Announcement of Enhancements to Identity Verification Services and Funding Opportunity to Support State Costs Associated with Participation in Such Services

The U.S. Department of Labor, through its Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has issued a discretionary grant opportunity to support state-level participation in enhanced identity verification services. This initiative aligns with the Department's ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity and security of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system, especially in response to increased identity fraud challenges experienced in recent years. The Department, in collaboration with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), is expanding its offering of ID verification capabilities via Login.gov, a secure sign-in service used across various federal programs. This funding opportunity is designed to support states—specifically including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands—as they adopt or expand their use of Login.gov for identity verification in administering UI benefits. By offering financial assistance, the Department aims to reduce the fiscal burden on states and territories transitioning to or integrating enhanced federal ID verification tools. The expected outcome is increased adoption of a unified, secure verification mechanism that can mitigate fraudulent claims and promote trust in unemployment benefit systems. States participating in this initiative may use awarded funds to cover reasonable costs associated with the implementation or enhancement of Login.gov services. These costs may include system integration, user experience design, administrative adjustments, and personnel training related to the ID verification infrastructure. The total estimated program funding available under this opportunity is $18.8 million, with a maximum award ceiling of $400,000 per state. Notably, there is no minimum award floor, and the grant does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by May 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Only states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to apply. The grant posting includes no reference to any required pre-application materials such as Letters of Intent or concept papers, simplifying the submission process. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of electronic submission and does not detail any specific application forms or supplemental documentation requirements. Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Charlene Wright, who is listed as the point of contact. Her email address is [email protected]. There is no phone number provided. The announcement does not mention a formal evaluation process or scoring rubric; however, it is implied that applications will be assessed based on their alignment with the goal of supporting integration with Login.gov. The application period opened on April 1, 2026, and the deadline is May 1, 2026. There is no mention of recurring funding cycles or award notification timelines, nor is there a downloadable PDF of the full announcement linked in the source provided. This grant opportunity is a one-time support mechanism rather than a cyclical program, as indicated by the absence of recurring language.