Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) initiative combines (1) in-person unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility reviews, (2) labor market information (LMI) and (3) referral to reemployment services (RES).  It is designed to ensure that UI claimants are meeting the eligibility provisions of state laws and are exposed to reemployment services, including job search assistance and placement services, so they may return to employment as quickly as possible.  While the REA initiative began in 2005, its features are grounded in past research findings and proven methods of administration that have been shown to be efficient and cost-effective.  Research conducted by IMPAQ International in four states found evidence that the REA program was effective in reducing UI duration and generating savings for the UI Trust Fund.[1]  Moreover, the study found that the Nevada program generated substantially larger impacts than the other study states’ programs.  In light of these findings, the U.S. Department of Labor extended the Nevada REA program study to confirm the Nevada findings.  Using UI receipt and quarterly wage records, IMPAQ estimated the impact of the Nevada REA program through September 2011.  The results confirmed the earlier results – the Nevada REA program was very effective in assisting claimants exit the UI program sooner than they would have in the absence of the program, leading to lower UI duration and producing important savings for the UI Trust Fund.  Based on these results, the study concludes that the combination of REA and reemployment services is a very effective model for reducing UI duration and assisting UI claimants to return to productive employment.