Wyoming Appeals for Unemployment Insurance Compensation

PAGE 6 OF 7Most of these states, including Wyoming, perform better than the national average on these measures. However,more specifically to Table 4, the data does show that Wyoming, New Mexico, and Nevada tend have higheraverage age of lower authority appeals than the other selected states. In Table 5, it shows that Nevada, Idaho, andNew Mexico tend to have higher average age of higher authority appeals. Utah and North Dakota generally havethe best performance, with a few exceptions, on both of these measures. Finally, related to Table 6, all selectedstates tend to have better performance on appeals case quality than the national average except for Nevada.Table 6. Wyoming and Other States' Lower Authority Appeals Quality (percent of cases scoring 85points or higher), FY 2009 – 2013 (through March 31, 2013).State FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013Colorado 100.0 100.0 97.5 100.0 100.0Idaho 97.1 100.0 93.8 100.0 95.0 1Montana 98.7 98.7 97.5 100.0 94.6 1Nebraska 100.0 100.0 98.8 100.0 100.0 1Nevada 88.8 78.5 87.2 81.0 82.1 1New Mexico 96.2 92.2 98.7 97.5 97.5 1North Dakota 100.0 100.0 100.0 98.7 100.0 1South Dakota 97.4 100.0 98.7 94.3 100.0Utah 100.0 98.7 97.5 97.5 98.3Wyoming 100.0 100.0 98.7 100.0 100.0 1U.S. 95.8 94.9 95.5 96.0 95.8Source: LSO Research summary of U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration data.1 Numbers for FY 2013 are estimated based on reports submitted thus far by selected states.Lastly, LSO should note that the Wyoming UI program went through a comprehensive performance evaluationin 2010 (report issued December 15, 2010). The evaluation issued several findings related to the claimsappeals process:Finding 2.1: Once the UI claim is received by the UID [Unemployment Insurance Division], complicatedmanual processes contribute to the backlog of claims in times of high claims-filing volume, which impactstimeliness and quality of claims decisions.oRecommendation: The UID [Unemployment Insurance Division] should transfer theadministrative functions, including scheduling of hearings currently performed by the ChiefHearing Officer to section clerical staff. The Chief Hearing Officer should be scheduled to conducthearings, particularly in times of increased workload.Finding2.3: Appeals section hearing officer's appellant notice and response practices contributesignificantly to hearing no-shows, which wastes staff effort to prepare and schedule cases.ooRecommendation: The Commission [UIC] should require hearing officers to call appellants at thebeginning of hearings with the most current contact information from the appealing parties.Recommendation: The UID [Unemployment Insurance Division] should look into providing asupplement to the Claimant Handbook that provides extensive and thorough information on theWYOMING LEGISLATIVE SERVICE OFFICE • 213 State Capitol • Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002TELEPHONE (307) 777-7881 • FAX (307) 777-5466 • EMAIL • lso@wyoleg.gov • WEBSITE http://legisweb.state.wy.us