Department of Workforce Services
Department Leadership:
Kristen Cox, Executive Director
Greg Gardner, Deputy Director
Chris Love, Deputy Director
Mission Statement:
We provide employment and support services for our customers to improve their economic opportunities.
Overview
The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is the state agency responsible for administering federal and state programs that improve economic opportunities of Utah citizens. DWS administers employment-focused supportive services including financial assistance, job training, food stamps, unemployment insurance, child care assistance, and job placement activities. DWS operates and manages nearly $600 million in Federal funds annually. Department information as well as access to job seeker and employer services is available online at: http://jobs.utah.gov/
Formed through 1996 Legislation, DWS provides vital employment and employment-support services for Utah communities by operating phone centers, online services, and 37 statewide one-stop employment centers for walk-in customers. We lead the nation in efforts to centralize employment and employment-supporting services as well as unemployment insurance service through this one-stop approach, preparing our citizens to prosper now and as the workforce of the future.
The Department is accountable to the citizens of the state. We have established performance guidelines based not only on federal funding regulations, but customer expectations and advocacy group expectations, as well. The type and quantity of services provided by the Department is customer driven.
Typically, when the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, the overall quantity of services provided decreases.
Data Source: DWS
Employment Services
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Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
The importance of having a job is deeply ingrained in our society. Having a job or a career fosters self-respect, dignity, and self-worth. We feel better about ourselves when we work and we help make our economy and our communities stronger. Working gives us a solid foundation for a successful future.
What we're doing about it:
We provide employment and support services for our customers to improve their economic opportunities . DWS employment services are comprehensive, providing employment exchange services to both job seekers and employers.
Job Seekers can register for job referrals online or in person at a local DWS Employment Center. UWORKS, an automated job registration system allows job seekers to job search and create individual accounts. Active accounts receive automatic job referrals based on education, experience and skills. Typically, when the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, the quantity of services provided decreases.
Employers can also register on line to place job orders and manage recruitment efforts in UWORKS. The “employment exchange” that occurs between registered job seekers and employers assures only qualified applicants are referred. Job orders typically increase during periods of strong economic conditions with growth of businesses.
Who Is Eligible? Anyone is eligible to access job listings online at http://jobs.utah.gov/
Financial Assistance (TANF Funded)
Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
TANF is a federally funded program that provides Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The TANF funded Utah Family Employment Program provides temporary (three-year lifetime maximum) cash assistance for low-income families seeking employment. The goal of the program is to increase family income through employment and, where appropriate, child support and/or disability payments.
What we're doing about it:
DWS employment counselors provide parents with job placement and/or training opportunities, supportive services (childcare, transportation, etc.) and community resource information to help them make informed decisions about increasing their income and achieving employment goals. An employment plan may include job search assistance, adult education or job skills training, life skills development, community work, or counseling to deal with mental health or substance abuse issues.
When parents are not able to work, employment counselors may refer them to agencies or services that will help them increase their incomes through disability payments and avoid homelessness.
Who Is Eligible? The program is for one or two-parent families that have dependent children under the age of 19 and whose gross income does not exceed 100% of poverty guidelines. For example, at present, a family of three with monthly income less than $1,050 and countable real and personal property of less than $2,000 may qualify.
Financial Assistance (GA)
Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
The state-funded General Assistance (GA) program provides time-limited financial assistance for single adults or married couples without dependent children who have medical or mental health limitations that keep them from working for longer than 30 days. Generally, those who qualify have limitations in major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, working, sitting, standing, lifting, or reading.
What we're doing about it:
We work with the customer to determine if the customer's condition is long-term or chronic, and whether they have another source of income. Customers may be encouraged to apply for Social Security Benefits as well as other benefits that will provide them with a sustainable income. Because GA is provided on a time-limited basis, it is critical that customers have access to medical and/or mental health treatment to overcome the limitations keeping them from employment.
Who Is Eligible? Single adults and married couples without dependent children who are not able to earn $500 per month due to medical or mental health limitations may qualify.
Food Stamps
Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of federal food assistance programs and provides crucial support to low-income households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. The program serves as the first line of defense against hunger while promoting nutrition education.
What we're doing about it:
DWS works with customers to gather and verify citizenship, income, and asset documentation to determine food stamp benefit amounts. Individuals and/or families purchase food at participating retail food stores using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, just as they would a bank debit card.
We also manage and monitor household “cases” to make sure that individuals determined to be eligible continue to receive correct food stamp benefit amounts. Typically, when the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, food stamp assistance declines.
Who Is Eligible? Food stamp eligibility and benefit amount are based on household income. A household may consist of relatives and/or roommates and the benefit amount is based on the income of individuals living in the same household. Eligibility considerations include assets, disabilities, and age (60 or older). As an example, a household of one with a monthly gross income of $1,062 and assets less than $2,000 may be eligible to receive up to $155 of monthly benefits. A household of four earning $2,167 or less may receive up to $518 in monthly benefits.
Child Care Assistance
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Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
The goal of the Child Care Assistance program is to promote the availability of quality child care to every child in Utah who needs it. The Payment-to-Parent Child Care Assistance Program provides child care referral and payment assistance for eligible parents who are employed, or employed and attending school or training.
What we're doing about it:
The DWS Office of Child Care supports working families and child care providers by administering the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grant, which is the source of funding for the DWS Payment-to-Parent Child Care Assistance Program and supports child care providers to improve the quality and access of care.
Who Is Eligible? Eligibility is established by the federal government and is based on household income. Eligibility income levels change periodically. Currently, income guidelines range from $2,007 for a household of two to $3,895 for a household of six. Household incomes with special needs children range from $3,046 for two-member households to $5,196 for a household of six.
Unemployment Insurance
Data Source: DWS
Why this is important:
The Utah Unemployment Insurance (UI) program is a federal/state partnership established in 1936 that provides temporary financial assistance to eligible unemployed workers. This program provides economic stability to workers, families, communities and the Utah economy as a whole.
What we're doing about it:
The UI program is operated on general insurance principles with employers paying contributions to Utah 's Unemployment Compensation Fund, held by the U.S. Treasury. This fund is used exclusively to pay benefits during periods of unemployment. Benefits are paid based on wages earned in insured work, not on the unemployed worker's individual need or family financial resources. Claimants must be able and available to accept full-time work, actively seeking full-time work, and unemployed through no fault of their own. The maximum weekly benefit a claimant may receive is $373 and the maximum duration is 26 weeks. Some claimants may be eligible for Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) and State Benefits (SB) after 26 weeks. When the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, the number of UI claims decreases.
Who Is Eligible? All workers who are currently unemployed through no fault of their own and previously worked for an employer that made contributions to Utah 's Unemployment Compensation Fund may be eligible. All employers paying wages to workers in Utah are required to register with DWS and make quarterly contributions based on wage amounts. The workers' eligibility for UI benefits is based in part on the wages earned in insured work. However, the claimant must be able and available to accept full-time employment and actively seeking employment.