Data Sources And Documentation

Acceptable supplemental employment data can be obtained through case management, follow-up services, or participant survey activities. It can be factored into the appropriate performance measures if written documentation of that employment is obtained and retained in the participant's local file. DWS takes advantage of computer records from automated record matching recognized by the U.S. DOL such as the WRIS and the Federal Data Exchange System (FEDES). A survey or telephone response from a participant must be accompanied by a written document, such as a Federal W-2 form, pay stub(s), or 1099 form covering the period(s) called for by the pertinent performance measure(s). For self-employed individuals, written verification from major clients is also acceptable documentation. Verification from employers must include dates of employment, name of the employer or a designated representative, and employer contact information if additional information is needed. Employers do not have to provide details on wages paid.

Federal policy stipulates that supplemental employment data must be reported within 30 days after the individual was found missing in the UI wage record. Supporting documentation must be retained as part of the local participant record. Staff must remember that if supplemental employment data is reported in the first quarter after exit, they are committing a participant to inclusion in the employment retention and earnings change performance measures. This means supplemental employment data must also be obtained in the second and third quarters after exit, unless the participant obtains UI covered employment in those quarters.

Failure to properly document supplemental employment data will result in the issuance of monitoring findings and adjustments to performance measures. Incentive awards may be rescinded if a WDB's performance renders it ineligible for the incentive award without the undocumented supplemental employment data.

Acceptable documentation includes:

1. Participant's W-2 form;
2. Pay check stub;
3. IRS form 1099;
4. IRS form 1040, Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship);
5. IRS form 1099-B, Proceeds from Broker & Barter Exchange Transactions;
6. A letter from an employer verifying that the participant was employed during the performance measure reporting quarter(s);
7. Wisconsin form PRA-012, Premier Resort Area Tax Return;
8. Wisconsin form St-12 - Sales and Use Tax Return;
9. IRS 2099, Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit from Business;
10. IRS form 1040, Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax;
11. Wisconsin form EX-012, Local Exposition Tax Return; or
12. Wisconsin form S-220a, Schedule P, Attachment to Form BCR, Buyer's Claim for Refund of Wisconsin State County and Stadium Sales Taxes.
13. Verification from professional employment matching services (see Attachment 1).
14. Confirmation from DWS that employment was verified using FEDES Postal Service, Department of Defense or U.S. Office of Personnel Management employment data.

If the participant is self-employed and provides an IRS 1040, the form must be accompanied by IRS Form 1040, Schedule C at a minimum. An IRS 1040 will be accepted as proof of employment in all quarters after exit, IF the participant provides copies of the IRS forms for the two consecutive years in which performance is measured. This is necessary because the performance measures cross over calendar years (e.g., April 1, 2004 - March 31, 2005 and October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005).

This documentation list may not be complete. If local staff have any questions about a particular document, they may request an opinion from DWS staff through their Local Program Liaison. If an employer is reluctant to send verification to the case manager because of earnings or wage disclosure concerns, it is acceptable for the employer to omit the earnings or wage information. The data that is needed are the dates of employment, the name of the employer, and contact information should additional questions arise.