[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 3]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR640.1]

[Page 363]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
 CHAPTER V--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 640--STANDARD FOR BENEFIT PAYMENT PROMPTNESS--UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 640.1  Purpose and scope.

    (a) Purpose. (1) Section 303(a)(1) of the Social Security Act 
requires, for the purposes of title III of that act, that a State 
unemployment compensation law include provision for methods of 
administration of the law that are reasonably calculated to insure the 
full payment of unemployment compensation when determined under the 
State law to be due to claimants. The standard in this part is issued to 
implement section 303(a)(1) in regard to promptness in the payment of 
unemployment benefits to eligible claimants.
    (2) Although the standard applies to the promptness of all benefit 
payments and the criteria apply directly to the promptness of first 
benefit payments, it is recognized that adequate performance is 
contingent upon the prompt determination of eligibility by the State as 
a condition for the payment or denial of benefits. Accordingly, implicit 
in prompt performance with respect to benefit payments is the 
corresponding need for promptness by the State in making determinations 
of eligibility. However, applicable Federal laws provide no authority 
for the Secretary of Labor to determine the eligibility of individuals 
under a State law.
    (b) Scope. (1) The standard in this part applies to all State laws 
approved by the Secretary of Labor under the Federal Unemployment Tax 
Act (section 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26 U.S.C. 3304), 
and to the administration of the State laws.
    (2) The standard specified in Sec. 640.4 applies to all claims for 
unemployment compensation. The criteria for State compliance in 
Sec. 640.5 apply to first payments of unemployment compensation under 
the State law to eligible claimants following the filing of initial 
claims and first compensable claims.