It is always interesting as a program grows to see how it has changed.  Below are two pie charts indicating change since this time last year.  Both graphs show claims from January to August.  The time of year does affect the types of claims filed, so we have excluded September through December of 2009, so that both graphs cover the same time period to show a true reflection of the change since this time last year.

As you can see, the types of claims haven’t changed – but the distribution of claim types has!  What this tells us is that the numbers of substitutes and temporary contract (i.e. contract not renewed) claims have stayed about the same.  Claims from reductions in force went up dramatically.  The remaining types went down.

The significance of claim types is that unemployment law (Oklahoma Employment Security Act) is written in such a way that the type of claim and the facts surrounding the Claimant’s separation from work determine whether that person gets benefits or not.  OPSUCA helps to determine how your claim can be protested so you pay less money!  Please be on the look-out for upcoming training for our Member Schools on the different types of claims and how your school can make the best employment decisions to minimize your unemployment costs.

Below is another graph that shows the increase in claims, appeal hearings, and appeals to the Board of Review.  This is representative of OPSUCA schools and shows how the financial hardship schools have faced over the past couple of years has impacted unemployment for a majority of Oklahoma’s school districts, career techs, and interlocals.

Finally!  The first of many podcasts and training for OPSUCA members is up!  Please see the Podcasts & Training page above.  At this time, it is available to everyone, but soon, we’ll have a Members Only Page where all podcasts and training will be located.

If you have requests for podcast topics, please send them my way via email at jessicas@ossba.org.

Federal unemployment benefits have been extended again.  This time, the extension runs to the end of November 2010.  This law will have a retroactive date of June 2, 2010.  In essence, this means those who filed for unemployment and still qualify the whole way through can receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment – 26 weeks of regular benefits & 73 weeks of federal benefits. 

For a brief overview, when someone files for unemloyment benefits for the first time, she or he is seeking regular unemployment benefits.  If the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) allows that Claimant benefits, then certain former employers pay (depending on when the Claimant worked for you) an amount that the OESC determines that Claimant is eligible.  There is a cap on unemployment of $9,300 for any claims filed in 2010.  The OESC determines a weekly benefit amount, which applies through the entire unemployment process.  Regular benefits are generally paid out over the course of 26 weeks. 

Once the Claimant has exhausted these regular benefits, s/he can file for federal extended benefits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  There are four tiers under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program:

• Tier I – 20 weeks
• Tier II – 14 weeks
• Tier III – 13 weeks
• Tier IV – 6 weeks

Once these 53 weeks have run out, the Claimant can then file for 20 more weeks under the Federal Extended Benefits Program.

What does this mean for your school? 

We might see an increase in claims as more and more unemployed learn about these benefits.  In the past, with each extension, OPSUCA has seen a rise in claims filed. 

Currently, Oklahoma has an unemployment rate of 6.8% according to the OESC.  For more information on numbers of claims being filed, see the below post.

The 2010 OSSBA/CCOSA Conference and Exposition will be August 27-29, 2010 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Please plan to visit the OPSUCA booth at Conference this year!  We will be located in the Exhibit Hall in space J and K 6 with OSSBA and CCOSA.

For more information or to register for Conference, please visit the following link:  http://www.ossba.org/annualconference

Due to the declining economy and hard times that have fallen on Oklahoma’s public schools, career techs, and interlocals, claims for unemployment have risen dramatically.  The trend appears to be quadrupling upon itself.  As can be seen in the chart below, the claims against OPSUCA schools in 2008 doubled in number in 2009.  And, now that we are in 2010, it appears this doubling is continuing.  

Unlike in years past, unemployment claims have varied between those that are protestable and those which are not.  Unfortunately, many of the claims schools are facing now are due to necessary reductions in force or expirations of temporary teacher contracts, both of which are not protestable.  However, OPSUCA intends to watch the payments of these claims closely to ensure these claimants are not overpaid. 

Claims Comparison Chart by Quarter since 2008