CT Approved For 2 More Weeks Of Lost Wage Assistance

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut has been approved for two additional weeks of federal lost wages assistance supplemental benefits.

The program provides an additional $300 per week for any unemployed claimant that has a weekly benefit of at least $100 and has become unemployed or partially unemployed due to the pandemic.

“This program will be a significant help to a lot of Connecticut residents who need assistance,” Connecticut Department of Labor Commissioner Westby said. “With five weeks of benefits available, Lost Wages Assistance can take some financial pressure off claimants, but it is only a temporary program and expires when the FEMA funding is exhausted. I join Governor Lamont and our Congressional delegation in urging a more permanent solution for the workforce, which is still reeling from COVID-19.”

Around 250,000 claimants will be eligible for funding, according to the state DOL.

Existing pandemic unemployment assistance claimants have self-certified and don’t need to do anything extra to receive the benefit.

More from CT DOL:

To self-certify:

· Claimants log into their unemployment account, where the account main page offers a new option in the menu “Certify for Lost Wages Assistance.”
· Once a claimant has clicked on the button, a new screen will ask them to certify that their unemployment or underemployment is due to COVID-19.
· The claimant then confirms their submission and has completed the process.

Federal eligibility guidelines include:

· Recipients of at least $100 per week, including the dependency allowance, of any of the following benefits for the week they are seeking unemployment benefits;
· Claimants receiving unemployment compensation, including state and federal workers and former service members, as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits, or High Extended Benefits;
· Claimants who are part of the Shared Work Program; and
· Workers with a Trade Readjustment Allowance.