TALX provides full-service claims administration that is flexible and user-friendly. Our expert staff assumes full responsibility from the filing of the initial claim to its final disposition.

When we first partner with an organization, a request is made for historical termination and claim data to be input into our system. At this time, a review is completed, allowing us to familiarize ourselves with your particular company and find ways to help you save money. Once established, procedures are implemented to continue to receive this information on an ongoing basis.

Simultaneously, we will be contacting each of the states in which you do business to file Power of Attorney and request to be the Address of Record. This will enable TALX to represent you in unemployment compensation matters and have all related correspondence be directed to our offices. When possible, we receive this information electronically in order to prevent handling errors and mailing delays. Upon receipt of unemployment documents, your services team will contest claims on your behalf, appeal unfavorable determinations and decisions, and consult with your personnel in preparation for unemployment hearings should they occur.

Each year, an estimated $3 billion dollars are erroneously charged to employers' tax accounts for unemployment benefits paid out to claimants nationwide. A thorough review of those charges on a regular basis often eliminates or reduces these errors. TALX provides the most accurate and detailed audit service available. Through our audits alone, we are able to recover over $240 million annually for our clients.

To review the validity of a benefit charge, we review all claims, determinations, appeals, and previous charge histories by social security number. We verify that charges are assigned to the correct employer and state account numbers, and are in-line with final claim determinations. We also confirm that all the correct documentation was received. When potential errors are identified, they are reviewed by our expert staff, and when necessary, benefit charge protests are submitted to the state. Our diligent follow-up ensures that determinations and proper credits are received for future tax rate verification.

As a technology based company that is focused on customer service, we have made many tools available to our clients via the Internet in webManager. It is now possible to review your management reports, check the status of a claim, and process employee separations, as well as access other useful tools.

TALX also employs the latest encryption technology on our highly secured networks to ensure that your data is only available to authorized users and protected from malicious access.

TALX shares its expertise with educational resources and updates on developments in the unemployment industry.

Earning wages while collecting benefits is the number one cause of fraud in the unemployment insurance system. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, more than $500 million in UI benefits are overpaid due to fraud each year, including $300 million attributed to unreported earnings during periods in which benefits are collected. Another $400 million is overpaid due to errors in reported or unreported income that may affect the claimant's eligibility for UI benefits.

TALX offers the only UI fraud protection service that can save significant costs for our clients by using our extensive database of payroll records to detect unauthorized wage and benefit overlap. This service, offered either stand-alone or combined with other TALX services, works to maximize clients' reserve accounts and minimize total unemployment costs.

With our extensive database of payroll records, we cross-reference applicable unemployment benefit changes (in those states providing this detail) to detect individuals who have collected benefits and wages in the same period. "Matched" weekly charges are reviewed and then potential fraud and errors are protested with state agencies. Resulting credits are applied to employer's UI reserve accounts.

TALX is the only service provider in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) arena to have a team dedicated to developing strong partnerships with state agencies. The experience and resources of these State Relationship Managers enhances the value of our unemployment cost control services to our employer clients.

Agency Needs

The State Relationship Management Team was created to assist in building a more effective working relationship between unemployment agencies, our clients, and TALX. The team is active in attending annual UI conferences such as the NASWA UI Directors' Meeting and the National Association of Unemployment Insurance Appellate Boards conference. They are also involved in meeting state agency officials one on one. Through proactive discussions about the needs and concerns of the state agencies, the benefits of quality service are being realized by agency staff and our many employer clients.

Technology

Our State Relationship Managers are focused on increasing the use of technology to produce efficiencies for both our state unemployment agency and employer clients. States, like the business community, face challenges posed by limited resources. Our goal is to assist states in utilizing their current systems and future technology to the fullest to remove paper and manual methods from UI processes. This will reduce costs and increase turnaround times for data exchange for the states, employers, and TALX.

The following demonstrates how technology solutions translate into efficiencies for the states and our clients:

Issue: Many states are faced with budget constraints, which limit time and resources to develop new protocols to automate routine unemployment claim related processes.

Solution: By developing a rapport with key agency managers, the State Relationship Team has been able to connect TALX expert IT staff with agency IT staff. Together, they have been able to share knowledge and resources to best utilize available technology and bridge gaps – the end result being an improved format and process for electronically transmitting unemployment claims related data to TALX.

Benefit: State agencies realize reduced printing, postage, and other costs associated with paper methods. In addition, electronic data exchange is faster, more secure, and an advantage for our clients.

Legislation

Through strengthened relationships with UI agencies, the State Relationship Managers are able to stay abreast of legislation and how it impacts our clients. Our tax alerts inform employers on both pending and enacted UI bills.

The State Relationship Management Team's mission is to establish and maintain a strong relationship with the state UI agencies which enables us to continually improve the services we provide to our employer clients and their bottom line.