Support for Faith-Based Employers
Under federal law, certain employers, including churches and other religious organizations, can opt out of paying SUTA taxes. While this saves time and money, it can leave separated employees without unemployment benefits during their transition to new work.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin confirmed and expanded the right of church-affiliated nonprofits to completely exit the state unemployment system. This decision creates new opportunities for religious employers to provide benefits in ways that align with their mission and budget.
The Religious Employer Separation Benefits program allows these employers to offer meaningful benefits to separated employees, similar to what a state program would provide, but with more flexibility and significantly lower costs.