CT Dept Of Labor Provides Updates On End Of Federal Programs Trust Fund And Application Numbers
Current: CT Dept. Of Labor Provides Updates On End Of Federal Programs, Trust Fund, And Application Numbers
CT Dept. Of Labor Provides Updates On End Of Federal Programs, Trust Fund, And Application Numbers
CARES Act Programs End on Saturday
(Wethersfield, CT) – Today, Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Interim Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo released updated unemployment applications and Trust Fund numbers and reminded residents that unemployment benefit provisions under the federal CARES Act expire on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “Over the next couple weeks as federal and extended benefits come to an end, we expect thousands of residents to join the more than 32,000 workers who re-entered the labor pool this summer. Schools are back in session, daycare spots are opening, and the state has a comparatively high vaccination rate—all critical elements to getting the economy moving again. This is a job seekers’ market and for those who are looking for their next job or a new next career, CTDOL has the resources to help.”
Connecticut has about 125,000 weekly filers, all of whom will be impacted by the expiration of the $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) supplement. Of those filers, CTDOL estimates that:
48,000 are using state or extended benefits unemployment programs that will not change with the end of federal CARES Act unemployment programs;
54,000 claimants are using a federal program and may be eligible to transfer to a state program; and
23,000 filers will have their benefits expire with no option to move to another program.
Additionally, 11,000 claimants will have their benefits end when Connecticut triggers off the federal High Extended Benefits program on September 11, 2021.
Since March 13, 2020, CTDOL has disbursed $9.7 billion in unemployment funding across state unemployment benefits, extended benefits, high extended benefits, and five federal programs. In a non-pandemic year, the agency disburses approximately $600 million in unemployment benefits and has about 40,000 weekly filers.
CTDOL Director of Research Patrick Flaherty said, “Unemployment spending allowed Connecticut to avoid total economic collapse during the pandemic. Between unemployment benefits and the Paycheck Protection Program, billions of dollars have helped keep households and businesses afloat and able to weather the COVID shut down. Looking ahead, the economic risk facing Connecticut is the increasing rate of infection. The state’s underlying economy is strong, the public health situation has to improve for the economy to continue to recover.”
In July, Connecticut posted its seventh consecutive month of job gains and the year’s largest month-over-month gain of 9,400 jobs. The unemployment rate continues to trend down.
Trust Fund balance is $271,421,000.
To date, the state has borrowed $725M for the Trust Fund.
Since March 13, 2020, CTDOL has disbursed nearly $9.7B in unemployment benefits:
$366M in Lost Wages Assistance,
$4.8B in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and
$4.6B in unemployment benefits as follows:
$2.7B in state unemployment and extended benefits;
$651M in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA);
$1.1B Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC);
$125M in federal extended benefits; and
$1.6M in Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC).
REMINDERS FOR FILERS:
Filers with open claims in adjudications or appeals may be eligible for payments for weeks prior to 9/4/21.
PUA claimants may submit applications until October 6, 2021 for benefit weeks occurring prior to 9/4/21.
High Extended Benefits, the seven-week extension program, end September 11, 2021.
Filers with questions on their specific benefits should contact the Consumer Contact Center.