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Open Recommendations

Subminimum Wage Program: DOL Could Do More to Ensure Timely Oversight
GAO-23-105116
Feb 24, 2023
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Wage and Hour Division The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should set and track timeliness goals for intermediate steps and overall duration for processing 14(c) applications. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it will update its Certification Procedures Manual to set and track timeliness goals for intermediate steps and the overall duration for processing 14(c) applications. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD sets and tracks timeliness goals for processing 14(c) applications.
Wage and Hour Division The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should externally communicate its goals for processing 14(c) applications to employers and other program stakeholders, and its progress toward meeting these goals. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that once it has set timeliness goals for processing 14(c) applications, it will ensure its goals and the progress toward meeting them are externally communicated to employers and other program stakeholders using appropriate communication tools for information sharing and dissemination. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD externally communicates with employers and other program stakeholders its 14(c) application processing goals and progress toward meeting them.
Wage and Hour Division The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should solicit feedback from 14(c) employers regarding the online application and take appropriate action to address any limitations to help improve the overall timeliness of certificate application processing. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it plans to communicate and engage with employers holding section 14(c) certificates and invite their feedback on WHD's online 14(c) application through fiscal year 2024. WHD also stated that based on information received and available resources, the agency will determine the feasibility of implementing system modifications to facilitate increased use of the online application system and, correspondingly, increased timeliness of processing. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD solicits feedback on its online application from 14(c) employers and takes appropriate action to address any identified limitations to help improve the overall timeliness of processing applications.

Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
GAO-22-105276
Jul 27, 2022
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3 Open Recommendations
1 Priority
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Director of the CDC should expand the scope of its analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to include the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults under age 65 who may be at higher risk of falls, including adults with disabilities, and, as appropriate, share findings with ACL and other agencies overseeing relevant programmatic efforts. For example:

  • CDC could analyze existing BRFSS data on adults aged 45 to 64 and share findings, as appropriate.
  • CDC could propose asking adults aged 18 to 44 the two BRFSS fall-related questions, as part of the survey update process.

(Recommendation 1)
Open
CDC agreed with this recommendation. As of January 2023, CDC officials said they have begun exploring options to expand the scope of the BRFSS data analysis for adults under age 65. Specifically, CDC is analyzing BRFSS data on falls among adults with disabilities aged 45 to 64. CDC will also consider how best to disseminate these findings, such as through targeted outreach to key partners, publications, and email outreach to those who subscribe to CDC updates on older adult falls prevention.
Administration for Community Living
Priority Rec.
This is a priority recommendation.
The Administrator of ACL should identify a collaborative mechanism to facilitate sustained information sharing on all populations at risk of falls and in need of evidence-based falls prevention, home modifications, or home assessments. For example, this could be accomplished by establishing an interagency working group or by building upon the existing efforts to expand the reach of the Housing and Services Resource Center. (Recommendation 2)
Open
ACL agreed with this recommendation. As of February 2023, ACL officials said they continue to work collaboratively on multiple fronts to encourage information sharing on fall-risk prevention and home modifications for all populations. For example, they cited interagency meetings between ACL and CDC to share information about implementation of evidence-based programs at the community level funded through ACL, as well as the clinically based studies and tools developed funded through CDC. In addition, in summer 2022, the Housing and Services Resource Center provided a webinar and technical assistance on cross-sector community partnerships to support home modifications and began a six-week training program on home modification for disability and aging organizations. Further, ACL officials said in August 2022, they met with VA officials from one of VA's adaptive housing programs and are beginning to discuss with VA how to collaborate on home modification and falls prevention programs. We applaud these efforts and will close this recommendation after ACL has identified a plan for sustained information sharing and collaboration, including with VA, to address additional populations at risk of falls , such as veterans.
Administration for Community Living The Administrator of ACL should share and highlight information on falls risk and related resources for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60 more prominently among its disability network to inform state and local planning efforts. For example, to the extent possible and appropriate, ACL could work with CDC to highlight relevant falls data and leverage existing resources on falls prevention. (Recommendation 3)
Open
ACL agreed with this recommendation. As of January 2023, ACL officials said they planned to have ACL's Administration on Disabilities grantees identify promising practices related to falls prevention in their annual program performance reports, which are due at the end of the calendar year. ACL intends to share these promising practices across grantees. Further, ACL's disability programs are beginning to participate in the Housing and Services Resource Center's training and technical assistance activities related to falls prevention. We will monitor ACL's progress on these efforts. We also continue to encourage ACL to work with CDC to highlight relevant falls data for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60.

Unemployment Insurance: Pandemic Programs Posed Challenges, and DOL Could Better Address Customer Service and Emergency Planning
GAO-22-104251
Jun 07, 2022
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should ensure the Office of Unemployment Insurance assesses lessons learned from the pandemic to inform its future disaster response efforts and support the Congress on ways to address future emergencies. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOL agreed with this recommendation, stating that such efforts are underway and will continue. In a letter dated December 6, 2022, DOL described several relevant efforts, such as release of an issue brief on lessons learned from the Great Recession and the pandemic. One key effort that DOL described was study of a solution that would provide the UI system overall with a national emergency response, which DOL referred to as "in the discovery stage." Once this study is complete, we will close the recommendation.

Unemployment Insurance: Transformation Needed to Address Program Design, Infrastructure, and Integrity Risks
GAO-22-105162
Jun 07, 2022
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Labor The Secretary of Labor should develop and execute a transformation plan that meets GAO's high risk criteria for transformation; the plan should outline coordinated and sustained actions to address issues related to providing effective service and mitigating financial risk, including ways to demonstrate improvements. Planned actions may include addressing audit recommendations, and determining whether legislative changes are needed, as appropriate. Planned actions may also include achieving quantifiable results in reducing improper payment rates, including those related to fraud; improving efficiency in claims processing and restoring pre-pandemic payment timeliness levels; better reaching current worker populations; and enhancing equity in benefit distribution. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOL agreed with this recommendation. As of December 2022, the agency is in the process of developing a comprehensive transformation plan for the UI program. DOL also mentioned that it is working with states to launch several efforts aimed at reducing improper payments and combating fraud; enhancing equity in program access and benefit distribution; and improving efficiency in claims processing, among others. We laud these valuable efforts and encourage DOL to continue to pursue efforts to transform the UI system to help meet, in part, the criteria for removal from the GAO high-risk list. These actions, if implemented effectively, would help address our recommendation.
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