Puerto Rico, USVI get $330K for unemployment services
Puerto Rico’s high unemployment rate could use a boost from the federal funding assigned. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands received a combined $330,534 from the U.S. Department of Labor to implement or continue re-employment and eligibility assessments for unemployment insurance beneficiaries, the agency announced Tuesday.
While Puerto Rico received a grant of $25,685, the USVI received $304,849. In all, the agency distributed more than $68.7 million to 37 states and the island territories.
“Offering newly unemployed Americans access to a full array of job training and placement services will help to reduce time spent between jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Pérez. “These federal grants will also strengthen the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance program by preventing improper payments so that it remains available for those who truly need it.”
The funding will be used to conduct in-person assessments at American Job Centers. The assessments include the development of an individual re-employment plan for each claimant; the provision of labor market information that is appropriate to the claimant’s location, job skills and employment prospects; a complete review of the claimant’s eligibility for UI benefits; and a referral to the relevant re-employment or training services provided by the American Job Center.
