Unemployed Connecticut residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic could get some additional help after FEMA approved the state's application for $300 per week in supplemental benefits.
FEMA said early Tuesday morning that FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor has approved Connecticut for a grant under the FEMA Lost Wages Assistance program.
The grant funding will allow Connecticut to provide an additional $300 per week to those who became unemployed due to COVID-19, on top of their regular unemployment benefit.
He previously said a second option, which required states to come up with a 25 percent match in order for recipients to receive $400 in extra weekly benefits, would be too expensive for the state to cover.
FEMA said President Donald Trump made about $44 billion available from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance.
Connecticut is one of more than 25 states approved for this extra unemployment insurance.
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The $300 additional benefit will be retroactive to the claim week beginning July 26, according to Gov. Lamont.
People who are eligible must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility includes:
- Recipients of at least $100 per week of any of the following benefits for the week they are seeking unemployment benefits
- Claimants receiving unemployment compensation including state and federal workers and former service members as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Extended Benefits, or High Extended Benefits
- Anyone who qualified for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
- Claimants receiving Short-Time Compensation
- Workers with a Trade Readjustment Allowance
A full list of states previously approved for lost wages assistance can be found here.
