03/25/2021
CT Department Of Labor: Connecticut Triggers On To ‘High Extended Benefits’ Beginning April 4, 2021
CT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: CONNECTICUT TRIGGERS ON TO ‘HIGH EXTENDED BENEFITS’ BEGINNING APRIL 4, 2021
(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Kurt Westby today reported that the February 2021 unemployment rate rose to 8.5% from 8.1% in January. The three-month average unemployment rate in Connecticut is 8.3%, which, under the federal High Extended Benefits program, triggers an additional seven weeks of unemployment benefits for claimants.
Commissioner Westby said, “High Extended Benefits will infuse millions of dollars into households and the economy as both recover from the pandemic. Over the past year, CTDOL has disbursed $7.5 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits—funding which brought stability to about 580,000 Connecticut workers who were employed one day and unemployed the next. It’s critical that we continue to do everything we can to end the public health crisis; when we do, the labor market will also recover.”
States trigger on to High Extended Benefits when their three-month average unemployment rate is 8.0% or higher. The High Extended Benefits program will bring about 28,000 state extended benefits unemployment filers from 13 weeks to 20 weeks. The additional weeks will not impact Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) filers as they are already receiving 79 weeks under the American Rescue Plan. CTDOL will inform claimants of the benefit extension. They must continue to file their weekly certification on the green button at www.FileCTUI.com, but do not need to complete a separate application.
Connecticut will trigger off High Extended Benefits when the three-month average unemployment rate is below 8.0%. The state last triggered on to High Extended Benefits in August 2020 and triggered off in November 2020.
CTDOL Acting Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said, “The unemployment rate is only one marker of our economy; these numbers also signal that Connecticut’s job market is poised to recover once people are vaccinated and feel safe enough to return to daily activities, workplaces, and recreation. Employers are posting thousands of job openings each week—a sign that the underlying economy is strong and waiting for workers to come back into the job market.”
TOPLINE POINTS FROM THE FEBRUARY JOBS REPORT
- Connecticut added 3,000 jobs in February.
- January unemployment numbers were revised from a 100-job loss to a gain of 1,000 jobs.
- The private sector added 4,000 jobs this month.
- Connecticut has recovered 58.4% of the 292,400 jobs lost during March-April 2020.
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Media Contact:
CTDOL Communications Unit
200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114
Email: CTDOL.SocialMedia@ct.gov | http://www.ct.gov/dol