Occasionally, the state of Connecticut will provide extra benefits to people who are jobless and have utilized all of their regular Connecticut unemployment benefits, especially during times of high unemployment.
These programs are usually put into action when the unemployment rate in the state reaches a specific level or in the aftermath of natural disasters. The purpose is to extend financial assistance to those experiencing hardships caused by a difficult job market.
Are Extended Benefits currently available in Connecticut?
Connecticut is not currently participating in any Extended Benefits programs. Unemployed workers in Connecticut are currently eligible for 26 weeks of benefits.
You can use the Connecticut Unemployment Calculator to estimate how much unemployment compensation you may be eligible for.
Connecticut Extended Benefit (EB) Program Connecticut Unemployment Calculator
The Extended Benefits program is a federal program designed to provide extra assistance to individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment compensation. In Connecticut, this program offers an additional 13 weeks of benefits to eligible workers.
These benefits are typically triggered when the state’s unemployment rate reaches 6.5% over a three-month period, and is 110% the rate of the same period in the previous two years.
Connecticut Additional Benefits
In addition to the federal Extended Benefits program, The Connecticut Department of Labor has established its own state-funded Additional Benefits program to provide 13 additional weeks of unemployment insurance to those who have exhausted their regular unemployment compensation. This program has the same qualifying circumstances as the federal program, but covers those who may not be eligible for federally-funded Extended Benefits.
Connecticut Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Connecticut Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a program designed to provide financial support to individuals who have lost their jobs or experienced a reduction in work hours due to a declared disaster. When a major disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, or other catastrophic event, occurs and is recognized by the federal government, the Connecticut DUA program is activated.
The program offers assistance to those who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster but aren’t eligible for regular unemployment benefits. The DUA program provides temporary financial relief to individuals and their families during the recovery period. Eligible workers can receive benefits such as weekly unemployment payments, assistance with job placement, and access to job training programs.
The program is funded jointly by the federal government and the state of Connecticut to ensure that those affected by disasters have access to financial resources during challenging times.
CARES Act and American Rescue Plan
The CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan are significant pieces of legislation passed by the U.S. government to provide economic relief and support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These acts allocated funding to states to address various areas of need, including unemployment assistance.
Under the CARES Act, Connecticut received approximately $1.4 billion in federal funds to expand unemployment benefits, enhance eligibility criteria, and extend the duration of benefits. This allowed the state to provide additional financial support to workers who lost their jobs or faced reduced work hours due to the pandemic. The funds were also utilized to strengthen the administration and infrastructure of the UI benefits system, ensuring efficient processing of claims and timely disbursement of benefits.
Similarly, the American Rescue Plan Act allocated additional funding to Connecticut to further address the economic impact of the pandemic. The state received more than $2.6 billion in federal aid, a portion of which was directed toward unemployment assistance. These funds were used to extend the duration of benefits, increase benefit amounts, and expand eligibility criteria to support a wider range of workers affected by the pandemic-related job losses.
Furthermore, Connecticut utilized a portion of the funding to invest in job training programs and initiatives aimed at helping people transition back into the workforce.
The CARES Act and American Rescue Plan established several unemployment programs, including:
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was created as part of the CARES Act to provide unemployment benefits to workers who were not typically eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. It was designed to support self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig workers, and others who may not have traditional employment relationships.
The PUA program provided financial relief to those who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and faced challenges in finding work or sustaining their businesses.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
In Connecticut, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program provided extended unemployment benefits to individuals who had exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits. Eligible individuals in Connecticut could receive up to an additional 53 weeks of PEUC benefits, providing continued financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program assisted those who were still experiencing unemployment or reduced work hours beyond the duration of their initial benefits, providing them with an extended safety net during challenging times.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
In Connecticut, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program provided an additional $600 per week in UI benefits to eligible workers. This program was established as part of the CARES Act to provide enhanced financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FPUC program alleviated the financial burden faced by unemployed workers in Connecticut by supplementing their regular unemployment benefits with an additional benefit amount.
Mixed Earnings Unemployment Compensation
The Mixed Earnings Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program was introduced as part of the CARES Act. It provided additional benefits to individuals who had a mix of traditional employee wages and self-employment income, making them ineligible for regular state unemployment benefits.
The MEUC program supported individuals with diversified sources of income by providing them with financial assistance during the pandemic and acknowledging the unique circumstances they faced in the labor market.
These programs, as well as Connecticut’s participation in them, ended on September 4, 2021.
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