Gov. Tom Wolf Announces Leadership Change at Dept. of Labor & Industry
PA Department of Labor & Industry
PA Department of Labor and Industry Virtual Town Hall
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvanians are encouraged to ask their job search and unemployment compensation (UC) questions during the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s (L&I) twenty-third virtual town hall, which will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm today, Thursday, October 29.
How to Participate in the Town Hall
A livestream will be online at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry website. Those without Internet access can listen by calling 833-380-0719; however, phone lines are limited, so we ask that they be reserved for individuals who need them.
Participants using the phone lines can ask questions directly of our UC expert. Individuals livestreaming the town hall can submit typed questions that will be read to the UC expert by a moderator. To protect participants’ personal confidential information, detailed answers about individual claim questions cannot be answered during the town hall.
Reminder to Guard Personal Information
L&I recently became aware of fraudsters who are posing as L&I employees during calls to Pennsylvanians. These fraudsters will ask for personal and confidential information such as usernames, passwords, and social security numbers, under the guise of helping with issues related to unemployment compensation. Pennsylvanians are reminded that L&I employees will never call and ask for your username, password, or full social security number.
Scammers have also been posing as L&I and US Department of Labor (DOL) officials in emails and social media messages in attempts to obtain individuals’ personal and confidential information. L&I does not offer assistance over social media due to the inability to guarantee confidentiality and security; as a result, any messages received from “L&I” over social media are likely fraudulent and should be ignored.
Emails appearing to come from L&I or the US DOL may be spoofed by fraudsters. Individuals should never click a link in an email and provide their username and password. The safest way to log into an account is to type the URL of the website into the browser window.
For more information on identifying fraud, what to do if you believe you have been a victim of fraud, or how to report fraud, visit L&I’s website.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah DeSantis
Opportunity to Provide Comments for OVR Services By June 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2019
L&I Seeks Public Input on Proposed Changes to Pennsylvania’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services Plan
Harrisburg, PA – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today encouraged Pennsylvanians to provide comments on proposed changes to the state’s vocational rehabilitation services plan. Pennsylvania expects less federal reallocation funds for the vocational rehabilitation program and must adjust the plan.
“Our primary goal throughout this process is to ensure that services continue to be provided to as many people with disabilities as possible across the commonwealth,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “I urge interested Pennsylvanians to provide us with their feedback.”
Due to the anticipated decline in federal reallocation funds, the independent Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation recently voted unanimously to begin the process to close the Order of Selection, in essence creating a temporary waiting list for new OVR customers. Services would continue for current OVR customers with an Individualized Plan for Employment, as well as Pre-employment Transition Services for students with disabilities, as required by federal law.
The proposal is available in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments will be accepted for 30 days, until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, and should be emailed to OVRFeedback@pa.gov, with “OOS closing all categories” in the subject line. Written comments may also be mailed to OVR Central Office, c/o Cindy Mundis, 1521 North 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102.
Public meetings will be conducted in-person throughout the state in each OVR district office on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Individuals who are unable to attend in person can participate via phone. All meeting sites are accessible and interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be present at each public meeting.
Following the public comment period, the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) will review OVR’s request to temporarily close the order of selection. If approved, the waiting list is expected to be implemented on July 1, 2019.
For more information, visit the OVR page on the Department of Labor & Industry’s website.
MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Ickes, 717-787-7530 or dlipress@pa.gov
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