06/28/2021
CT. Department Of Labor Reminds Claimants Of Work Search Changes And Expiration Of Federal Programs
Provides American Job Center and Other Updates
(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Interim Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo is reminding residents that beginning July 2021, claimants filing their weekly certification will be required to report their work search activity online. Additionally, with the improving public health situation and economic recovery, the agency reminds all claimants that federal unemployment programs established during the pandemic will expire on September 4, 2021.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA); Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC); Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC); and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC—the $300 weekly supplemental) programs that are currently supporting CTDOL claimants are not expected to be re-authorized by Congress. Connecticut’s state unemployment and extended benefits programs are still available.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “If you are unemployed or thinking about making a job change, now is the time to look. It’s a job seekers market—so many available jobs mean plenty of options to find full time work, perhaps a higher salary or better benefits, and even allow workers to break into new careers. With Governor Lamont’s $1,000 Back to Work incentive, now’s the time to get out there and find that great new position.”
Governor Ned Lamont’s Back to Work program, unveiled in May, incentivizes the long-term unemployed to return to the workforce with a potential $1,000 bonus payment.
WORK SEARCH
To avoid a denial of benefits, claimants must make weekly work search efforts that include employer contacts, job training, and other activities. Beginning July 7, 2020, claimants are required to report their work search efforts online through their weekly claims filing on the green button on www.FileCTUI.com. The agency urges claimants to keep their June work search documentation in the case of audit.
Claimants must file weekly work searches that demonstrate their efforts to get full-time work unless they are excused from the work search requirement through an employer or other program.
CTDOL urges claimants to visit the webpage for work search details. The CTDOL Consumer Contact Center is available for questions.
AMERICAN JOB CENTERS
Connecticut’s American Job Centers and career service centers are open and continue to provide assistance to job seekers and employers by appointment. Beginning July 1, 2021, American Job Centers (AJC) will be open to walk-in customers for services including unemployment assistance. With social distancing in effect, customers are strongly advised to make an appointment.
UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS UPDATE
Since March 13, 2020, CTDOL has received more than 1.5 million state, federal, and extended benefits applications. This volume represents about 10 years of applications received over one year.
Currently, Connecticut has ~170,000 weekly unemployment filers. Over the past few months this number has dropped and continues to trend down.
TRUST FUND
- The Trust Fund balance is nearly $247M.
- To date, the state has borrowed $725M for the Trust Fund.
- Since March 13, 2020, CTDOL has disbursed $9 billion in unemployment benefits:
- $366 million in Lost Wages Assistance,
- $4.4 billion in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and
- $4.2 billion in unemployment benefits as follows:
- $2.5 billion in state unemployment benefits;
- $602 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA);
- $951 million Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC);
- $125 million in federal extended benefits; and
- $1.1 million in Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC).
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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