Idaho Unemployment Insurance Technology Tool Gains National Attention

WASHINGTON – This week at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ (NASWA) 2019 Winter Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., Idaho’s Department of Labor received the prestigious Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award presented by the NASWA Technology Committee. This award is bestowed upon a state demonstrating excellence and innovation in Information Technology.

Last year, Idaho became the first state in the nation to fully implement the Interstate Connection Network Relay system (ICON Relay) to aid in verifying personal information from individuals filing for unemployment insurance benefits in Idaho, while living in another state. When individuals file for these benefits, the ICON Relay system enables the Department of Labor personnel to electronically confirm the authenticity of the claim quickly, efficiently, and effectively, so that benefit payments in these types of claims are made only to individuals who are genuinely eligible.

“The Idaho Department of Labor’s implementation and successful use of the ICON Relay system is impressive,” said Scott B. Sanders, Executive Director of NASWA. “This innovative electronic system is a vital tool in their effort to safeguard taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse. We congratulate the Idaho Department of Labor for this achievement in receiving the Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award.”

For more information on NASWA’s Winter Policy Forum, visit https://www.naswa.org/conferences/winter-policy-forum-2019 and for additional information on NASWA’s Technology Committee, visit www.naswa.org.

(Pictured L to R are Mark Mayfield, Idaho Department of Labor: and Jon Pierpont, NASWA Board President and Executive Director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services)