HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) announced Monday that the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program has been extended to a total of six weeks.
Eligible claimants can receive the extra $300/week for people who were unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 in addition to the regular unemployment benefits.
Connecticut DOL Commissioner Kurt Westby said, “We urge claimants to self-certify for Lost Wages Assistance—it will offer much-needed additional assistance to our unemployed workforce. Connecticut was just approved for another week of assistance for a total of six weeks, but this program is only a temporary one—FEMA will end it once available federal funding is exhausted.”
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Benefits will be retroactive to the claim week beginning July 26, and continuing for the following five weeks.
The first payment of $300 is expected to be disbursed to claimants beginning September 17, with the remainder of retroactive payments following in two or three separate payments.
The program is expected to provide $375-million additional unemployment benefits to eligible Connecticut residents.