Jillian Gilchrest

The Connecticut Department of Labor has provided more than $35 million in benefits payments to nearly 104,000 claimants for the week ending April 4. The agency has now processed nearly 133,000 claims of the more than 302,000 the agency has received since March 13. While the numbers in Connecticut are staggering, Connecticut is not unique. Unemployment claims are up in record numbers across the country, as states close non-essential businesses to slow the virus.

To speed up the processing of their claims, unemployed residents who have not yet filed should:

• Visit www.filectui.com
• Click first on the message above the large blue button that notes, “For quicker payment of unemployment benefits, please follow these instructions.” The link will bring claimants to a guide that should be read before filing for benefits.

For residents who have already filed a claim, Commissioner Westby reminds residents that it is very important they check their email (including junk and spam folders) daily for updated messages from the Labor Department. The agency hopes to be able to provide the federal benefits, including the weekly $600 in additional payments and benefits to self-employed individuals and independent contractors, in the next several weeks.

Updates on the status of these programs will also be posted to the agency’s website, www.ctdol.state.ct.us. Federal benefits will be retroactive to the date they were signed into law.