Trump admin proposes stricter unemployment work search rules
Under a proposed federal rule, Americans seeking unemployment aid would have to conduct more job searches each week.
The Trump administration has proposed stricter rules for Americans seeking unemployment benefits, requiring them to conduct a minimum of five unique weekly job searches. Currently, many states mandate two to three such searches per week, while only four states require five. This change, set to be published in the Federal Register, aims to establish consistent eligibility requirements and improve program integrity nationwide.
The Labor Department argues that the proposed rule will reduce inconsistencies in state-level requirements and hold states accountable for administering the unemployment compensation program, which provides temporary wage replacement to eligible individuals actively seeking work.
However, labor advocates criticize the new threshold, stating it would be challenging for unemployed individuals to meet and costly for states to administer. Nearly all states would need to modify their claimant intake forms and technology, a significant financial burden. The proposed rule could disadvantage applicants already struggling to navigate unemployment benefits systems.
The Labor Department acknowledges potential temporary cost increases as states and applicants adapt but emphasizes the need for consistent eligibility rules across the U.S. Various activities, such as contacting prospective employers or job placement agencies, would satisfy the required work searches. States could also adopt a points-based system to accommodate local labor market conditions, assigning point values to qualifying activities.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
