New Weekly Max Unemployment Payment: $590

The annual revision of the Unemployment Insurance benefit rate will see claimants receiving a maximum weekly amount of $590 per week effective October 6, 2013.

The announcement, made on Wednesday by State Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer reflects a decrease of a dollar. The current weekly maximum rate is $591. The new maximum will apply to claims filed for the benefit year starting on and after October 6, 2013.  

Those who filed a claim prior to this date who have been collecting unemployment insurance benefits will be unaffected by this revision.  The weekly dependency allowance for each dependent of $15 with a maximum of $75 remains unchanged.

This annual revision of the maximum weekly unemployment benefit is based on average manufacturing wages for the year ending June 30, 2013.  The increase is limited by law to $18 per year, or 60 percent of the average wage, whichever is less.

For the 12 months ending August 31, 2013, regular benefits averaged $316 per week and claimants received an average 18 weeks of compensation, not including federal extensions.  The prior year shows weekly benefit payments averaging $308 for an average of 18.6 weeks.

Regular state unemployment benefits are funded by a separate assessment paid by 98,000 Connecticut employers.  The tax is based on the first $15,000 of each worker’s annual wage.