NEW HAMPSHIRE – Tax Rate Reduction for the Second Quarter 2023
New Hampshire employers will see an additional 0.5% reduction in their tax rates for the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter. New Hampshire reviews the unemployment tax rates on a quarterly basis and adjusts those rates based on the balance in the statewide Trust Fund. Since the state has maintained a healthy Trust Fund balance of at least $350 million for the first quarter, positive balanced employers will see a 1.0% fund balance reduction applied to their account (up from 0.5% in Q1) and negative balanced employers will only be charged a 0.5% inverse rate surcharge (down from 1.0% in Q1).
TENNESSEE – Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in 10 Counties
Individuals and businesses in the areas impacted by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes on March 31 and April 1, 2023 are now eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits. Applications must be received by May 10, 2023. Impacted counties are Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNary, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne.
DUA, which is an unemployment insurance benefit made available after a disaster, is only available to individuals who:
- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
- Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area.
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.
Individuals can apply for DUA at Jobs4TN.gov or by calling 1-877-813-0950 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CDT. Individuals filing online should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by tornadoes.
WASHINGTON – Removal of Full SSN in State Communication
Beginning on July 1, Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) will no longer include full social security numbers in emails, Letters, and other correspondence. This change is a result of House Bill 1455 which requires Washington ESD to replace the full SSN on correspondence with other identifiers. In most cases, Washington ESD will use the last 4 digits of the SSN to identify claimants.
