Unemployment Insurance Data Validation (UI DV) News Archive
UPDATES TO DV APPLICATION AND DV REPORTS SOFTWARE (JULY 2010)
Updated versions of the DV processing software and the DV reports software have been installed on state Sun computers. DVWS release 4.1.0 corrects an error in the way certain average age values in Populations 10 and 11 were calculated, displays average and median age values to one decimal place, and disables the Transmit button as soon as it is pressed once so that partial submissions of DV data cannot occur. Reports software version 1.2.0 properly displays average age scores for populations 10 and 11 and only displays results for VY 2010 forward. (VY 2009 results have been removed because the software could only retrieve partial data for that year.) See "In this Section" for release notes.
AVOIDING SAMPLE SELECTION PROBLEMS, MAY 2010
Some states have reported problems with sampling operations in the DV Software. These problems include selection of extra cases (often each case is displayed twice); erroneous summary results; inability to save results; and inability to complete samples and thus to submit DV population results. These problems typically occur because validators double-click instead of single-click on a DV sample link. Until this issue is addressed in the software, please be sure to create each sample by clicking only once on a sample ID link.
If you experience any sample selection problems, please contact the Help Desk or the DV team immediately. We can sometimes rectify double-click problems without loss of investigative work.
BENEFITS PORTION OF DV HANDBOOK HAS BEEN REVISED - MARCH 2010
The benefits portion of the UI DV Handbook, ET Handbook No 361, has been revised. The handbook can be accessed through In This Section/Handbooks Reporting Instructions/Complete Handbooks/Handbook 361, Benefits. The handbook references record layouts and duplicate detection criteria that are still available on the DV web page (see In This Section/Handbooks & Reporting Instructions). These will eventually be published as part of a DV users guide.
For a list of changes to the handbook, please refer to UIPL 17-10 - Revisions to the State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Data Validation (DV) Handbook, Benefits that has been added to the DV web page under In This Section/DV Advisories.
NEW AND REVISED GUIDANCE ON WEB PAGE - MARCH 2010
Two new guides have been added to the DV web page under "Supplementary Guidance" portion of "In this Section." The new guides address the reporting and validation of successorship transactions and the preparation of Data Validation corrective action plans or narratives. The existing Module 4 instruction for Tax, under "Module 4 Guidance and Templates," has been updated to reflect the changes to the TPS Handbook announced in UIPL 13-10.
WEB-BASED MODULE 3 SOFTWARE RELEASED - NOVEMBER 2009
New Web-based software enabling state staff to update their own Benefits and Tax Module 3 has been released and will soon be available for use. The new software resides on a DOL server that state users can access to update their state's information directly and generate a revised copy in PDF format that they can print or use electronically. Up to the release of this software, Module 3 was maintained on PC-based Access software by the National Office DV team, who updated states' Module 3's after receiving changes from state staff. The software also provides the means by which each state fulfills the DV requirement that it has reviewed and updated its Benefits and Tax Module 3 of each year. The certification form will be available only between April 10 and June 10 of each validation year, providing the states with a three-month window to certify their handbooks for the validation year DV requirement.
Federal National and Regional Office staff can access the software through the UI Applications Menu. National Office staff is responsible for making any necessary changes to the information that is not state-specific but will also have the ability to change state-specific data if requested by a state. See Release Notes under Module 3 Software in "In This Section."
The following steps are needed before the new software can be used: (1) All users must first establish user accounts with the ETA National Office. See instructions and forms under Module 3 in "In This Section." (2) National Office staff must (a) update and publish the Module 3 Federal template; and (b) release the Module 3 software tutorial. State users will be able to access the software as soon as they create their accounts, but will not be able to access their handbooks until the Federal template has been modified. An announcement will be made when this stage is completed. In the meanwhile, state staff should establish user accounts and send any Module 3 update requests to the National Office.
UPGRADED HARDWARE AND DV SOFTWARE VERSION 3.0 RELEASED, NOVEMBER 2009
By the middle of November, the next generation Sun computers were installed in all states. The new computers are loaded with DV software Version 3.0. This release corrects bugs that: (a) occasionally let additional sample cases to be drawn; (b) mishandled some duplicate records in Benefits Populations 3, 3a, and 13; (c) incorrectly rejected certain records in Benefits Population 14; (d) incorrectly rounded values in Populations 10 and 11 and truncated instead of rounded dollar values ending in cents; and (e) caused a malfunction in one of the Tax Population 1 data element sorts. It also corrects some table references and Help screen messages. These and other changes associated with the upgrade are outlined in the Version 3.0 Release Notes. See "In This Section."
REVISED WAGE ITEMS VALIDATION (MODULE 5) INSTRUCTIONS, NOVEMBER 2009
Revised guidance on Module 5 validation has been added to "In This section". The new procedures reflect current state procedures for processing wage records and specify a two-stage sampling process for selecting the wage records to be recounted. These samples require the review of fewer wage records while yielding more statistically definitive results. The existing DV Tax software accommodates most, but not all, results obtained using the new instructions. The next DV software release will contain revised Module 5 software.
DUE DATE FOR SUBMITTING DV RESULTS CHANGED, APRIL 2009
Effective immediately, the due date for all DV submissions is changed from May 10 to June 10. Results for VY 2009 will be due June 10, 2009. Not only will this new date give validators more time to complete validations but because it is three weeks after the May 20 reporting date for the 1st quarter ETA 581 report, validators will now be able to validate tax results for the first calendar quarter if they so choose. The change increases the number of quarterly Tax reports that can be validated for Populations 1, 3, 4 and 5 from three to four, and the number of quarters that can be validated for Population 2 (Report Delinquency) from two to three.
EIGHT STATES RECEIVE SBR AWARDS FOR IV & V - OCTOBER 2009
As part of a Supplement Benefit Request (SBR) process for FY 2009, eight states received awards to have an outside organization conduct an Independent Validation and Verification of their DV extract files: Alabama; Arkansas; Maine; Mississippi; Nebraska; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico. In addition, New York and South Dakota received SBR funds to correct reporting software that DV showed were producing erroneous counts. These funds must be obligated by September 30, 2011; funds must be expended by December 30, 2011 unless an extension has been granted.
NEW POSTINGS - AUGUST 2009
Posted for your information are DV results for VY 2009 and Validation Items Due for VY 2010. Also, we are in the process of revising and updating materials from the Benefits and Tax Handbooks. "In this section" now includes updated Appendix A (Subpopulation Specifications) tables for Benefits, and a revised guidance for building LADT records for Benefits Populations 1 and 3 and building CWC records for Benefits Populations 3 and 4.
TEMPORARY PROCEDURE TO AVOID LOSS OF SAMPLE INVESTIGATION WORK, July 2009
Users have occasionally contacted the DV Team or Hotline to report that the DV software had drawn a random sample with more than the allotted number of sample cases. Two different causes have been identified: (1) a malfunctioning sampling module, which displays each case twice; (2) an improperly built extract file that contains duplicate observation numbers (OBS). Problem (1), and often problem (2), can be corrected by reloading the population; however, if the problem is discovered after cases have been investigated, reloading causes all investigative work to be lost.
VERSION 2.1.0 BUGS AND DESIGN ISSUES – MARCH, 2009
Users have called some minor software bugs and design limitations to our attention. See the link, Version 2.1.0 bugs under the "Bugs and Workarounds" header in "In this Section" for an explanation and workarounds. A release containing the bug fixes is expected in late spring or summer 2009, following the installation of an upgrade to the Sun's system operating system. The upgrade will require retesting of all Sun software, including DV WS Version 2.1.0.
DV SOFTWARE Bugs and Workarounds
DV SOFTWARE STATUS - NOVEMBER 2007
The software testing for DV Version 1.1 is complete and the release has been implemented on the State SUN systems the week ending November 30, 2007.
NEW SPECS AVAILABLE NOW – JULY, 2007
The specs in section Independent Validation and Verification (IV & V) have been updated. These changes are being incorporated in Version 1.1 of the DV Software. Notes for Benefits and Tax have also been added to this section. These notes explain which of the changes in the specs may have implications for your extract files.
DV SOFTWARE STATUS – JULY, 2007
The DV Software is still being tested at the National Office. Beta testing at states has not been conducted yet.
DV SOFTWARE STATUS – FEBRUARY, 2007
In July 2006, after encountering major problems with Version 1.0 of the DV software, the Department decided to suspend all software-related data validation submissions for VY 2007. Since then, Version 1.1 has been in development. This version intends to correct all encountered problems in Version 1.0 and include valuable enhancements to improve performance and usability.
Although originally the Department expected to have Version 1.1 ready by the end of year 2006, unexpected events have delayed the project, including the departure of the project’s senior programmer in November. The National Office DV team is now testing the software, and the testing will continue into February. After the software is thoroughly tested at the National Office, nine states will participate in a Beta test phase at the state level to ensure that all functions work properly in a production environment. The National Office will inform the states of a release date as soon as possible.
UIPL 22-05, Change 1 was signed on July 21, 2006.
See our link for a copy.
INDEPENDENT VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION (IV & V)
In August 2005, 25 states received funds via Supplemental Budget Request (SBR) to conduct an Independent Validation
and Verification (IV & V) of their extract files. If you are conducting any IV & V activities check the
IV & V section for up-to-date extract file layouts, clarified Appendix A tables and notes, and duplicate detection
criteria that the next version of the DV software will use.
ADVISORIES
Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 22-05, Unemployment Insurance Data Validation (UI DV) Program Software
and Policy Guidance, was issued on April 28, 2005. You can view it on the ETA Web site at
http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2074
UIPL No. 23-05, Reauthorization of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Data Validation (DV) Program, was issued on June 17, 2005. You can view it on the ETA Web site at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2084
SOFTWARE
The new UI DV web-based software (version DV WS 1.0) was released on June 6, 2005 to all states. This web-based software
replaces the MPR PC-based software. Starting July 1st, 2005, all DV submissions must be done using the web-based software.
See UIPL No. 22-05 for more detailed information.
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The Benefits and Tax Tutorials are now available online. These tutorials will guide users through the web-based software.
The Minnesota Training Center is offering training courses on the DV WS software. Check their training calendar for more information.
Technical assistance for the DV WS software is available by calling the OWS Hotline at 1-800-473-0188.