WASHINGTON — Businesses planning to claim the newly-expanded work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) for eligible unemployed veterans and unskilled younger workers hired during the first part of 2009 have until Aug. 17 to request the certification required for these workers, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Newly-revised Form 8850, now available on IRS.gov, is used by employers to request certification from their state workforce agency. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enacted in February, added unemployed veterans returning to civilian life and “disconnected youth” to the list of groups covered by the credit. Though eligible unemployed veterans and disconnected youth who begin work anytime during 2009 or 2010 may qualify a business for the credit, certification by the state workforce agency is required.

In general, an unemployed veteran is a person discharged or released from the military during the five years preceding the hiring date who received unemployment benefits for at least four weeks during the one-year period ending on the hiring date. A “disconnected youth” is a person age 16 to 24 on the hiring date who has not been regularly employed or attending school and who meets other requirements.

The WOTC offers tax savings to businesses that hire workers belonging to any of 12 targeted groups, including unemployed veterans and disconnected youth. The other 10 include people ages 18 to 39 living in designated communities in 43 states and the District of Columbia, Hurricane Katrina employees, recipients of various types of public assistance, and certain veterans, summer youth workers and ex-felons. The instructions for Form 8850 detail the requirements for each of these groups.

The certification requirement applies to all groups of workers except employees who were Hurricane Katrina victims. Normally, a business must file Form 8850 with the state workforce agency within 28 days after the eligible worker begins work. But under a special rule, businesses have until Aug. 17, 2009, to file this form for unemployed veterans and disconnected youth who begin work on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and before July 17, 2009.

Notice 2009-28 , posted on IRS.gov, and the instructions for Form 8850 provide details on this special rule.

If you are a displaced worker it is likely that you are entitled to some money for training. With jobs scarce and competition cut-throat this is the time to be looking for every edge you can get. Training and certifications are definitely an edge. It really doesn't matter what job you are looking for or what your previous training and experience is. Everyone can use training on the latest versions of software, learn to use the software better, or expand into new technologies.

When you come to the realization that you can benefit from more computer training the question becomes how to get money for it. For displaced workers there is a good bit of money available from various sources. The first place to look is your WorkForce Center counselor. Most are very happy to talk to you about training since they know that improves your chances for re-employment. The money isn't automatic however. You will need to show that the training will improve your marketability for the type of job you are seeking. For some training this is easy. There is almost no job now that doesn't need some level of computer ability. Below I will list a few certificate options based on your currently level of computer skill.

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You would have to have been on Pluto for the last year not to have noticed that we are all going through a slightly difficult time economically, to say the least. The credit crunch has taken a big bite out of employers' budgets. When the pressure's on it seems that as well as marketing, recruitment seem to be the first things to face the axe. Is that really the wisest move? Well, with a little bit of thought and consideration for the long term, I think not. So how can we as employers take some of the sting out of the credit crunch's bite when it comes to recruitment? If you still need to recruit new staff then it's time to adopt a different recruitment strategy. I hope the following ten tips can help you do that.

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Minnesota's unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.1 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Employment dropped by 9,500 over the month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Source Minnesota DEED

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