistance in establishing a labor-management committeeEmergency assistance adapted to the particular closing, layoff, or disasterAssistance for chief elected officials to develop a coordinated response to the dislocation event Ability, as needed, for chief elected officials to obtain access to state economic development assistanceTWC’s Shared Work program Q: How should Boards process layoff notice forms for employer mass layoff notices? A: When an employer submits a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice to TWC, the following apply until further notice:State staff will continue to send the WARN notice to the Board, but it is not necessary for local Rapid Response staff to return the layoff notification form with updated information to verify that staff has offered Rapid Response services to the employer.Boards must maintain documentation of contact with the employer, in the event that DOL conducts an audit. TWC will allow Boards to update information at a later date. Completing individual notification forms can be a very labor-intensive process for Board staff; therefore, TWC has created a layoff notification spreadsheet to offer Board staff a more efficient way to provide the information to TWC. Boards may use either the spreadsheet or the layoff form.Q: How may Rapid Response funds be used to support layoff aversion activities?A: WIOA allows for broad flexibility for the use of Rapid Response funds for layoff aversion activities to minimize the negative impacts of dislocation on workers, employers, and communities, particularly in responding to emergency situations. Some examples of layoff aversion projects that use creative strategies to address COVID-19–related effects on businesses and workers include, but are not limited to, the following: A call center environment needs employees to work remotely in order to support social distancing and limit potential exposure to COVID-19. Layoff aversion activities may be used to purchase remote access equipment necessary for employees to work from home. A business whose employees use specific software or computer applications asks employees to work remotely to limit potential exposure to COVID-19. Layoff aversion activities may be used to purchase the software or applications necessary for employees to work from home. As a result of a decline in business and revenue, a company is reducing the hours of three or more employees, and the employer may be eligible for the state’s UI Shared Work program. Even with a combination of the employee’s pay and UI benefits, the employee is still collecting less income than usual and is having trouble paying bills, the mortgage or rent, and so forth, Rapid Response funding may be used to provide assistance. To limit potential exposure to COVID-19, a company that usually runs two shifts of workers adds a third shift so that fewer employees are on-site at any given time. Layoff aversion activities may be used to offset related costs to the employer or workers. A small business needs its employees to work on-site but cannot afford frequent deep cleaning to help prevent potential exposure to COVID-19. Layoff aversion funds may be used to pay for a cleaning and/or sanitization service.When circumstances allow, Rapid Response funds may be used to provide guidance and/or financial assistance in order to establish community transition teams to help the affected community organize support for dislocated workers and meet the basic needs of their families. Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, providing heat, shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities and services that are beyond the resources and ability of the American Job Center network to provide.Statewide Skills Enhancement InitiativeQ: The Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative will provide educational services to eligible claimants to enhance their work readiness and provide increased opportunities for employment. The activities to be provided are career services, not training services. May Boards define short-term trainings as career services in order to use options other than an Eligible Training Provider (ETP) program?A: Career and Training Services are defined in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) §134(c)(2) and (3); 20 CFR 680, Subparts A and B; and TWC’s WIOA Guidelines. For adult and dislocated worker (DW) participants, training services must be provided in accordance with 20 CFR §680.300, which may include ETP programs funded by Individual Training Accounts (ITAs). In addition to ETP programs, Boards may connect participants to training services through training contracts, on-the-job-training (OJT), incumbent worker training, and other services identified in 20 CFR §680.320. Q: Is there an expectation that claimants enrolled in the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative will use technology in Workforce Solutions Offices to access the courses available through the Statewide Upskilling Project?A: These education courses will be provided online. Claimants enrolled in these online courses may require access to Workforce Solutions Offices, libraries, and/or other public resources if they do not have personal computers or internet access.Q: If a customer uses the career services available through the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative and then requires specific occupational training, may Boards enroll the customer into a program for training services?A: Yes. Standard program enrollment rules and procedures must be followed, including the provision of support services. Q: For participants enrolled in the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative, is the expectation that if support services are required, the Board enrolls the participants in WIOA and provides such support? A: Boards may enroll eligible individuals in WIOA using local funds to provide support services, which enables them to participate in career and/or training services in accordance with TWC’s WIOA Guidelines and local policies and procedures.If a Board provides only support services to an individual in this project, the Board must enter TWIST Service 179 for tracking purposes.Q:?How will TWC notify individuals about the Statewide Skills Enhancement?Initiative???A:??TWC issued a press release?about the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative on?June 19, 2020.??Individuals who are interested in signing up for online courses may find additional information at?.?Metrix Learning sends invitation emails to all UI claimants, in addition to the reminder emails sent to all registered users. TWC is also using social media and the workforce call centers to encourage individuals to sign up and use the Metrix platform.?Q:?How will individuals enroll in courses???A:?At TWC’s direction, Metrix will?send an email invitation to all claimants.?This email invitation will?include a link to?sign up for an electronic learning?license?through the vendors’ online platforms.?Metrix is integrated with (WIT).?Any customers already registered in?WIT?may sign up for Metrix with one click?through the portal on the Online Learning Resources page in WIT. All necessary data to create an account are automatically pulled from the?WIT database so customers may get started immediately. All courses and training hours completed are captured for reporting purposes.?Q: Will courses taken in Metrix count as job search activities for claimants?A: Yes. Each course completed by a claimant with a passing score is considered a job search activity. Claimants should document Metrix course completions on UI Job Search logs.Q:?Will Boards be able to access information about claimants who enroll in and take courses?through the online platforms??A:?Yes.?TWC will work with Metrix to provide?Boards with reports?on?claimants who?enroll?in and complete coursework in each Board’s respective local workforce development area (workforce area).? Board staff?and contractors?will be able to see?all courses and training hours completed in an individual’s WIT profile.?Q:?Is there?a limitation on how many courses a customer may take??A:?No.?Q:?Will there be a TWC help desk for customers?to call regarding login or password issues??A:? Customer support?is available?through online help?articles?and self-service password-reset functions.?Metrix also?provides?customer support by email and telephone?during business hours,?and the company offers weekly?webinars.?TWC?has staff?available to help customers with the online skills enhancement platforms, as necessary.?Q:?What is the length of this project??A:?The?original Metrix contract was set to end on July 2, 2021. TWC is negotiating to extend this contract for an additional 180 days, with an option to extend for an additional 180 days after the first extension. If both of these extensions are approved, Metrix will be available to customers until July 2, 2022.?Q:?For how long may customers take courses???A:??In Metrix, a?license grants?a customer?access to?courses?for 180 days. This access begins when?the customer?receives?a?subscription confirmation. At the end of?the?license period,?the customer’s?account data is preserved but?the customer?will not be able to launch courses. If a customer is interested in continuing courses through Metrix, the customer can email HYPERLINK "mailto:SkillsEnhancement@twc." SkillsEnhancement@twc. or Support@ to request that their license be renewed for another 180 days. Metrix administrators in each workforce area can also renew a customer’s license.?Q:?Will UI?claimants?have to complete WIT?registration?before they receive this training??A:?No, they do not need to have a complete WIT registration.?The workforce call center will?prioritize helping?these claimants?complete their?WIT?registration after they sign up for coursework.?Q:?Will the training be available only for UI claimants, or will it be available for all customers using Workforce Solutions Office services???A:?The?online skills enhancement platforms were intended?primarily for claimants.?TWC provides outreach to claimants to invite them?to enroll in Metrix.?However, all Texans have access to Metrix through?the?Online Learning Resources?page in , , and the Metrix Portal at .?Q:?What courses are offered?through this initiative???A:?Information about course?offerings from?Metrix?is available at . Metrix also offers specialized health care and manufacturing content. Course listings for this specialized content are available at: Health Care——: How will Metrix invitation emails be sent to claimants?? A: Individuals will receive an email from Support@ with the subject line “Upgrade Your Skills with the Texas Workforce Commission” inviting them to enroll in Metrix Learning courses.Q: In what languages are Metrix education courses available?A: Metrix provides courses in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.Q: What are the preferred browsers for Metrix? Is Metrix compatible with tablets and mobile phones?A: Metrix is optimized to work best with Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. Although it functions with other browsers, some features or content could be negatively affected. Many courses are compatible with smart phones or tablets, although tablets are recommended for the larger screen size. The course catalog shows a small phone icon beside courses that are mobile ready. Click on Technical Requirements at the bottom of your administrator dashboard for more details. Q: May Boards direct job seekers to the Metrix landing page to self-register?A: TWC encourages customers to register for Metrix through or to ensure that their learning progress is logged in their WIT profile. Customers may also register for Metrix through the Metrix portal at . Q: Will individuals who are registered in WIT have access to the Metrix system, even if they are not unemployment recipients?A: Yes.Q: Will there be a cost associated with certifications available in the Metrix system?A: Metrix course content is available at no charge to TWC-designated users. Some content aligns with Industry Certification Tracks. These certification tracks contain groups of courses that may help prepare an individual for industry certification. In order to gain an industry certification, the individual must take an exam at a proctored testing center. Fees associated with exams or related materials are not included with the Metrix license.Q: Are prerequisites shown for courses? For example, if a youth enrolls in a Metrix program with a certification that requires high school equivalency (HSE), will the individual see this requirement before enrollment?A: The Metrix system does not identify prerequisites, such as HSE or work experience, for courses. Users have access to all available courses.Q: Where are the testing sites for certifications? May Boards search by ZIP code for these proctoring sites? A: Testing locations are based on the certification track. Boards may access industry-recognized certification providers’ websites through Metrix to determine testing locations for specific certifications.Q: Are these education courses available to Board staff? Contractor staff? Employed individuals?A: Yes.Q: Will completing Metrix education courses have any effect on Credential Rate or Measurable Skill Gains (MSGs)? A: No.Q: For customers who pay for the certification testing through Metrix, will Boards be able to count receipt of the certification as a recognized postsecondary credential?A: No. Metrix courses are not training services.Q: Will course completion (including passing professional certification tests) be available to validate credentials for participants?A: No. Metrix courses are not training services. Completing courses in Metrix does not trigger a service in TWIST or WIT. For a Board to record credential attainment for a Metrix user, that individual would need to be enrolled as a participant in a program using local funds, such as WIOA Dislocated Worker funds. The individual would need to meet eligibility for the program as well as eligibility for training services. Training services must be provided, and the participant must receive a credential before program exit or within four quarters following exit.Q: How many administrators will Boards be allowed? When will Board administrators have access?A: TWC has requested that each Board submit two staff members to be granted administrator access to Metrix. A Board may request additional staff members if necessary. Q: Will Metrix have support available for Board administrators?A: Yes. There are many ways to get support for the Metrix Learning system:Go to the Help section at the top of the Metrix page and view Tutorials or User FAQ.Download the Administrator Guide and Technical Requirements documents from the buttons at the bottom of the administrator dashboard.Email Metrix staff at Support@.Call the Metrix support line at (518) 462-1780 (toll free 1-844-691-1780). Under TWC’s contract with Metrix, the support line is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST.Metrix also hosts frequent Q&A session webinars for all users. Once the user has logged in, notices are shown at the top of the page for users and administrators.Additionally, TWC has staff available to assist Board administrators with questions related to this project.Q: Will Board administrators have access to message individuals directly through the Metrix system, for example, to encourage course completion?A: There is no direct messaging function in the Metrix system.Q: Will Board administrators be able to run completion reports? A: There are three levels of administrative access available in Metrix. These are: Organization Admin (TWC Staff)—Can view, add/edit users, assign courses, statewide reports access Manager—Can add/edit users, assign courses, reports for users within group (ZIP codes within the WDA)Reports—Reports for their groupBoard users are being provided Manager access at this time. All administrative users have access to several reports in the Administration > Reports section. The User Reports, Group/Department Reports, and User Activity Detail Report allow administrators to view course status, including completions for users. Q: Will detail reports for administrators include Social Security number, age, race, and other demographic information?A: Administrators may access the User Registration Detail Report. This report provides information on Metrix users, which includes some demographic data entered by the user during registration. This data includes age, gender, veteran status, ethnicity, and disability status. Social Security numbers are not tracked in the Metrix system. Staff members are also able to access Metrix user information through reports in . For more information, see the Metrix resources on the WIT Liaisons Additional Staff Resources page.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Employment & Training (SNAP E&T)NEW: November 5, 2021Q: Are Boards required to add the COVID-19 Emergency Allotments (EAs) to normal monthly allotments in order to determine the required workfare hours for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)?A: Yes. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act authorized EAs to SNAP households to help address temporary food needs during the pandemic. Since March 2020, SNAP households have received these continuing EAs. These EAs are a part of the full allotment to SNAP families.SNAP E&T Guide section B-108.f requires that “the number of hours ABAWDs must work each month equals their household SNAP allotment amount divided by the number of ABAWDs in the SNAP household (when there are multiple ABAWDs in the household), which is then divided by the federal minimum wage.”Q: How does staff submit a good cause request related to COVID-19?A: Effective June 1, 2021, HHSC reinstated penalties for mandatory SNAP E&T participants who have not complied with program requirements. Local staff should continue to follow the good cause process outlined in the SNAP E&T Guide. (See A-300 and B-404.)Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)UPDATE: November 5, 2021Q: TAA requires participant coenrollment with the WIOA DW program. Will Boards still be required to coenroll participants during the pandemic?A: Yes. TAA participant coenrollment with WIOA DW is required. Coenrollment allows trade-affected workers to benefit from the case management and support services available to WIOA participants. Boards must ensure that appropriate staff members who interact with potential trade-affected workers act in accordance with guidance provided in WD Letter 18-21, issued September 27, 2021, and titled “Coenrollment in the Trade Adjustment Assistance and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Dislocated Worker Programs.”Unemployment Benefits & RESEA Q: Some claimants have reported long wait times using ID.me identity verification. Is this to be expected?A: Wait times are specific to those individuals requiring trusted referees to verify their identity. Less than 15 percent of claimants have required identity verification using a trusted referee since TWC began to use ID.me. ID.me has experienced higher wait times for video referees (available 24 hours a day) as other states onboard and send more customers for verification. Reported wait times have been as high as five hours but average nearly two hours. The goal is to reduce call wait times to 30 minutes on average, with peak wait times not longer than two hours.In April, ID.me onboarded an additional 150 agents, and the platform is working to open a second call center with an additional 500 agents. ID.me continues to review the processes that cause customers to “fail” the online self-service and require a video referee. More than 85 percent of TWC customers have been able to verify their identity online through self-service without using a video referee. The process to verify online through the self-service option typically takes less than 15 minutes.TWC UI staff communicates with ID.me weekly to manage expectations and set the number of customers we refer for identify verification. Additional customers flagged through high risk protocols (HRPs) are sent to ID.me. Of the group sent to ID.me, about 14.5 percent need a trusted referee for further vetting. Those who do not need a trusted referee should not experience a delay.As TWC UI staff receives reports of customers who experience issues with ID.me, an escalation list is sent to ID.me for further outreach.Q: Many claimants who have their benefits placed on hold after missing their initial RESEA orientations are unable to contact the UI Tele-Center to confirm the completion of a subsequently rescheduled orientation. If claimants contact local Workforce Solutions Offices for assistance, what can be done?A: If an RESEA claimant contacts a local Workforce Solutions Office for assistance to report completion of a rescheduled RESEA orientation to UI during the COVID-19 pandemic, local staff must use the WF-42, available on the intranet at , to report the completion.Staff must select the RESEA checkbox and enter the following statement into the Comments section: “Rescheduled orientation completed on [date]. Unable to contact Tele-Center to report.” The WF-42 must be completed and submitted in accordance with local procedures in place and in a manner that protects PII.Q: How often is the Texas Workforce Commission UI Claimant Dashboard updated?A: The TWC dashboard is updated weekly. The last update date, along with the reporting period, is included in the panel above the map on the dashboard. This panel is expandable.Q: Will TWC include SNAP and TANF customer information on the UI claimant report provided weekly to Boards?A: TWC’s Division of Operational Insight (DOI), which provides the weekly UI claimant report, is not able to identify claimants who are connected to SNAP and/or TANF programs for each Board workforce area. Boards may have local data analysts use the claimant report and a TWIST ad hoc report on SNAP and/or TANF programs and merge these data to get a custom report to meet local requirements.Q: Are we allowed to use the DOI-created UI Tableau data to create a UI claimant snapshot for a Board meeting?A: The UI claimant files provided by DOI are intended for internal use only to identify claimants to outreach. The data are not accurate enough to use for publicly shared summaries. TWC is making Unemployment Benefits claims information available to the public, including Weekly Claims by County, on the agency News web page at the following address: : Have work search requirements for claimants been reinstated? A: Yes. The statewide work search requirements have been reinstated to a maximum of three work search activities per week. On March 17, 2020, TWC, exercising its authority under Governor Abbott’s statewide disaster declaration, waived unemployment claimant work search requirements statewide. On October 13, 2020, TWC announced that work search requirements for all claimants will be reinstated on November 1, 2020.As of November 1, 2020, to remain eligible for unemployment benefits, claimants are required to: register in ; search for work according to TWC guidelines and make at least the minimum number of work search activities each week;use reemployment services and resources available virtually at their nearest Workforce Solutions Office; andkeep a work search log and provide TWC with the work search log upon request; and apply for and accept suitable full-time work.TWC continues to provide flexibility for fewer than three weekly searches in rural counties based on Board input and in accordance with TWC Chapter 815 Unemployment Insurance rule §815.28(e).Q: Are there COVID-19–related exemptions that allow claimants to refuse suitable work?A: On April 30, 2020, the Office of the Texas Governor released a list of acceptable reasons related to COVID-19 that a claimant may refuse suitable work.Effective June 27, 2021, these additional COVID-19 job-refusal reasons will end, as Texas has opted out of most federal pandemic unemployment programs. Each claim will be subject to a case-by-case review by TWC based on individual circumstances. Q: An employer contacted our staff stating that some employees refuse to return to work. The employees’ reason for refusing to return to work was that they are receiving more money on unemployment than their normal wages. What can be done about this?A: Boards have received guidance on the new process to report bona fide offer of work refusals through workforce UI coordinators. Employers that want to report job refusals directly to TWC can do so through our new portal at , send information to twc.fraud@twc., or call 1-800-252-3642.Q: When a claimant returns to work and reports wages, will his or her benefits be modified or decrease if the claimant receives Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)?A: Claimants must report wages received when making payment requests. If the claimant earns wages at or above his or her calculated weekly wage amount, he or she will not receive benefit payments for the affected weeks. If the claimant reports wages below the weekly wage amount, the payments will be adjusted accordingly. This applies to DUA and PEUC payments as well as standard unemployment claims. Note: The final benefit week that the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will pay federal pandemic unemployment benefits under the American Rescue Plan is the benefit week ending June 26, 2021.Q: Have all RESEA requirements resumed?A: Yes. Boards must be aware of the following:RESEA Outreach Pools must be cleared weekly.DOL established a deadline of December 31, 2020, by which Boards must have spent their Program Year 2020 (PY’20) RESEA funding.All RESEA programs must have resumed full operations, either in person or virtually, not later than March 1, 2021.Q: When a claimant is enrolled in the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative, will he or she be considered to be attending TWC-approved training?A: The courses offered by the Statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative do not meet the definition of TWC-approved training. Claimants enrolled in this project alone may not be exempted from RESEA participation.Q: What type of flexibility are Boards allowed for RESEA service delivery?A: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, DOL has provided states with additional flexibility in administering the RESEA program. Workforce Solutions Offices may provide all required RESEA services:in the Workforce Solutions Office; in a location other than a Workforce Solutions Office, such as a mobile unit, school, or public library;remotely, using technology, such as Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or another similar product; orby phone.Additionally, Boards may provide RESEA orientations using prerecorded webinars or self-paced presentations. WIOA Adults & Dislocated WorkersQ: May a Board use WIOA formula funds to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) kits as supportive services for youth, adults, and dislocated workers participating in the career and training activities?A: The provision of PPE kits to WIOA participants appears to be a reasonable support service. Boards may use WIOA Title I support service funds for youth, adults, and dislocated workers participating in career and training services.Special conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:Current guidance relating to the provision of services, including support services, must be applied.Boards must ensure that priority of service for veterans and foster youth is applied in the delivery of PPE kits to participants.Boards must be aware that their support service policy must allow for such supports. Boards must ensure that the need for support services, including delivery of PPE, is determined on a per-individual basis. Boards must be aware that local staff must identify the need for PPE through initial assessments and document initial and continuing need for individuals in TWIST Counselor Notes.If a Board has other funds available for such supports, including but not limited to National Dislocated Worker Grants, these funds must be used first.Q: Are Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) considered income for eligibility purposes?A: No. The EIPs, authorized by the CARES Act in 2020 and extended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, are categorized as tax credits and must not be included in income calculations for WIOA programs.Q: Are unemployment payments related to COVID-19 considered income?A: Yes. Boards must be aware that unemployment payments are considered income and must be used in low-income calculations for priority in the WIOA Adult program, including: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)—compensation for individuals not otherwise qualified for Unemployment Benefits (UB) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)—13-week UB extension Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)—weekly supplemental payments for UB recipients Q: Does the Commission definition of “substantial layoff” apply to local formula funds as well as the statewide Skills Enhancement Initiative?A: Yes. On June 16, 2020, TWC’s three-member Commission adopted a definition of “substantial layoff” to include all individuals receiving UI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action ensures that all UI claimants are eligible as dislocated workers to receive WIOA-funded services, even those funded with local dislocated worker formula funds.Boards using the “substantial layoff” option must document eligibility using one of the following document types:UI award letterUI screen – Current Claimant Status (CTCS).Q: During the COVID-19 pandemic, may Boards accept expired Texas driver’s licenses (DLs) or state-issued IDs from a customer to determine eligibility if that customer is not able to renew his or her expired DL or ID?A: Yes. Under limited circumstances, Boards may accept an expired Texas DL or ID card from a customer in order to complete an eligibility determination. On March 18, 2020, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) issued a Verification of Driver License Expiration Extension. This extension allows expired cards to be considered valid if the following conditions are met:The expiration date on the Texas DL or ID is on or after March 13, 2020.The current date is within 60 days of the end of the State Disaster Declaration relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.Boards may accept expired Texas DLs and IDs when the above conditions are met.TWC strongly encourages Boards to:determine whether other documents are available which meet eligibility criteria. Unexpired or non-expiring documents should be used whenever possible;encourage participants to renew expired documents as soon as they are able to do so. This may include options to renew Texas DLs or IDs online at a task in the participant’s Employability Development Plan (EDP) or Individual Service Strategy (ISS) requiring renewal of their Texas DL or ID within predetermined time frame; anddocument in TWIST Counselor Notes reasons why the customer is unable to renew documents at the time of enrollment.If a participant does not renew his or her Texas DL or ID within 60 days of the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic disaster, a Board must discontinue services to that participant.WIOA YouthQ: May a Board use WIOA formula funds to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) kits as supportive services for youth, adults, and dislocated workers participating in the career and training activities?A: The provision of PPE kits to WIOA participants appears to be a reasonable support service. Boards may use WIOA Title I support service funds for youth, adults, and dislocated workers participating in career and training services.Special conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:Current guidance relating to the provision of services, including support services, must be applied.Boards must ensure that priority of service for veterans and foster youth is applied in the delivery of PPE kits to participants.Boards must be aware that their support service policy must allow for such supports. Boards must ensure that the need for support services, including delivery of PPE, is determined on a per-individual basis. Boards must be aware that local staff must identify the need for PPE through initial assessments and document initial and continuing need for individuals in TWIST Counselor Notes.If a Board has other funds available for such supports, including but not limited to National Dislocated Worker Grants, these funds must be used first.Q: Youth participation requires that individuals receive in the following order: (1) an Objective Assessment, (2) an Individual Service Strategy (ISS), and (3) a Youth Program Element. We are concerned about how to provide the assessment, specifically the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). The TABE must be provided in a proctored setting. Additionally, the TABE is licensed for specific computers. If a Workforce Solutions Office is closed, may we waive the assessment requirement? If so, since TWIST requires that the service be entered, can we enter the assessment service even though no assessment is provided?A: Youth must be assessed for basic skills as part of enrollment in services. Neither TWC nor WIOA requires that a National Reporting System (NRS)–approved assessment, such as TABE, be used for such basic skills assessment.?WIOA does not require that youth receive a proctored assessment for eligibility and entry into the program. Boards may use online assessment instruments or less formal assessments for WIOA Youth eligibility. The assessment requirement may not be waived. The inability to meet with potential participants in person should not impede enrollment or service provision. If the Board cannot provide formal assessments (that is, assessments in -person and/or on-site with a proctor), this information should be collected virtually from schools or directly from the customer for basic skills assessment. The Board may develop an ISS based on available information. When standard assessment tools become available, the Board may choose to assess participants formally and update the ISS.Q: Our Board policy requires that Work Experience take place at a physical employer location, with in-person supervision. The employer work site has closed following a local shelter-in-place order but is allowing other workers to telework. May we allow participants in Work Experience to telework?A: TWC does not require that all Work Experience placements be at a physical work site. You may adjust your Board Work Experience policy (and Work Experience contracts, as applicable) to allow remote work. CFR §681.600 requires that “labor standards apply in any work experience in which an employee/employer relationship, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act or applicable state law, exists.”COVID-19–specific information related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is available at: : May a Board continue to pay Work Experience participants if their work site is shut down and work or training cannot be provided?A: No. At the beginning of the pandemic, payments to Work Experience participants whose work site closed were allowable only if one of the following occurred before March 13, 2020:The participant began the Work Experience activity.The Work Experience terms were agreed upon for that participant.Boards have had sufficient time to shift service strategies, and most participants are no longer working under the terms listed above. Boards may pay participants only for actual participation in a virtual, remote, or in-person Work Experience.Workforce Systems(Interim ETPS) Interim Eligible Training Provider SystemQ: Will flexibility be provided to Boards in using training programs not currently on, or eligible for, the statewide ETPL?A: The statewide ETPL system is designed for WIOA Adults and Dislocated Workers. WIOA does not allow waiver of eligibility requirements for providers or participants. Below are examples of training services allowed by workforce programs. WIOA Adults/DWThe ETPL is the primary training program source for WIOA Adults/DW. WIOA ETP rules do allow Boards to use training contracts for WIOA Adults/DW outside of the statewide ETPL and Individual Training Account (ITA) systems. Contract exceptions to ITA funding for Adults/DW include, but are not limited to:incumbent worker training, OJTs, and transitional jobs;local community-based organizations or other private organizations that provide training programs that are effective at serving individuals with barriers to employment, and;cohort training.Specific guidance is provided in WD Letter 14-19, Change 1. WIOA YouthOccupational training is a required program element for WIOA Youth programs. Boards may contract for training programs or use ITAs. Training programs funded by ITAs must be included on the statewide ETPL.Training does not have to be provided by an ETP. ChoicesAllowable activities for Choices participants are detailed in the Choices Guide. Training services provided to participants must relate directly to employment and include the following:Job skills trainingOccupational vocational trainingOJTFor participants below secondary-level education:Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) servicesEnglish as a Second Language (ESL) instructionOther educational activities leading to high school equivalency.Boards may choose to establish a local policy to require the use of the Eligible Training Provider System and Individual Training Account systems to provide Choices services paid for with TANF/Choices funds. If not required by such local policy, training does not have to be provided by an ETP. NCPAllowable activities for NCPs are detailed in the NCP Choices Guide. Training services provided to participants must relate directly to employment and include the following:Short-term occupational vocational training (typically four to six weeks)OJTFor participants below secondary-level education:Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) servicesEnglish as a Second Language (ESL) instructionOther educational activities leading to high school equivalency.Training does not have to be provided by an ETP.RESEATraining services may not be funded directly by this program. Based on eligibility, RESEA participants may be referred to WIOA, TAA, or other programs for training services. Appropriate program rules must be followed. SNAP E&TAs stated in the SNAP E&T Guide, training provided to SNAP recipients must prepare participants for employment in high-growth, high-demand occupations that do not require a baccalaureate or advanced degrees. Training does not have to be provided by an ETP. TAATAA training is approvable if it is reasonably available to the worker from either a governmental agency or a private source. Priority is given to training institutions within the local commuting area, and the training must be regulated by an approvable entity, including the following:Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardTWC Career Schools and CollegesStatewide ETPL Training regulated by any other Texas state agency (for example, TDLR, Nursing Board), including other states’ governing agency US Department of EducationRecognized accreditation/certification agencyTWIST InformationBoards may use the Select Provider option in TWIST to connect training services to a provider’s program. If the program is not included on the statewide ETPL, Boards must submit the program as a “non-ETP” program through their Board ETP tool.COVID-19 National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG)National Dislocated Worker GrantReference: TEGL 12-19, Change 1, “National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance”Funds from the WIOA National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) will assist affected individuals residing in workforce areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic response beginning March 1, 2020. The US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) issued TEGL 12-19 on March 18, 2020, to provide revised guidance to states about the NDWG. The revised guidance rescinds TEGL 02-15, titled “Operational Guidance for National Dislocated Worker Grants, pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA or Opportunity Act).”Disaster Recovery NDWGThere are two types of grants under the NDWG: Disaster Recovery grants and Employment Recovery grants. To address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic response, including the many jobs that have been lost, TWC has received Disaster Recovery grant funding. Disaster Recovery NDWG funds may be used to provide employment and training services to dislocated workers and other eligible individuals. NDWG funds may also be used to provide disaster-relief and humanitarian-assistance employment in disaster-declared areas, as defined in 20 CFR §687.110(b), as well as employment and training services for such employment as appropriate. Participant EligibilityPer 20 CFR §687.170(b), an individual eligible to receive services through a Disaster Recovery NDWG must be:a worker who is temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster;a dislocated worker, as defined in WIOA §3(15) and in the WIOA Guidelines for Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth;a long-term unemployed worker (defined as an unemployed individual who has been out of work for 27 weeks or more); ora self-employed individual who became unemployed or significantly underemployed as a result of the disaster or emergency. Examples of an underemployed individual include the following:An individual employed less than full time who is seeking full-time employmentAn individual who is employed in a position that is inadequate with respect to his or her skills and trainingAn individual who is employed but meets the definition of a low-income individual, as outlined in WIOA §3(36)An individual who is employed but whose current job earnings are well below the level of earnings from his or her previous employmentDOL has indicated that self-attestation is acceptable for an initial temporary eligibility period for affected individuals. Within 30 days of the initial determination, the Board must collect documentation from the participant to validate eligibility. Boards may use the WIOA Eligibility Documentation Log as a guide for determining acceptable documentation to validate eligibility.Allowable Activities under NDWGNDWG activities are intended to provide a fully integrated, demand-driven response to the employment needs of individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic response. Allowable activities include all employment and training activities normally available to dislocated workers through Workforce Solutions Offices.Descriptions of Allowable ActivitiesDisaster-Relief Employment—Disaster Recovery NDWGs provide funding for the creation of disaster-relief employment, which is temporary employment of eligible individuals for the purposes described in WIOA §170(b)(1)(B) and (d), as well as 20 CFR §687.180(b) and (c). Applicants must demonstrate that disaster-relief employment created under a Disaster Recovery NDWG aligns with the following two categories:Cleanup and recovery efforts—For COVID-19, WIOA requires that cleanup activities respond to the impacts of the disaster. While these efforts are typically associated with the aftermath of tornadoes, fires, and floods, some cleanup activities are relevant to the COVID-19 response. For example, cleanup activities may include cleaning schools or sanitizing quarantine and treatment areas after use. If research determines that COVID-19 is more likely to spread under certain physical conditions, Disaster Recovery NDWG funds can be used to help remedy these conditions. By law, disaster-relief employment activities may include only those that respond to or mitigate the impact of the disaster; grantees may not use NDWG-funded disaster-relief employees to perform work aimed at preventing future disasters. Preventive measures, such as setting up quarantines and cleaning buildings, are mitigation activities because they prevent the further spread of the virus.Employment related to the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance in the immediate aftermath of the disaster or emergency—WIOA’s allowance for disaster-relief employment to provide humanitarian assistance provides the greatest range of potential disaster-relief employment activities. Disaster-relief employees may help address many needs created by the pandemic response by participating in activities, such as the following:Delivering medicine, food, or other supplies to older individuals and other individuals with chronic medical disorders as well as observing appropriate training and precautions. (The coronavirus infection has inflicted the most harm on these populations, and there may be a large need for such services that traditional volunteer organizations cannot support alone.)Helping set up quarantine areas and providing assistance to quarantined individualsOrganizing and coordinating recovery, quarantine, and other related activitiesCareer Services—Career services, as defined in WIOA §134(c)(2), are allowable and may include outreach, intake, labor exchange services, initial and comprehensive assessments, referrals, provision of labor market information, provision of information on ETPs, and provision of information on the availability of support services. Training Services—Training services, as defined in WIOA §134(c)(3)(D), are allowable and may include occupational training, OJT (including apprenticeships), entrepreneurial training, and customized training. NDWG funds may be used to reimburse up to 50 percent of the wage rate for OJT or up to the reimbursement percentage that the governor or Board has approved for OJT for WIOA formula programs, according to the criteria outlined in WIOA §134(c)(3)(H) and 20 CFR §680.730. The use of NDWG funds for training is subject to the limitations or requirements applicable to the WIOA Dislocated Worker program formula delineated in 20 CFR Part 680 and TEGL 19-16.Support Services—Support services may be provided to individuals, following the Board’s policies and procedures, to support individuals’ participation in NDWG project activities. Allowable support services, as defined in WIOA §134(d)(2) and 29 USC §3174(d)(2), are services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, and housing. The use of NDWG funds for support services is subject to the requirements delineated in WIOA, the implementing regulations, and 2 CFR §200.402–411. TWIST Data Entry for National Dislocated Worker GrantTWC implemented enhancements to TWIST to allow tracking and reporting of NDWG participation.Customers who receive support services under this NDWG must be recorded in TWIST. Participants may be served in their workforce area of origin or in the workforce area in which they quarantined. Both the fund and sub-fund codes are available to all Boards, and all services are allowable. Customers who are participating in disaster-relief employment must be tracked using service code 43—Subsidized Work and the fund code 210—COVID-19 TX-34.TWIST Reports for the COVID-19 PandemicThe NDWG fund code and sub-fund codes have been added to the following workforce reports:1—Active List6—Late Data Entry19—Exit List35—Inactive List37—Management Summary76—Case Load134—Customers Served ReportMonitoringBoard staff is expected to perform monthly site visits to ensure that subcontractors and/or temporary workers are complying with the work site agreement. For work sites that have occupancy restrictions in place due to the pandemic response, and for the safety of staff, the site visits may be conducted virtually. Virtual platforms for videoconferencing, such as FaceTime, Teams, and Zoom, are acceptable tools for the virtual visits. Site visit details will be documented on Attachment A-1, “NDW Progress Report,” as part of the Grant Award Agreement contract. Safety TrainingFor all NDWG projects, Boards must ensure that project participants follow the same health and safety standards applicable to working conditions of permanent employees, as established under federal and state law. Boards must provide appropriate safety training, as described in the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and they must ensure that working conditions are safe. ................
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