CT DOL Update for Claimants & How to Avoid Errors in Your Application 

June 12, 2020

I continue to hear from many of you regarding your unemployment claims through the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT DOL) and your challenges with those claims. Over the the past three months, my office is in daily communication with the CT DOL to alert its staff of your difficulties and get your claims processed.

During this time, our 14-member Senate Republican Caucus has worked to assist constituents in our districts to resolve their claims:

  • 599 reported claims in need of assistance (as of June 8)
  • 312 resolved (52%)
  • 206 outstanding (34%)
  • 82 DOL hold for verification process (request for additional constituent information such as other state wage reporting, federal alien status verification, social security administration verification)

With nearly 600 requests for assistance through only 14 members of our caucus alone, there is clearly an unprecedented volume with the CT DOL. This statement is not to minimize the urgency of each individual claim; it is to put into context the speed in which CT DOL is able to respond to my office’s inquiries on your behalf.

CT DOL Claims to Date:

  • 591,000 received
  • 566,000 processed
  • 300,000 continued claims (payable each week)
  • 16,000 claims held for verification process
  • Currently approximately 26,000 applications from May 22 in the processing phase

HOW TO AVOID ERRORS IN YOUR APPLICATION – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

PUA is a federal program designed to provide unemployment benefits for those not eligible for the state’s standard unemployment insurance: self-employed, independent contractors, those seeking part-time employment, individuals lacking sufficient work history, and those who otherwise do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or federal law or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

There are between 70,000 and 80,000 in the PUA system.

If you are in the PUA system, it is extraordinarily important that your personal information is accurate when making your weekly communication with CT DOL. Many claimants have been locked out of the system by inputting incorrect personal information. The CT DOL system is designed perform in this manner to prevent fraud and identity theft.

These user errors are commonly accidental keystrokes, which result in a week-long delay to unlock your account.

Please note: all personal information must be consistent each week. Your weekly reporting is the most critical five minutes that you spend to ensure that you remain in the system.

If you are an employer, this keystroke issue is equally important. If you submit incorrect information on behalf of an employee, then that person’s claim will be delayed or result in rejection.

We are working hard to get these matters and others cleared on daily basis. Delays in our ability to troubleshoot your claim with CT DOL are because we aren’t getting a CT DOL turnaround as quickly as we’d like–due in part to CT DOL’s high claim volume.

REPORT ERRORS/ISSUES TO CT DOL

Report individual issues or errors with your claim via CT DOL’s “Quick Click” section of their website.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY FILED A CLAIM

It is very important to check your email (including junk and spam folders) daily for updated messages from CT DOL.

Messages may include next steps or a request that claimants log back onto their claim since following these instructions will help speed up processing.

CT DOL FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS

Please click link above for common questions and CT DOL contact information.

I continue to raise your issues, challenges and frustrations with the CT DOL, and will keep you updated as I receive additional information.