April 21, 2015
The essence of any meaningful, effective state unemployment insurance (SUI) risk transfer is to minimize or eliminate future unexpected, adverse risk.
Creating a concrete, working SUI funding strategy to manage an election by a nonprofit to directly reimburse a state, dollar-for-dollar for future benefit charges, requires a clear understanding of the risk appetite and potential events that may affect an organization from year-to-year. Plus, it also requires an informed understanding of who is contractually covered and who is responsible to pay when limits are reached.
What that means is, shrewd stewards of nonprofit organizations’ limited funds must prepare for and be mindful of:
• how much tolerance their organization has for maximum unexpected SUI losses,
• taking advantage of opportunities to transfer the unacceptable portion of their risk to a party willing to assume the hazard for a reasonable fee
• knowing the details and financial implication of any risk transfer coverage.
• engaging with a solid, reputable, and highly rated insurance carrier
Transferring all or a portion of the risk of nonprofit organizations’ SUI reimbursements has been an available option for years and is currently offered in many forms. The most efficient options include;
1. Fully insured, first dollar, claims paid coverage with cost control through a TPA. It is a pure risk transfer of reimbursing benefit charges to a third-party backed by a guaranteed surety bond issued by a suitably rated insurance company.
2. Partially insured under a working stop-loss coverage suitable to the risk tolerance of an individual nonprofit or group of nonprofits and provided by a financially sound insurance company.
3. Membership in an Unemployment Savings Program organized so that it insures each member against the losses of another with no joint and several liability and has a proven working stop-loss for each member plus the entire group.
4. Individually designed coverage for specific unconventional nonprofit reimbursing risks.
Membership in group self-insured SUI programs, some formed as trusts others less formally structured, has been available to nonprofits for many years. The risk transfer components in these programs vary. There may be no transfer whatsoever, pooled stop-loss coverage utilizing reserves within the group itself, or stop loss provided by a private insurer.
Managed group-shared-risk trust funds utilize an accrued and co-mingled capital advance from their nonprofit trust member credit accounts to reimburse state agencies for SUI benefit charge losses for the entire group trust. Though trust managers go to great lengths to insure specific benefit charges are assigned to the appropriate designated member, there may be no elimination or reduction of the collective groups’ total risk or liability. In fact, some programs’ members share collectively in losses by other members who shut down their operations.
For more information about risk transfer options contact the leader in SUI options, First Nonprofit Group.
Source: First Nonprofit Group’s “Financial Mechanics of Funding SUTA” series
Next article, “Best and Safest Practices for SUI Options” (Stay tuned!)
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Working with Marshal Whittey at First Nonprofit has been a great experience. He handles our request as a priority and goes above and beyond to resolve any issues we have in a timely manner. Marshall follows through to the end and ensures our needs are met. He has been a great resource for LSC and our “go to” for any tax questions we may have. With LSC transitioning several facilities into one federal tax identification number, First Nonprofit was able to assist and provide guidance with best practices resolving claims to each entity. Additionally First Nonprofit provided knowledge (information materials) and one on one training to HRS group with best practices to handle claims state adjudicated, fraudulent claims, and appeals. And processing information in the First Nonprofit [unemployment claims] system allows for timely information can be collected.
My experience with FNP has been wonderful. Unemployment in general is quite confusing and FNP has simplified the process for us. Everyone we have reached out to or worked with has been very helpful and follows up to be sure we understand the information. I am so happy we made the switch to FNP!
First Nonprofit smoothed the unemployment perils for our organization during Covid. Without the ability to cap our UI exposure, we would not have been able to weather the storm. The program worked perfectly and we have come out of the pandemic ready to forge on. Thanks FNP!
My experience with the FNP has been fantastic. The idea of setting funds aside for the unemployment tax liability is a bedrock for nonprofit organizations like mine, namely ASHBA; what is even more advantageous is having the FNP as a custodian of those funds. 100% recommended!
I would like to comment on my experience with FNP….to date our District has saved $1,000’s of dollars by being enrolled in the First Nonprofit program. My only regret is that we did not know about this method of paying unemployment tax years ago….as I had figured about five years
ago, had we enrolled 15-20 years ago, we could have saved our small school district upwards of $500,000 in payments to IDES. Also we would have had a pretty hefty sum of money in our Reserve Account. Thankfully I attended a workshop hosted by First Nonprofit back in 2015 which got the ball rolling!
I have worked with the First Non-Profit Team for many years, and I appreciate the quick response and care that Cecilia and the team provides anytime I have questions. While there are other providers that may provide like services, First Nonprofit will always be my first choice! I appreciate you!
First Nonprofit has been easy to work with and makes the administrative process easier and smoother. We enjoy working with you.
Luckily for us, our interactions regarding any issues with staffing has been very minimal! I can say that all other interactions with regards to billing, 941 reporting, etc. have been extremely pleasant, accommodating and easy to work with. Kim Ghanayem is always prompt, professional and friendly. Thank you so much!