Kara Rochelle

The Connecticut Department of Labor successfully updated its system to implement Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) to provide an additional $600 weekly to filers receiving state unemployment benefits. Benefits will be retroactive to March 29, 2020 for all eligible claimants. It will be provided through July 25, 2020. 

Governor Lamont Friday issued his 29th executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Effective Monday night, cloth face coverings or a higher level of protection are required in public wherever close contact is unavoidable.

The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research has summaries of the Governor's Executive Orders. These summaries are filled with helpful information in an easy-to-digest format. 

The first round of Stimulus Package checks have gone out to taxpayers who filed their 2018 and/or 2019 tax returns. A second round of paper checks is expected to be mailed to taxpayers around May 4.

The Connecticut Department of Labor upgraded its software to speed up the processing times for unemployment claim applications. The new software will allow DOL staff to process claims in one week or less, compared to the original 6-week wait period. 

The Connecticut Department of Revenue and Services has extended the filing and payment deadlines of certain returns until July 15, 2020 to align Connecticut tax filing and payment dates with filing and payment extensions announced by the IRS. 

The Connecticut Department of Social Services announced over $3.8 million in federal food assistance will be awarded to the state's two largest food banks. The Connecticut Food Bank will receive $1.9 million for food and nearly $650,000 for administrative costs, and Foodshare will receive nearly $1 million for food and $300,000 for administrative expenses.