New payment system for unemployment insurance funds The SECO unit responsible for the labour market and unemployment insurance has been working hard since 2017 to develop a new system for the processing and payment of unemployment benefit. Known as SIPACfutur, this system has been developed in partnership with the enforcement offices. From 2021, the system currently used to manage beneficiaries will replaced by a new, more efficient solution with better user acceptance and improved process orientation.
The phased implementation of SIPACfutur is still making progress within the context of the extraordinary situation due to coronavirus, and SIPAC 2.0 continues to take shape.
As of 9 April 2020, the rollout of the SIPAC 2.0 base release with full functionality – which was previously scheduled for Easter 2021 – is no longer realistic due to COVID 19 restrictions.
As it is difficult to assess the availability of specialists from the unemployment insurance funds and the SECO TC Division in the coming weeks and months, there is currently no fundamental basis for a considered and reliable rescheduling. As soon as the environment stabilises and improves, the overall project management will reassess the situation in close cooperation with all involved, and draw up an updated overall plan.
By utilising integrated, digitalised and validated processes, the new SIPAC 2.0 payment system aims to speed up processing of unemployment insurance, reduce administrative errors and improve legal compliance. To achieve these goals, extensive use is being made of the benefits of digitalisation. The focus is on the following aspects:
• Online services for insured persons: In future, insured persons will be able to make enquiries and consult their data and documents online. The system will allow automatic processing of most of the data uploaded to the portal by the job-seeker.
• Digitalisation of data management: when correspondence is received in the post, the data will be systematically digitalised and registered in the system using a text recognition tool with an advanced data analysis function.
• Integrated processing: in future, users will be guided through the SIPAC system by harmonised processes, without redundancies or the need to switch to different systems. Both beneficiaries and third parties will be integrated into the process. In addition, the system will have strong software to detect abuse and ensure compliance.
• Digitalisation of data output: information and documents aimed at beneficiaries and third parties will also be available digitally. It will no longer be necessary for the insurance funds and regional employment centres to sign the documents produced, so they can be transmitted directly to users.
The support provided by the new system will, in the medium to long term, reduce the administrative workload of unemployment insurance funds. Interaction of the various functions of SIPAC 2.0 will simplify their day-to-day work.
