Unemployment Integrity Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill requires people receiving unemployment checks to meet new requirements to keep their benefits. Claimants would have to respond to all contact from the state, schedule and attend job interviews, and participate in services designed to help them find a new job.
• Under these rules, states could require people on unemployment to take drug tests or complete skill assessments. If someone fails to follow these rules or skips a requested meeting, they could lose their eligibility for weekly payments.
• The plan creates a way for employers to report people who are not following the rules. If a job seeker skips a scheduled interview or refuses a suitable job offer, the employer can voluntarily notify the state government.
• The Department of Labor would be required to study if increasing random audits helps the unemployment system run better. If the study finds that more audits reduce errors or fraud, the government will increase the number of random checks performed on benefit claims.
• States must adopt these rules to continue receiving federal money for extended unemployment programs. If passed, most of these changes would take effect about one year later, giving states time to update their laws.