This report summarizes findings and observations on the implementation of Phase 1 of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Open UI Initiative, highlighting effective strategies, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for supporting states’ UI modernization efforts.
BPC compiled 14 key lessons for updating UI benefits administration. A central theme is how closely tied integrity, equity, and timeliness are to improving the administration of UI benefits. This report presents findings from a review by the Bipartisan Policy Center of DOL’s Tiger Teams initiative. To conduct the review, BPC held a series of interviews from February to June 2023 with UI officials from 11 of 36 participating states, DOL officials responsible for overseeing the initiative, and state-level claimant advocacy groups that contributed to the initiative.