New Tool to Receive Unemployment Assistance

dol
January 14, 2021
The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) today launched a new Consumer Contact Center tool that will help residents who need unemployment claims assistance. The new feature, accessed here, allows people to schedule a call back up to two weeks out.

Coupled with the launch of the new unemployment assistance tool, CTDOL released early application timelines for the new federal Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation program established under CARES Act II.

More information for both can be found below.
Consumer Contact Center Tool

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Contact Center has handled an influx of nearly 30,000 calls per week, while also assisting customers through online chat and email. The center handles both state and federal unemployment inquiries. Agents also assist with unemployment application questions and filing issues.

The previous phone system would:
  1. Accept callers for immediate assistance
  2. Put overflow callers on a call back list
  3. Divert remaining callers to the online chat platform

With the new scheduling feature:

  1. Customers can avoid wait times and schedule a call back right from the website

*Please Note* The scheduled call back feature handles all filers except for PUA claimants. They are directed to a designated unit at the Contact Center and must continue to use the phone numbers or online features.

Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation

The Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation program is a new federal resource for residents who have both self-employment earnings as well as W2 earnings. Connecticut is one of only a handful of states that offers the program.

About the MEUC program:

  • Eligible claimants will receive an additional $100 per week until the program expires March 13, 2021. Eligibility requirements include at least $5000 in self-employment net earnings in the most recent completed taxable year. Ex. Filers for 2020 will submit 2019 tax documents.
  • Claimants must apply for the program. CTDOL expects to open the application process in late February/early March. Eligibility will be retroactive to December 27, 2020.
  • State unemployment, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, extended benefits, and other filers are eligible. The law excludes Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants from MEUC.
  • The program is 100% federally funded, employers are not liable for MEUC payments.
  • Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, like all unemployment benefits, is taxable and could impact Medicaid and CHIP eligibility.

Over the next few weeks CTDOL will notify claimants who may be eligible to apply.