By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau – Palau’s Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) office announced that retroactive payments for the remaining batches of Group #4 (L-N) and Group #5 (O-Z) will be delayed by two additional weeks, beyond the previously scheduled five-week timeline.
The delay is due to a review process by the United States Department of Labor (US DOL), according to the WIOA office. The department conducts random file reviews to ensure claims are being processed properly, which has extended the timeline for disbursements.
On August 29, orientations for all five groups were completed, and claims were processed according to the initial five-week schedule. Group #1 (A-B) has already received a total of $1.1 million, and all checks for Group #2 (C-F), amounting to $2.07 million, have also been disbursed.
Group #3 (G-K) began receiving payments yesterday at 11:00 a.m., with disbursements continuing throughout the week. Claimants must pick up their checks by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1. This group will receive a total of $2.03 million.
With the added two-week delay, claimants in Groups #4 and #5 can now expect to receive their retroactive payments next month. To date, WIOA has disbursed a total of $5.2 million in retroactive payments.
The WIOA office contacts each claimant individually when their checks are ready for collection.