Welcome to today’s Employee Meeting

1. Welcome to today’s Employee Meeting Coordinated by: Kentucky's Rapid Response Team and Partner agencies

2. If you are facing a layoff or downsizing by your company, there is help available. • Rapid Response is a strategy designed to respond to layoffs and plant closings by quickly coordinating services and providing immediate aid to affected workers, who are/or have been separated thru no fault of their own. • Rapid Response teams will work with your employer and any employees to quickly identify and coordinate public and private efforts, while minimizing disruptions associated with job loss for individuals and communities.

3. Kentucky’s Rapid Response Team Agencies coordinate an array of services for Dislocated Workers Office of Employment & Training Vocational Rehabilitation One Stop Career Center Local Workforce Investment Area One Stop Career Center – WIA Title 1 Dislocated Worker Program Health Services U.S. DOL Employee Benefit Security Administration KY Adult Education One stop Career Centers are nationwide and many of the services you hear about today are mirrored in surrounding states.

4. OFFICE OF EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING http://oet.ky.gov

5. Am I Eligible to Draw Unemployment Insurance Benefits?“Base Period “ • Soon after you file your claim, you will receive a notice telling you if your claim is Allowed or Denied based upon the amount of earnings reported in your “Base Period”. • Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately prior to the quarter you file your claim. Here’s a chart to help you understand what the base period will be for a claim.

6. Am I Eligible to Draw Unemployment Insurance Benefits?“Base Period “ For example, if you filed your claim with an effective date any time from October 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003, your base period for that claim would be July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 . • The effective date of a claim is the Sunday date immediately preceding the date the claim is filed.

7. Am I Eligible to Draw Unemployment Insurance Benefits? There are four (4) requirements that must be met before a monetary determination can be made that there are sufficient wages in your base period. 1. Wages of at least $750 in one quarter. 2. Total wages of at least one and one-half (1 ½) times the wages in your high quarter. 3. Total wages outside the high quarter of at least $750. 4. Wages in the last two (2) quarters of at least eight (8) times your weekly rate.

8. Am I Eligible to Draw Unemployment Insurance Benefits? • If we do not find enough wages in your base period or you do not meet all four of the prior criteria, you will receive a notice stating that your claim is “Denied”. If you believe all your wages were not included in the determination, you may request “Reconsideration”. You may also request a reconsideration if your weekly benefit amount is less than the maximum allowed, and you believe all your wages were not reported. • Bring proof of additional wages, such as check stubs, W-2’s, or a statement from your employer. We will look into your claim and make any adjustments required. If you have requested a reconsideration, while you’re waiting for a determination, you Mustcontinue to claim your weeks of benefits, because if you don’t and your claim is “Allowed” after adjustments are made, we cannot pay you for weeks that have passed.

9. How Much Will I Receive in Unemployment Insurance Benefits Each Week? • To find out the Weekly Benefit Amount, we multiply 1.3078% by the total base period wages. example:$22000 x 1.3078% = $287.71 • The Weekly Benefit Amount (rounded to the nearest dollar) would be $288.00. • The maximum amount of benefits you can draw during the life of the claim would be the lesser of 26 times your weekly benefit rate or 1/3 of your total base period wages. • In the example given, the maximum amount payable during the life of the claim would be 26 x $288.00, which is $7488.00. • To Calculate Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits Visit: • http://oet.ky.gov • Click: Unemployment Insurance • Click: Calculating Weekly UI Benefits

10. Unemployment Insurance Benefits Facts • Employers pay the full cost of unemployment insurance benefits. Workers do not pay any part of the cost. • Once your weekly benefit rate is established, the actual amount of your weekly benefit check can vary because of required or elected deductions. If you have earned wages during the week you are claiming Unemployment Insurance Benefits. Then eighty percent (80%) of your Gross wages, before deductions, that you earn during the week claimed will be deducted from your weekly amount. For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $150 and you earn $40 during the week, we will deduct $32 (80% of $40) from your weekly amount of $150, and issue you a check for $118. •  If you receive a Pension, you must let us know the week the first pension check is received . If the employer contributed 100% to the pension, then the pension is deductible. If you contributed to the pension, pension is not deductible. Pensions paid under the Social Security Act or Railroad Retirement Act will not be deducted.

11. Additional Unemployment Insurance Benefits Facts • One hundred percent (100%) of wages received in lieu of notice will be deducted. This is different from severance pay and vacation pay, which is not deductible when there is a permanent separation in employment. If in doubt, ask your interviewer to explain the difference. • Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits are Taxable • You may have federal income tax withheld from your unemployment insurance benefit check. This is optional and may be changed once during your benefit year. The amount withheld will always be 10% of your weekly benefit amount. • Unemployment insurance benefits are taxable and must be reported on your annual income tax return. The department will provide you with an annual statement (Form 1099G), no later than January 31st of each year.

12. Important Unemployment Insurance Information It is Very Important That You Read and Understand the Information Regarding Your Rights and Responsibilities . (PAM –UI-400/ES- 513) Work Search Requirements While Claiming Unemployment Insurance Benefits • By law, an unemployed worker must be “available for suitable full-time work and making such reasonable effort to obtain work as might be expected of a prudent person under like circumstances” while claiming unemployment insurance benefits.

13. The Musts for receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits • Be able to work. • Register for work with the Office of Employment & Training (OET). • Respond in a timely manner when Office of Employment & Training contacts you about job openings. • Accept referrals to suitable work from the Office of Employment & Training , staff and partners. • Report for job interviews (to which referred). • Report for follow-up contacts with the Office of Employment & Training,as instructed. • Participate in other Reemployment Services and Case Management, to which you are referred . • Seek employment on your own, and • Accept suitable employment when offered. Failure to meet the above requirements may result in disqualification from receiving benefits.

14. Unemployment Insurance Information If My Claim is “Allowed,” Do I Get My Benefits Now? It’s a good start, but more is required. You may be an insured worker and still be “ineligible” or “disqualified” for benefits. Some of the common reasons you may be “ineligible” or “disqualified” are: • You are not able to work, or available for full-time work or actively seeking full-time work. • You have a medical reason to prevent you from accepting work. • You are an alien not permitted to work . • You have unreasonably limited the wages you will accept, the hours or days you will work, the locations where you work or jobs you will accept. • You are not looking for work as instructed. • You did not register for work with Job Services, if required. • You are involved in a strike . • You are self-employed/owner/officer of a corporation . • You are attending school (without prior approval of the Office of Employment & Training) .

15. If My Claim is “Allowed,” Do I Get My Benefits Now? (Continued) Some of the additional common reasons you may be “ineligible” or “disqualified” are: • You are a school employee between terms. • You are suspended for misconduct. • You refused suitable work. • You do not have adequate transportation. • You don’t have someone to care for your children while you work. • You were fired for misconduct connected with your employment. • You quit your job for personal reasons or for reasons that were not considered “good cause” connected with the employment. • You did not report, telephone, or provide information to the local office when instructed. • You worked or earned wages in excess of the amount allowed to be considered “unemployed”. • You failed to participate in required services under the Re-Employment Services Program. “This is just a partial list of reasons you may be disqualified or ineligible”

16. Fraud Another more serious disqualification is for making a False Statement or failing to tell us an important fact, such as working while drawing benefits. Do Not Be Guilty of Fraud! If you make a False Statement in claiming benefits, you can be disqualified for up to 52 weeks! There are other penalties for fraud, too, such as Fines and Possible Imprisonment. Also, all benefits fraudulently received Must Be Repaid to the Office of Employment & Training. Interest will accrue and there may be a lien filing fee as well as a lien release fee.

17. Important Unemployment Insurance Information • You must not rely solely on Office of Employment & Training or any single job lead source to get a job. Occasionally, while claiming unemployment insurance benefits, you will be required to report to the Office of Employment & Training to discuss your work search efforts. The Office of Employment & Training will want to know which employers you have contacted, when you contacted them, who you contacted at each location, the phone number and the results of those contacts. • You must bring this information with you when you report to the Office of Employment & Training for an in-person eligibility review. • Unemployment insurance claimants are allowed a reasonable period of time to find work that is comparable in pay and skill level to their most recent employment. However, if you are unable to find such work after a reasonable period of time or that type of work is not available in your local labor market, you will be required to lower your expectations and seek employment that pays less or is at a lower skill level than you are accustomed.

18. Re-Employment Services Program The Re-Employment Services Program is a team of employment/reemployment specialists located in Local Offices throughout the state. They use motivational group job search sessions, and modern technology – ranging from the Internet to virtual interviewing -to recruit, screen, motivate and place a more diverse range of qualified job applicants.

19. How to prepare to file your Unemployment Insurance claim. Make it easy on yourself and avoid unnecessary filing delays: Regardless of how you choose to file your Unemployment Insurance Claim (Internet or Telephone), you must have the following information to successfully submit your claim: •  Your Social Security Number •  Your complete mailing address • Your most recent (for the past 18 months) employers’ business names, complete mailing addresses, and phone numbers • The exact month, day, and year that you began work for each of your recent (for the past 18 months) employers • The exact month, day, and year that you last worked for each of your recent employers

20. The options for filing a claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits • You can now file your claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Online, no more long waits to file your claim. • This service is available at www.kewes.ky.gov , 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • The directions are in your information today.

21. Additional options for filing an Unemployment Insurance Benefit Claim • Filing by Telephone: If you have all the necessary information and a touch-tone telephone, you can also file your Unemployment Claim by Telephone between 7:30am-5:30pm Eastern Time. The number is (859-547-3362). (This is not a Toll Free number.) • Electronic filing from our office: If you choose to file your Unemployment Insurance claim from our local office/One-Stop Center customer service representatives are available to help you. You can receive assistance as you file your claim electronically in our resource room.

22. Workforce Investment Act One Stop Career Centers WIA Title 1 Dislocated Worker Program

23. One Stop Career Centers Services • Job search assistance including up to date job postings, career counseling and access to online job sites • Access to computers, faxes, phones, and reference materials for job searches • Career resources including: tools to help you create a resume,skill assessments, testing services, links to area employers, education, job readiness and / or training opportunities • Workshops on resume writing, occupational preparation, and interviewing techniques • Specialized services are available for: Farm workers, youth, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers, and older workers (ages 55 & up)

24. Area One Stop Career Centers Workforce Investment Act Title 1 Dislocated Worker Program If you have been laid off from your job and are currently receiving or have exhausted your unemployment insurance benefits, you may be eligible for special services : • Customized Career Counseling, skills assessment, resume preparation and career search assistance • Educational services and training programs for those who lack current marketable skills. • Financial Assistance to qualified individuals who have to schedule job interviews, and/or relocate to a new job more than sixty miles away.

25. Kentucky Adult EducationCouncil on Postsecondary Education KENTUCKY ADULT EDUCATION GO HIGHER Adult & Continuing Education Programs

26. Kentucky Adult EducationCouncil on Postsecondary Education Key Services: • Instruction to develop or improve basic academic skills such as writing, mathematics, science, social studies and English as a second language. • Preparation for the General Education Development (GED) test • Family literacy programs for parents who need instruction in basic academic and employability skills along with activities emphasizing parenting and other life skills. These programs also ensure that children are provided age- appropriate , educational instruction in order to raise the educational levels and aspirations of the family all in one setting.

27. Kentucky Adult EducationCouncil on Postsecondary Education Key Services (continued): • Instruction to adults who face barriers in obtaining additional education can be provided at their jobsite. Working with employers and labor unions, instructors use everyday work situations to provide basic skills. • Skill assessments and related instruction to assist learners as they purse a chosen career path. • FREE online learning through Kentucky Virtual Adult Education (www.KYVAE.org) providing adult learners and instructors to access to literacy information, curriculum, resources and services. For assistance with online learning call: 1-877-740-4357

28. Kentucky Adult EducationCouncil on Postsecondary Education Key Services (continued): • Competency-based Instruction and Certifications—KYAE local adult education centers provide instruction to prepare students to take the ACT WorkKeys assessment. The attainment of a minimum score qualifies a student for the Kentucky Employability Certificate (KEC), which is a standardized credential that validates reading, math and locating information skills for specific occupations. KYAE programs also provide targeted instruction to certify adult students for the Kentucky Manufacturing Skills Standards (KMSS) assessment, which is administered by the Kentucky Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The KMSS is based on the academic, employability and occupational skills identified by an industry task force as necessary for employment in the manufacturing sector. To contact KYAE call 1-800-928-7323 or (502) 573-5114 or visit our Web site at http://adulted.state.ky.us

29. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

30. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation http://ovr.ky.gov/index.htm • The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to assist eligible Kentuckians with disabilities achieve their career goals. • We provide assistance to those trying to find a position or maintain present employment.

31. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Eligibility • A person must have a physical or mental disability This disability must constitute or result in a substantial impediment to employment.

32. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation We Serve Individuals With the Following Disabilities: •           Physical •           Mental •           Developmental •           Hearing Loss •           Deafness • Learning • The one group of individuals with disabilities that we do not serve are those with visual impairments. These individuals are served by our sister agency, the Office for the Blind.

33. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Provided to Eligible Individuals • Assessment •   Counseling and Guidance •   Job Development, Placement and Follow-Up •   Training Assistance, if necessary •    Rehabilitation Technology For more information or to locate a Office of Vocational Rehabilitation near you, Please call: 1-800-372-7172 (Voice/TTY)

34. Your Health Department

35. Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) Reduced-cost health insurance for Kentucky Children • Families with children 1 through 18 years of age. • Based on income guideline • Phone 1-877-KCHIP(52447)-18 • 1-877-524-4718

36. U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration http://www.dol.gov/ebsa • 1-866-444-3272

37. COBRA • Employer has 30 days to notify plan administrator of the qualifying event. • Plan administrator has 14 days to notify qualified beneficiaries. • Qualified beneficiaries have 60 days for election. This is measured from the later of the coverage loss date or the date of the COBRA election notice is provided.

38. COBRA • After making the election, qualified beneficiaries have 45 days to pay initial premiums. • Payment generally must cover the period of coverage from the date of COBRA election retroactive to the date of the loss of coverage, due to the qualifying event. • The premium cannot exceed 102% of the cost of the plan.

39. Other Options • Kentucky Childrens Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) • Veterans Healthcare Administration • Individual Policy • Spouse’s Employer Sponsored Plan

40. HIPAA • Pre-existing condition • 12 months maximum exclusion period – 18 months for late enrollees • Waiting period runs concurrently with exclusion period and does not count toward a significant break in coverage. • Reduced by periods of creditable coverage.

41. HIPAA A plan is not required to count days of coverage that occur before a significant break. • 63 days is deemed a significant break in coverage

42. HIPAA • Special Enrollment allows an individual who previously declined coverage to enroll • If the individual loses other coverage and requests enrollment within 30 days after the prior coverage ends. • If the individual has or becomes a new dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.

43. HIPAA • Individuals who lose coverage and are entitled to elect COBRA, should receive a certificate of creditable coverage. • Individuals who cease COBRA should also receive a certificate of creditable coverage

44. ERISA • Make sure you have a Summary Plan Description (SPD) • A Summary Plan Description tells if you are able and when you can collect your pension or how to roll over your 401(k) contributions to a new employer’s plan or to an IRA (if your old plan permits it)

45. ERISA • If able to obtain payment in lump sum, if the check is sent directly to participant and not rolled over, consequences to be aware of: • 10% penalty if not 59 ½ , some plans 55 • 20% for taxes • % following year filing income tax • Could affect unemployment compensation

46. America’s One Stop Career Center Service Locator http://www.servicelocater.org/ 1-877-US-2JOBS

47. Thank you for your time and attention