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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

New Bill Proposes Mandatory Job Interviews and Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

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.
Labor EmploymentEconomy Finance

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 7, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

About 1 year after the bill is signed into law

New interview, drug testing, and compliance requirements take effect for most states

People collecting unemployment in most states would need to respond to all state requests, attend interviews, take drug tests if asked, and complete skill assessments — or risk losing their benefits.

About 2 years after the bill is signed into law

Department of Labor completes study on increasing random audits of unemployment claims

The study's findings could lead to more frequent random checks on benefit claims, potentially catching more fraud but also adding scrutiny on legitimate claimants.

Related News

1 article
The Hill·about 1 year ago

House Republicans Target Unemployment 'No-Shows' with New Work Requirements

The Unemployment Integrity Act of 2025 seeks to amend the Social Security Act to require individuals receiving benefits to fulfill specific job-search requirements. Key provisions include mandatory interview attendance and the ability for states to implement drug testing for claimants.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Unemployment Integrity Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 1119
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(6)
R: 6

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.