By our State Senator, Norm Needleman.
The Department of Labor this week introduced a software improvement that officials said will quicken the speed at which unemployment claims are processed, with new estimates being a decrease from six-week waiting periods at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to a current period of one week or less.
Governor Lamont’s administration said the department has been operating on a 40-year-old computer system to process the claims, though it has been implementing software upgrades previously to improve the technology. Since March 13, the department has received more than 350,000 applications, nearly double the amount it typically receives in a single year. As of the beginning of this week, 174,000 of those applications have already been manually processed. In the last three weeks, more than $107 million in benefits have been provided, compared to a traditional $15 to $16 million per week.
Anyone who has applied for unemployment benefits is urged to monitor their email for notifications from the Department of Labor directing them to take action on next steps. Claimants are advised to use direct deposit; a shortage of debit cards could cause up to three weeks of additional delay.
Healthcare Enrollment Period To End Friday, April 17
Individuals who are uninsured and would like to sign up for health insurance through Access Health CT have only until Friday, April 17 before an extended, COVID-19 specific special enrollment period ends. Please call 855-365-2428 to sign up for affordable, comprehensive health care coverage.
Stimulus Checks
Financial stimulus checks intended to support the public have begun being released by the federal government. Individuals who filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019 valued at less than $75,000 are eligible to receive $1,200, with couples filing together receiving up to $2,400. These filings also include an additional $500 per child.
The payments begin phasing out for individuals with incomes above $75,000, with the amount reduced by $5 per every $100 earned above $75,000 and the stimulus phased out for those making above $99,000. The income thresholds are doubled for married couples. Social Security recipients will also automatically receive their payments, even if they have not filed returns.
Those who filed taxes in 2019 or 2018 and included financial and banking information regarding a tax return will likely receive their stimulus check direct-deposited into their bank account. The IRS reported up to 80 million people will receive their stimulus in their bank accounts by April 15.
Taxpayers who have not authorized direct deposits could wait weeks for a paper check to arrive in the mail, though the IRS has introduced a new tool on its website titled “Get My Payment.” Users will need to input Social Security numbers, dates of birth, mailing addresses and, if applicable, information from their 2019 or 2018 tax forms to confirm their identities and can receive confirmation about the status and type of payment they will receive. They can also submit bank account information to speed up the delivery of a check from physical to direct deposit. Non-tax filers who don’t have filing requirements can also submit information to receive a stimulus payment.
New COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
Governor Lamont’s newest executive order implements several new mitigation strategies aimed to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and protect public health and health systems. These provisions include:
- Temporarily waiving certain state contract requirements to expedite the procurement of essential goods and services, including personal protective equipment urgently needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Suspending the need for a property owner, attorney or agent to appear before a board of assessment appeals in person; they are now allowed to use remote technology.
- Security services and businesses are now temporarily allowed to waive licensing requirements to employ security officers not licensed in Connecticut but licensed in other states to address a current shortage.
Manufacturing Shifts
Connecticut announced a partnership with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association to help manufacturers changing operations to make critical medical equipment and supplies collaborate with health care institutions experiencing equipment and supply shortages. Manufacturers are hoped to be used as non-traditional sources to meet needs that the market, strained due to global demand, cannot meet. The new CONNSTEP website www.ctcovidresponse.org will allow manufacturers to learn about pressing supply needs in Connecticut, make connections with suppliers and provide products to health care groups. The state Department of Administrative Services has a purchasing team generating and following sourcing leads for manufacturers and distributors.
Disabled American Veterans Helping Furloughed Veterans
Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, will provide payments of $250 to any service-connected disabled veteran who has been laid off or furloughed due to COVID-19. Any service-connected disabled veteran, including self-employed contractors or small business owners, who have lost employment as a direct result of COVID-19 are eligible. For more information and an application form, please visit DAV.org/COVIDrelief.
Connecticut Seeks Federal COVID-19 Support Funding
When Connecticut’s COVID-19 pandemic was declared a Major Disaster by the federal government on March 27, the state became eligible to receive a 75 percent reimbursement of COVID-19 expenses for state, local and tribal nation governments. The state has now issued a supplementary request, with the support of the state’s Congressional delegation, for enhanced federal financial support. If approved, this would authorize the Federal Emergency Management organization, or FEMA, to cover 100 percent of the costs the state has incurred to save lives and protect public health and safety. It would further extend financial assistance directly to affected state residents.
