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A Guide to Your Rights &
Responsibilities When Claiming
Unemployment Benefits in Connecticut
DISPONIBLE EN ESPAÑOL
Llame a la Línea de TeleBenefits o visite
Su officina local del Departamento de Trabajo
You are responsible for understanding the information
in this booklet. Please read this information carefully
to learn procedures for filing claims, eligibility
requirements for benefits and the appeals process.
Job Search Assistance - Page 1
Visit our Web site
www.ct.gov/dol
To the Unemployment Insurance Claimant
Thank you for calling the Connecticut Department of Labor Unemployment
Insurance TeleBenefits Line or filing for benefits on our Web site. We are
sending you this booklet to provide you with information concerning your
Unemployment Insurance claim. It is your responsibility to read this
booklet carefully as it explains your benefit rights.
This booklet will give you a better understanding of procedures for filing
claims, for determining eligibility for benefits, and for filing appeals. We want
to be as helpful as possible in seeing that every eligible person receives
full benefits and is paid promptly.
The automated initial claims process and weekly claims system will allow
you to:
• file your claim from the privacy of your home telephone
• file your claim at your convenience
• save time by not having to travel to file in person
• save time by not having to stand or wait in lines
You are invited to visit our CTWorks Career Centers for assistance in
finding a job. In addition, you maybe contacted to report to a Career
Center in order to review your eligibility for benefits. For more information
on services available in Career Centers, see page 1 in this booklet, or you
may access our Web site at:
www.ct.gov/dol
We have every expectation that you will find our automated filing system
to be a convenient and efficient experience.
The Unemployment Insurance TeleBenefits Line is separate from the
Career Centers. Its purpose is to accept and complete new and reopened
claims for benefits filed by telephone, process weekly telephone claims and
answer any questions regarding unemployment benefits.
UC-288 (Rev. 11/09)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CTWorks CAREER CENTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Basic Eligibility Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Who is Protected by Unemployment Insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Your Legal Right to File a Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Your Reason for Being Unemployed - Are Benefits Allowable? . . . . . 7
Availability for Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Reasonable Efforts to Find Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Enhanced Re-employment Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Reasons Your Weekly Benefits may be Reduced or Denied . . . . . . . 18
Self-Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Educational Employment/Professional Athletes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
What If Your Eligibility for Benefits Is Questioned?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Appeal Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Overpayment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Qualifying For a Second Benefit Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23
Benefits are Taxable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25
Quality Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Combined Wage Claim - Work in More than One State . . . . . . . . . . 25
Moving from Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ex-Federal Employees (UCFE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
State and Municipal Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 27
Ex-Military (UCX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Non-U.S. Citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Dislocated Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
GUIDE TO USING THE TELEBENEFITS LINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Filing Your Weekly Continued Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Who May Use the TeleBenefits Line? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
When to Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
How to Access the TeleBenefits Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
If You Change Your Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
If a Check is Lost/Stolen/Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
When You Return to Full-Time Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
What About Part-Time Work? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Five Choices (Options) Available on the TeleBenefits Line . . . . . . . ..35
OFFICES OF THE APPEALS DIVISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
TELEBENEFITS TELEPHONE NUMBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
CT WORKS Career Center PHONE MAILING ADDRESS
BRIDGEPORT (203) 455-2700 2 LAFAYETTE SQUARE
2 LAFAYETTE SQUARE BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604-6001
DANBURY (203) 731-2929 4 LIBERTY ST
4 LIBERTY ST DANBURY, CT 06810-6361
DANIELSON (860) 412-7000 95 WESTCOTT RD
95 WESTCOTT RD DANIELSON, CT 06239-2942
ENFIELD (860) 741-4295 620 ENFIELD ST
620 ENFIELD ST ENFIELD, CT 06082-2465
HAMDEN (203) 859-3200 37 MARNE ST
37 MARNE ST HAMDEN, CT 06514-3693
HARTFORD (860) 256-3700 3580 MAIN ST
3580 MAIN ST HARTFORD, CT 06120-9942
MERIDEN (203) 238-6148 85 WEST MAIN ST
85 WEST MAIN ST MERIDEN, CT 06451-4141
MIDDLETOWN (860) 754-5000 645 SOUTH MAIN ST
645 SOUTH MAIN ST MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457-4562
NEW BRITAIN (860) 827-6200 260 LAFAYETTE ST
260 LAFAYETTE ST NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053-4132
NEW LONDON (860)439-7400 SHAW’S COVE SIX
SHAW’S COVE SIX NEW LONDON, CT 06320-4969
NORWICH (860) 859-5600 NORTH BUILDING, SUITE 200
113 SALEM TURNPIkE NORWICH, CT 06360
TORRINGTON (860) 496-3300 689 MAIN ST
kMART PLAzA kMART PLAzA
TORRINGTON, CT 06790-2933
WATERBURY (203) 437-3380 249 THOMASTON AVE
249 THOMASTON AVE. WATERBURY, CT 06702-1010
WILLIMANTIC (860) 465-2120 1320 MAIN ST
1320 MAIN ST WILLIMANTIC, CT 06226-1940
Visit the Department of Labor at
your local CTWorks Career Center
CTWorks Career Centers
At a Department of Labor office located at your local CTWorks Center,
job seekers can learn to create a résumé, brush up on interview
and networking skills, develop an education program to launch a
new career, find solid job leads, and get the tools, information and
support they need to conduct their own job search or make a career
change.
With offices statewide, we bring job seekers together with potential
employers through easy access to a wide variety of job and career
information services.
We register individuals for employment by gathering important information
about skills, education, background and employment history. Counseling,
testing or job training may be appropriate before referral to jobs.
We also have representatives who assist military veterans, persons
with disabilities, youth, older workers and others with special needs.
The Federal Bonding program may be able to assist ex-offenders and
individuals with other problems who may have difficulty in finding a job
because employers will not or cannot hire without some assurance or
protection against possible loss.
The CTWorks Career Centers feature these services:
Self Service and Career Resource Areas
• Job Listings
• Newspapers
• Phones, fax, copier
• Computers
• Internet access, word processing
• Resource information, books, videos
• Information on education and skills training
• Information and referral to other support services
• Information on employment, wage and economic trends
1.
Workshops Include:
• Job Search Skills
• Networking
• Résumé Writing
• Skills Identification
• Internet Job Search
• Career Exploration
• Interviewing Techniques
• Overcoming Age Barriers
Schedules and registration for workshops are available on our Web site
at www.ct.gov/dol or contact the center nearest you.
Department of Labor Web Site
Our Web site, www.ct.gov/dol offers a wealth of information and services
to assist in the job search. Some of the highlights include Connecticut’s CT
JobCentral, Job & Career ConneCTion and Labor Market Information.
CT JobCentral
CT JobCentral is a state labor exchange in alliance with JobCentral
national labor exchange powered by Direct Employer. This self-service
job bank provides a wide range of employment services, which includes
job listing distribution to and from state employment websites as well as
participation in the national labor exchange with other states. Job seekers
can search jobs representing all types of work, from professional and
technical to blue collar.
There is also an electronic résumé service for job seekers and employers.
Job seekers enter their résumés online and employers search the
résumés for qualified candidates. Features include:
• Career and job search information
• Hot links to other job-related Web sites
• Standardized résumé format
• Security and confidentiality of information
• Links to other local services and information
• Job Search Agents - automatically notifies you by e-mail whenever
a job that matches your skills is listed on CT JobCentral
2.
Job & Career ConneCTion
Provides the most comprehensive source of local information on jobs and
careers in Connecticut. Features include:
• Local wages, number of job openings and projected
growth rate of occupations
• Descriptions of over 800 occupations including
education, training and licensing requirements
• Detailed information on over 140,000 Connecticut
employers, including maps to their locations
• Search for local services: child care, transportation,
health care and housing
• Connecticut education, training and financial aid
information
Visit www.ct.gov/dol for more information on:
• Workshops • Interviewing Techniques
• Recruitments in our centers • Dislocated Worker Services
• Labor Market Information • Veterans’ programs
• Job and Career Fairs • Youth Employment Site
• Connecticut Labor Market • Links to state and
AT-A-Glance federal job announcements
• Employment services • Wage and Workplace Standards
• Tips on Finding Jobs • Apprenticeship
• Résumé Writing • Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Public computers are available at our centers and libraries statewide. Our
goal is to assist you in obtaining employment as soon as possible.
U.S. Military Veterans are provided priority in all of the US DOL funded
employment and training programs, which are available through the CT
Works Career Centers. Additionally, Veterans’ Specialists are available in
the Bridgeport, Hamden, Hartford, New Britain, New London and Waterbury
offices to provide one-on-one services to disabled, combat, recently separated
and other veterans who would benefit from intensive services. For more
information go to www.ctvets.org or call one of the CT Works Centers listed
below. Office for Veteran’s Workforce Development Locations:
Bridgeport 2 Lafayette Sq 203-455-2710 New Britain 260 Lafayette St 860-827-6280
Hamden 37 Marne St 203-859-3410 New London Shaw’s Cove Six 860-439-7580
Hartford 3580 Main St 860-256-3700 Waterbury 249 Thomaston Ave 203-437-3390
3.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
What is it?
Unemployment Insurance is temporary income for workers who are
unemployed through no fault of their own and who are either looking for new
jobs, in approved training, or awaiting recall to employment. The funding
for unemployment insurance benefits comes from taxes paid by employers.
Workers do not pay any of the costs. To qualify for unemployment benefits,
you must have earned sufficient wages during a specified time (monetary
eligibility). To collect those benefits, you must meet certain legal eligibility
requirements.
BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
BASIC you must:
To qualify for benefits,ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• Be fully or partially unemployed.
• Be unemployed through no fault of your own; the law imposes
disqualifications for certain types of separations from employment
• Be physically and mentally able to work and available for work as
defined by law.
• Be registered with the Career Center.
• Be actively seeking work by making reasonable efforts to find
employment each week (or be excused from this requirement
because of your participation in approved training).
• Participate in selected reemployment services IF you are identified
as a dislocated worker bythe enhanced reemployment services
system.
• File your weekly claims as directed.
These requirements are fully explained within this booklet and on our Web
site: www.ct.gov/dol. All statutes and regulations governing eligibility are
available for inspection at your local Career Center.
WHO IS PROTECTED BY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?
Most workers are covered by the Unemployment Insurance system.
However, there are some major categories of employment that are not:
Types of Employment Not Covered
Among the major categories of employment not covered by the law are:
4.
• Newspaper carriers under age 18 who deliver to customers.
• Insurance agents (other than industrial life insurance agents).
• Real estate persons paid only by commission.
• Sole proprietors and partners.
• Children under 21 employed by a parent and anyone employed
by his or her spouse.
• Certain religious or church-related employment.
• Work in Connecticut covered under the unemployment
compensation law of another state.
• Railroad workers (railroads are self-insured).
• Outside sales representatives of a for-profit travel agency.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHT TO FILE A CLAIM
Protection of Individual Rights Under the Unemployment Compensation
Act
You have a legal right to file a claim for unemployment benefits or to testify on
behalf of a co-worker or anyone else filing a claim for benefits. It is illegal for an
employer to discharge, discipline, penalize or discriminate against you because
you filed a claim for benefits, testified in an Unemployment Compensation
hearing or exercised any right afforded by the Unemployment Compensation
Act. Any person who believes he or she has been discharged, disciplined,
penalized or discriminated against in retaliation for exercising rights under the
Unemployment Compensation Act may file a written complaint to the Labor
Commissioner, who is authorized to conduct hearings and award appropriate
relief if the complaint is valid. All complaints should be mailed to the following
address:
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Boulevard
Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109-1114
Attn: Office of Program Policy
HOW TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Starting a Basic New Claim
To apply for Unemployment Insurance, you must complete an initial (or new)
claim by telephone or over the Internet. A claim should be filed with the
Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) TeleBenefits Line as soon as
you are separated from employment. The TeleBenefits telephone numbers
are listed on the back cover of this booklet. The web site for filing over the
Internet is www.ct.gov/dol. A claim for benefits is effective (begins) with the
Sunday of the week in which you call in your claim.
5.
Information about you, your dependents and your work history is recorded
and used by the CTDOL to establish your claim. It is very important that
the information provided is accurate. All correspondence, including benefit
checks, is mailed to the address that you provide. There are penalties for
making false statements to obtain benefits. The information you provide is
subject to verification.
Your benefit amounts are based on your earnings in covered employment
in a base period which consists of the first four of the last five completed
calendar quarters prior to the date of your claim. Commencing with benefit
years effective on or after January 5, 2003, individuals who cannot establish
monetary eligibility using wages in the previously described base period will
use an alternate base period. The alternate base period consists of the four
calendar quarters immediately preceding the quarter in which the claim is
filed. Your “WEEKLY BENEFIT RATE” is 1/26 of the average of the two
highest quarters during the base period, but cannot exceed the maximum
benefit rate established by law. For construction workers, the weekly benefit
rate is 1/26 of the highest quarter in the base period. In either case, your
total base period earnings must equal at least 40 times your weekly benefit
rate in order to qualify for benefits.
A “dependency allowance” for an eligible dependent is $15.00 each week.
Total dependency allowances cannot be paid for more than five dependents
($75), and may never exceed your weekly benefit rate.
Besides having sufficient wages in your base period to establish a weekly
benefit rate, another key element in determining your eligibility for benefits
is your reason for being unemployed. All employers are legally required
to provide a form UC-61 “Unemployment Notice,” commonly known as a
“pink slip” and an attached packet “Application for Unemployment Benefits,”
whenever a worker becomes unemployed for any reason. The pink slip
contains the employer’s stated reason for your unemployment (for example,
laid off for lack of work, voluntarily left, discharged). The application packet
contains information about how to file a new claim by telephone, the
questions you will be asked and any special information you should have
available when you call. The application packet (English and Spanish) is
available to download from the Web site.
Do not delay filing your claim if your employer has not or will not issue you
such a notice. YOU SHOULD CALL TO FILE YOUR CLAIM IMMEDIATELY.
Benefits will not be paid retroactively for weeks preceding the filing of your
claim unless it is established through a hearing process that good cause
for late filing exists.
The information provided to the Connecticut Department of Labor for the
purpose of establishing a claim for Unemployment Compensation Benefits,
including your Social Security Number, may be subject to verification
6.
through computer matching programs, according to agreements with other
Federal, State, or Local government agencies.
Filing Your Weekly Continued Claim
For information on filing weekly claims for benefits, by telephone or over
the Internet, please see page 30.
YOUR REASON FOR BEING UNEMPLOYED -
ARE BENEFITS ALLOWABLE?
If your employer has indicated on your unemployment notice that you were
laid off for lack of work or your job was eliminated due to a work force
reduction, you will normally be determined eligible for benefits without the
need for a hearing of any type. However, if your employer has indicated
on the notice that you quit or were discharged for misconduct or some
other reason, a hearing will normally be scheduled with an adjudications
specialist at the Career Center nearest you within ten to fourteen days
from the date you first file. Your employer will be mailed a notice of this
hearing and will be asked to provide a statement in person, by telephone,
or in writing regarding your job separation.
At the hearing, you will be asked questions about the circumstances under
which you became unemployed. You should answer these questions
directly and honestly. The hearing is informal. You have the right to present
any evidence, documents or witnesses you wish, as does your employer.
You may furnish a written statement if you desire. You will be given a
questionnaire to guide you regarding the types of questions likely to be
asked. You have the right to be represented by anyone you choose. If you
discover during the hearing that you need additional evidence, documents
or witnesses to present your case fully, you may request that the hearing
be continued and rescheduled for a later date to be determined by the
adjudications specialist.
Following the hearing, the adjudicator will make a decision as to whether
your reason for becoming unemployed is or is not disqualifying under
Connecticut Compensation Law. If you are disqualified, you will receive a
letter explaining the legal reason for the disqualification, usually within a few
days. You may appeal this decision to an Employment Security Appeals
Referee. (See “Appeal Rights” Page 20) If you are found eligible, you will
be mailed a check for each week you have claimed to date. Your former
employer may appeal a decision awarding you benefits.
In general, the Connecticut Unemployment Compensation Act is intended
to provide benefits to workers who are out of work through no fault of their
7.
own. When a worker quits a job, benefits may be awarded only when the
worker has shown good cause attributable to the employer for quitting.
When a worker is fired, benefits will be awarded unless the conduct that
caused the discharge is disqualifying under the law.
Any separations from employment must be reported including any
separations from part-time work that occur while filing for benefits.
If You Quit Your Job
The general rule is that a person who voluntarily leaves suitable
work without good cause attributable to the employer is not eligible for
benefits until he or she has returned to work and earned ten times his or
her weekly benefit rate.
For good cause to be attributable to the employer, it must somehow relate
to the wages, hours or working conditions of the job you voluntarily left.
A change in conditions created by your employer or a breach of your
employment agreement which is substantial and adversely affects you
might be good cause for leaving attributable to the employer. In addition,
good cause attributable to the employer may exist if the job itself adversely
affects your health or aggravates or worsens a medical condition.
Regardless of the cause for leaving, in most cases, good cause attributable
to the employer may only be found if you took reasonable steps to inform
your employer of your dissatisfaction and sought to remedy the problem
before you left.
Since you are the one who quit the job, it is your burden to prove that
there was good cause for leaving. Reasons that are not considered good
cause attributable to the employer, that will result in disqualification from
benefits under current law include: quitting for a better job and quitting to
relocate with your family.
There are, however, nine reasons that are not specifically connected with
the work, but the law says are proper reasons for approving a quit. Benefits
may be awarded if you are otherwise eligible. These are:
1. if you have left work to care for a spouse, child or parent with an illness
or disability;
2. if you have left work because your means of transportation to and
from work (other than your personally-owned vehicle) has been
discontinued, provided no reasonable alternative transportation is
available;
3. if you accepted other employment while on a layoff from your regular
work and then left that other employment when you were recalled to
your former job;
8.
4. if you left work that was outside your regular apprentice able trade to
return to work in your regular apprentice able trade;
5. if you left work solely because of governmental regulation or statute;
6. if you left part-time work to accept full-time work.
7. if you left work to protect yourself or a child, spouse or parent from
becoming or remaining a victim of domestic violence, provided
you made reasonable efforts to preserve your employment.
8. if you left your job to accompany a spouse who is required to relocate
while on active duty with the United States Armed forces.
9. If you left your job on or after April 15, 2009 to accompany a spouse to
a place from which it is impractical to commute due to a change in
location of your spouse’s employment
If You Quit Part-time Work
The law provides for a limited disqualification when an individual voluntarily
quits a part-time job. When a disqualifying voluntary leaving of part-time
work precedes a non-disqualifying separation from full time work, the
wages earned from that part-time employer must be removed from the
Base Period and cannot be used in determining Monetary Eligibility. In
such cases, Monetary Eligibility will be determined based on any wages
that remain in the Base Period. The removal of the part-time wages may
result in no change to the Weekly Benefit Rate, a lowered rate or the
elimination of the rate.
Whenever such a disqualification is imposed, you will be notified by
letter and a new Monetary Determination will be issued to you showing
which wage credits were used and the Weekly Benefit Rate that resulted.
In addition, if you quit a part-time job without sufficient cause after a
compensable (approvable) separation from full time employment, you may
still be eligible for benefits, but the amount will be reduced by two-thirds
of the gross wages you were being paid on that part-time job.
If You Were Discharged
If you have been fired or suspended, you may be disqualified from benefits
until you have earned ten times your weekly benefit rate and are otherwise
eligible if your employer proves that the reason he fired or suspended you
was one of the following:
1. Wilful misconduct in the course of your employment. The term “wilful
misconduct” means deliberate misconduct in wilful disregard of the
employer’s interest, or a single knowing violation of a reasonable
9.
and uniformly enforced rule or policy of the employer, when
reasonably applied, provided such violation is not a result of the employee’s
incompetence. In the case of absence from work, “wilful misconduct”
means an employee must be absent without notice or good cause for
three separate instances within an 12-month period.
2. Conduct which is a felony under Connecticut law or federal law and
occurred in the course of your employment.
3. Conduct which constitutes larceny of property or service whose
value exceeds 25 dollars in the course of your employment. Also
conduct which constitutes larceny of cash regardless of the amount
of such currency.
4. Participation in a strike which is illegal under federal or state law
or applied, provided such violation is not a result of the employee’s
incompetence. In the case of absence from work, “wilful misconduct”
means an employee must be absent without notice or good cause
for three separate instances within an 12-month period.
5. You were sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 days or
longer and had begun serving that sentence.
6. You were discharged or suspended because you were disqualified
under state or federal law from performing the work for which
you were hired as a result of a drug or alcohol testing program
mandated by and conducted in accordance with such law.
If You Retired
A worker who voluntarily retires from a job is ineligible for benefits until
he or she has again been paid wages equaling 40 times his/her weekly
benefit rate and is otherwise eligible. Generally, retirement is defined as
an individual’s withdrawal from the labor market. The fact that a person
receives a pension upon termination of his employment does not always
mean that he/she has retired. To determine if a person has retired, we
must assess the person’s intent at the time he/she left the job. However,
if the reason for the retirement is because the job has become unsuitable
in light of the worker’s physical condition and the degree of risk to health
and safety, the worker may still be eligible for benefits, provided he/she
requested other work from the employer which was suitable and the
employer did not offer him/her such work. A worker whose retirement was
not voluntary is normally eligible for benefits, provided he or she is able
and available for work as defined by law. In addition, in certain instances,
a worker’s retirement will be treated as involuntary if the retirement was
induced by the employer in an effort to close a facility or eliminate the
worker’s position, or if the worker reasonably believed the employment
would be severed if he/she rejected the employer’s inducement to retire.
The portion of your pension benefit that relates to your employer’s
contribution is deducted from your weekly benefit rate.
10.
If You Are Involved in a Labor Dispute
You will be ineligible for benefits during any week in which your unemployment
is due to the existence of a labor dispute other than a lockout at the factory,
premises or other establishment at which you have been employed. You
may be found eligible for benefits even if your un employment is the result
of a labor dispute if you can show either:
1. You are not participating in, financing or directly interested in the labor
dispute which caused your unemployment and you do not belong to the
trade, class or organization whose members worked on the premises
immediately before the labor dispute began and are participating in,
financing or directly interested in the dispute, or
2. Your unemployment is due to a lockout. A lockout exists when an
employer:
(a) fails to provide employment to workers with whom it is engaged in a
labor dispute either by physically closing the plant or informing the
workers there will be no work until the labor dispute has terminated;
or
(b) announces that work will be available after a contract has expired
only under terms and conditions less favorable than the last terms
and conditions of employment.
In each of the above situations, for a lockout to exist, the workers’ union or
representative has to inform the employer that the workers involved in the
dispute are willing to work under those last terms and conditions pending
negotiation of a new contract.
Leave of Absence
If you are on a leave of absence from your employment, a hearing will be
held to determine whether you are able and available for full-time work. If
the reason for your leave is medical - you are physically unable to perform
your normal job and your employer has no other suitable work for you - you
may be eligible for benefits if you are physically capable of performing some
other type of work and are looking for work in that field. If your leave of
absence is for a definite time period, you must, at a minimum be available
for temporary employment. Depending on your circumstances, we may
advise you regarding any more specific work search obligations.
If your leave of absence was essentially voluntary in nature and your regular
job or some other suitable work is available to you, and you are capable of
performing it, then the adjudications specialist will probably find that you
are not eligible for benefits since you are not available for suitable work - in
this case, your regular job.
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Educational Employees
Employees of public and nonprofit educational institutions may not be paid
benefits based on services performed for such institutions between academic
years or terms and during vacation and holiday recesses if they have a contract
or reasonable assurance of returning to work in the same or similar capacity
when classes resume. If you are an employee of an educational institution who
is filing for benefits between academic years or terms or during a recess, you
should identify yourself as an educational employee when you first file, so that
you can be provided with more detailed information regarding this provision
of the law and how it applies to you. (See “EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT/
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES” Page 18)
If You Are a Professional Athlete
If substantially all of the services you performed in your base period consist
of participation in sports or athletic events or training or preparation for such
participation, you will not be paid benefits between sports seasons if you have
a reasonable assurance of performing the same type of services in the ensuing
sports season. (See “EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT/ PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETES” Page 18)
AVAILABILITY FOR WORK
You must be physically and mentally able to work during each week for which
you claim benefits. You must be available for work during each week for which
you are claiming benefits. This means you must be ready, willing and able to
accept any suitable work. If you place unreasonable restrictions on the type of
work you are willing to accept or how far you are willing to travel to a job to such
an extent that you are no longer genuinely exposed to your normal labor market,
you may be denied benefits on the grounds that you are not available for work
within the meaning of the law. For example, if your entire work experience is as
a skilled carpenter, you are still physically capable of working as a carpenter, you
have no other marketable skills and carpentry jobs exist in your area, then your
unwillingness to accept any employment as a carpenter would probably result in
a determination that you are not available for work because you have seriously
reduced your prospects for finding suitable work.
Generally, an individual must be available for and seeking full-time work. Under
certain conditions, a person who has a disability may be able to limit his or her
availability for work to part time only. A claimant can qualify for unemployment
compensation by: (1) providing documentation from a licensed physician which
establishes that (a) he or she has a physical or mental impairment that is chronic
or expected to be long-term or permanent, and (b) the impairment leaves him
or her unable to work full-time, and (2) demonstrating that the impairment does
not effectively remove him or her from the labor force.
12.
If you have a reasonably certain date of recall by your former employer
or a definite starting date with a new employer, you must be available for
suitable temporary work during the time before you are scheduled to return
to work in order to comply with the law regarding availability.
During the weeks immediately after you first become unemployed, you
may limit your work search to employment that is equivalent to your highest
previous wage and skill level. However, after a reasonable period, if you
have not found new employment, you will be expected to broaden your
availability to other types of work and to jobs which may pay less than your
highest previous wage. You may be interviewed periodically by Career
Center staff, who will advise you regarding what you must do to insure that
you comply with the legal requirement of availability for work.
Registration for Employment Services
At the time you file a new claim, you will also be registered for employment
services to help you return to work as soon as possible. You must maintain
an active employment registration as long as you continue to file weekly
claims for unemployment compensation. Visit your Career Center for
job seeking assistance. (See page 1 CTWorks Center.) Unless you
have a definite date to return to work with your former employer in the
immediate future, your registration will result in consideration for referrals
to appropriate employment-related services, as well as direct referrals
to employers for job openings. You may be notified of employment
opportunities either by telephone or by a notice sent in the mail. In either
case, you must respond and follow through immediately. Failure to report
immediately to the Career Center if sent a call-in notice or to an employer
if given a job referral could result in your being disqualified from benefits
until such time as you have returned to work and earned six times your
benefit rate.
Refusal of Suitable Work
In determining whether you had sufficient cause for refusing a job or a
referral to a job, the Career Center will consider whether the job you were
offered or referred to was suitable for you. Factors to be taken into account
are whether the job is in your usual occupation or if it is work for which you
are reasonably fitted, whether the job is within a reasonable distance of
your home, your prior training, experience and skills, your previous wage
level and how long you have been unemployed, and whether the job poses
any unreasonable risks to your health or safety. In addition, CTDOL staff
will also consider whether the wages, hours and working conditions of
the work offered or referred to are substantially less favorable than those
prevailing for similar work in the same area.
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In some cases, an offer of temporary work may be an offer of suitable
employment when the factors which determine suitability are considered.
A temporary employee of a temporary help service who refuses to accept
suitable employment when it is offered by such service upon completion
of an assignment may be disqualified.
It is important that you respond to a call-in notice from the Career Center to
learn about the job. If you are uncertain about whether the job described
is suitable for you, then you should accept the referral and report to the
employer to learn more about it. Remember, if the job is found to be
suitable under the law, you may be disqualified from benefits for either
failing to accept the job offer itself or for failure to apply for the job when
referred by the CTDOL staff.
In addition, whenever it is reported to the CTDOL that you have refused any
offer of employment, a hearing must be conducted to establish whether or
not you refused the job and whether the work offered was suitable under
the guidelines which have been described. Benefits may be delayed for
up to five working days pending a final decision. If it is determined that
you refused suitable work, you will be disqualified from benefits effective
with the week you refused the job. (See “WHAT IF ELIGIBILITY FOR
BENEFITS IS QUESTIONED?” Page 19 and “REGISTRATION FOR
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES” Page 13)
Attendance at a School, College or University
If you are separated from employment, become eligible for benefits and
then decide to begin attending a school, college or university as a regularly
enrolled student, you may continue to collect benefits, provided you are
available for and seeking full-time work which does not conflict with classes.
(If you quit your job in order to attend school, on the other hand, you will
be disqualified from receiving benefits). If you were a full-time student
anytime during the two years prior to your separation from employment,
you must also have been a full-time employee during that same two-year
period in order to receive this consideration. Otherwise, you must be willing
and able to change classes or drop out of school if you find a job which
conflicts with your classes.
Eligibility for Benefits While Enrolled in an Approved Training Course
If, after you have been determined eligible for benefits, you enroll in
a job training course, you may be exempted from the requirements of
being available for work, making efforts to find work and having to accept
referrals to and offers of work, provided the CTDOL determines that:
1. The training will help you develop the skills or abilities needed to find a
14.
job, and there are or will be future employment opportunities for that
type of work in the area in which you intend to seek work;
2. Reasonable employment opportunities do not exist or have
substantially diminished in your labor market for that type of work you
are best fitted to perform at your highest skill level; and
3. The training facility or sponsor has determined that you are qualified
to complete the training course.
Any training under the Workforce Investment Act falls within these guidelines
as approved training. If you are about to enroll in any training course, you
should call the TeleBenefits Line immediately so it can be determined if you
can collect the benefits available to you while in training. Unemployment
Insurance is not extended because you are in training except through Trade
Act approval. Even if you are paying for the training yourself, it may be
considered approved training by the CTDOL.
Pregnancy And New Mothers
In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, each claimant must be
physically able to work, looking for work and available for work at the hours
that are usual for the claimant’s occupation. These rules hold for pregnant
women as well as new mothers.
Your benefits cannot be denied solely because of pregnancy or being a
mother, provided you are otherwise eligible. You will not be required to
undergo an informal hearing simply because of pregnancy.
You may not be asked if you are pregnant unless it is physically obvious.
At that point, you may be required to provide a medical certificate indicating
the expected date of delivery and the last day on which you will be able to
work.
After giving birth, you may qualify for benefits as soon as you are physically
able to work, looking for work and otherwise eligible, and file a claim. If
you file within four weeks of childbirth, your eligibility for benefits will be
evaluated at a hearing.
You may not be asked about breast-feeding. As with all claimants, you will
be asked to name the person who will provide child care while you work.
Once that question is answered, you may not be asked anything further
about child care arrangements.
If your employment was terminated because of pregnancy, you may be
eligible for benefits provided you are physically able to work, looking for a
job and meet all other requirements. If you left work or are on a leave of
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absence because of pregnancy but are able to do another type of work
and are otherwise eligible, you may collect benefits while pregnant. It is
emphasized, however, that you must be otherwise eligible. You will not be
required to accept unsuitable work nor be denied job referrals to potential
employment solely because of pregnancy.
REASONABLE EFFORTS TO FIND WORK
The Unemployment Compensation law says that an unemployed worker
must make reasonable efforts to find employment each week. This means
that you should look for and apply for jobs that you are qualified to do. You
should apply for suitable employment by whatever means is most likely to
bring your skills to the attention of a prospective employer and increase
your chances of getting hired. Usually, the best method of job search is to
apply in person. However, for certain types of employment, application by
résumé is customary and may be more appropriate. Generally, in-person
contacts should be made whenever they increase the possibility of your
being hired. As a general rule, telephoning prospective employers (as
opposed to in-person contacts) is not a reasonable method of searching
for work unless the employer specifically encourages telephone contact.
While the law does not specify what number of efforts to find work you must
make each week, courts have generally said that an unemployed person
who makes at least three employer contacts in a week has made reasonable
efforts to obtain work during that week. Of course, it is necessary that
those efforts be directed toward work which you are qualified to do and
that you apply through the means best-suited to securing the job you are
seeking. In general, repeat contacts are not considered to be reasonable
unless there is a definite reason to believe returning to the same employer
would create favorable prospects for securing employment. There may be
some instances in which one or two employer contacts in a given week
would be considered reasonable efforts; for example, if you accept an offer
of employment to start the following week after making only one contact.
Although you will not necessarily be questioned about your efforts every
week, the Career Center will check your efforts periodically and has the
right to question and verify your employer contacts in any week. Therefore,
you should keep a list of those employers with whom you have applied, the
type of work you sought, the date of the contact, the employer’s response
and the name or title of the person you contacted.
If you travel out of state to look for work during a one or two week period for
which you wish to claim benefits, keep a detailed list of job search contacts.
Upon your return to the area, contact the TeleBenefits Line to schedule a
review of your availability for work, specifically your job search activities
while you were out of state.
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Finally, if you have a confirmed return-to-work date, contact the Tele-
Benefits Line for advice on your work search obligation.
keeping a record of weekly employer contacts is important not only for
periodic determinations by the Career Center, but also because some
people who file for benefits are randomly selected for an audit of their
unemployment claims by the CTDOL’s Quality Control Unit. You should be
able to provide the auditor information regarding your employer contacts for
the week being reviewed and the dates the contacts were made. Failure
to provide this information could result in a retroactive denial of benefits for
that week, and you would be liable to repay the benefits you received.
ENHANCED RE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
The Enhanced Re-employment Services program identifies customers
who are likely to exhaust their unemployment benefits before returning
to the same or similar employment. This program provides additional
services to these job-seeking customers to help them get back to work
more quickly.
If you are selected to participate, you will be given an orientation and
overview of the program. Your participation is required as a condition of
eligibility. Failure to participate in any re-employment services to which
you are referred may result in a disqualification for unemployment
benefits.
After an assessment of your re-employment needs, a service plan will be
created to meet those needs. Based on your needs, you may be referred
to a variety of services including, but not limited to:
• Career counseling • Labor Market Information
• Job search seminars/ • Resume writing
• Employment referrals • Interviewing assistance
REASONS YOUR WEEKLY BENEFITS MAY BE REDUCED OR DENIED
Your weekly benefit check can be reduced if you receive certain types of
income or payments that arise out of past or present employment. You
must report to the TeleBenefits Line receipt of any of the following
17.
payments when received or when you are informed that you will be receiving
such payment.
• Part-time wages or wages for any work performed, including tips,
(Must be reported WHEN EARNED NOT WHEN PAID). Two-thirds
of the amount of your weekly gross earnings is deductible from your
weeklybenefit rate.
• Remuneration from self-employment
• Vacation pay
• Severance pay or wages in lieu of notice
• Holiday pay
• Retention Bonus
• Workers’ Compensation
• Employer-sponsored disability payments
• Employer-sponsored Pensions
• Unemployment Insurance under other state or federal law
• Back pay awards
• Bonus payments for prior work
• Child support obligations
A reduction in benefits for vacation pay or severance pay may not always
be necessary, especially if you are required to sign a release of claims
agreement in order to receive severance pay.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
If you are engaged in self-employment on a part-time basis (while
maintaining your availability and work search as defined by law), you may
be eligible for partial benefits. Two-thirds of the amount of any remuneration
received for self-employment is also deductible from your weekly benefit
rate. You must immediately report your self-employment activity to
the TeleBenefits Line whether or not you expect remuneration for
such work.
EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT/PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
Under certain conditions and during certain time periods (See “Educational
Employees” Page 12), former employees of educational institutions may find
their Weekly Benefit Rate reduced or eliminated because wages earned
from such employers are removed from the Base Period as a result of
disqualification. When such a disqualification is in effect, only Base Period
wage credits from non-educational employers and/or educational employers
not involved in the disqualification can be utilized to establish monetary
18.
eligibility. The first Monetary Determination received by educational
employees will always reflect all Base Period wage credits before
disqualification.
When wage credits from those educational employers involved in
disqualification are removed from Base Period use, one of three things can occur:
1. There is no change to the Weekly Benefit Rate because there are
sufficient wage credits from other employers remaining in the Base
Period and the average of the two highest quarters of wages remains
unchanged.
2. The Weekly Benefit Rate is reduced because, while there are still
sufficient wage credits from other employers to establish monetary
entitlement, the highest quarters of wages has changed as a result of
the removal.
3. The Weekly Benefit Rate is eliminated because there are not enough
wage credits remaining from other (non-disqualifying) employers upon
which to establish monetary entitlement.
Whenever wage credits are removed because of such disqualification, a
second Monetary Determination will be issued to you showing which wage
credits remain and what, if any, Weekly Benefit Rate is in effect.
This type of disqualification is only in effect during certain periods of time
(between school or academic years, between semesters, during holiday,
vacation, or recess periods); thus, it is possible that an unemployed
educational employee could receive a lower benefit rate during disqualifying
periods and the full rate during other periods. If you intend to file for benefits
during one of the periods listed above, you must advise a Tele-Benefits
Line representative.
This type of disqualification also applies to professional athletes during
certain periods. During such time periods only wages earned from other
than non-professional sports participation can be used to determine
eligibility. (See “If You Are a Professional Athlete”, Page 12.)
See also “If You Quit Part-Time Work,” Page 9.
WHAT IF YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS IS QUESTIONED?
Once you have been determined initially eligible for benefits, your right to
benefits in future weeks will not be terminated without a hearing and
decision by an adjudicator. Should a legitimate question be raised about
your availability for work, your efforts to find work or whether you
19.
refused an offer or referral to suitable work, a hearing will be scheduled.
You will be given notice of the issue to be decided, and you may have the
hearing immediately, or within five working days if you want time to prepare.
If you refuse an offer of rehire from your former employer, that employer
will be given notice and an opportunity to participate in the hearing. Any
decision affecting your right to benefits in any week may be appealed to
the Employment Security Appeals Division.
APPEAL RIGHTS
Whenever a claim is denied, a written decision is sent to you. The reason
for, and period of, ineligibility will be explained. Your decision will also give
you information concerning your appeal rights. You have twenty-one (21)
calendar days from the mailing date of the notification in which to file an
appeal.
You may file an appeal by:
• Mailing or faxing your appeal to the Career Center. Your appeal will be
timely if it is received within 21 days of the decision denying benefits
or if mailed, it bears a legible United States postmark dated within
such 21-day period.
• Using the Internet at:www.ctdol.state.ct.us/appeals/apfrmint.htm
within this 21-day period.
• Reporting in person to your Career Center as soon as possible. A
member of the local staff will assist you in preparing your appeal, and
if you wish, provide guidance in how to use various reference
materials.
While waiting for the referee’s decision, you should continue to file
claims as scheduled so long as you are unemployed.
Your Social Security number should be included on all correspondence.
If your appeal is late, the Appeals Referee cannot legally hear your case
unless you show good cause for filing the appeal late.
Once your appeal is filed or an employer files an appeal from the award
of benefits, the Appeals Division will send you “A Claimant’s Guide to the
Appeals Process.” This pamphlet tells you everything you need to know
about how to prepare for an appeal. Read it carefully.
The Appeals Division is an independent body and controls all phases of
appeals processing. If there is any change in your status which might
affect your eligibility for benefits, you should contact the TeleBenefits Line
to determine whether your claim can be reopened.
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The referee holds an informal hearing to which all interested parties are
invited. Again, you may bring documents or witnesses and be represented.
You will receive a written decision from the referee. That decision may
be appealed to the Board of Review by the claimant, the employer or the
Administrator, within twenty-one (21) days of its mailing date. It is very
important to attend all hearings and to present all pertinent information.
Requests for postponement should be made to the office that issued the
notice of hearing and will be granted only for good cause.
Instructions for filing such appeals appear following the referee’s
decision. You should clearly identify the appeal as “Appeal to the Board
of Review.”
Do not delay your appeal!
If an appeal to the Board of Review is filed, the Board will acknowledge your
appeal and provide an opportunity for you to submit a written statement in
support of your case. It is important that you tell the Board every reason
why you think the referee’s decision was wrong. The Board will then
review all the material in the case file and listen to the tape recording of
the hearing before the referee. A decision will be issued which will affirm
(agree with), reverse, or modify the referee’s decision. If the Board feels
that further information is needed, the case may be remanded (sent back)
to the referee for a new hearing.
The Board’s decision may be appealed within thirty (30) days by an
interested party. Instructions for filing such appeals are contained in the
Board’s decision and must be followed carefully since such appeals are
heard by the Superior Court.
It is extremely important that your appeal be received or postmarked
within the time limit allowed by law. Failure to do so will result in dismissal
of the appeal and the decision will stand unless you can show good cause
for filing late. If the last day for appeal falls on a day when CTDOL offices
are closed, the appeal period is extended to the next business day.
OVERPAYMENT
Due to Error or Reversal:
If, after having been found eligible for benefits, the CTDOL determines
that you were paid in error or the Employment Security Appeals Division
reverses the original decision to pay benefits, you will be liable to repay
benefits that were overpaid.
21.
Once the decision which results in your being overpaid becomes
final, you will be given the opportunity to have a hearing before an
adjudications specialist regarding:
• the exact amount of the overpayment,
• how the overpayment should be recouped (for example, offsetting
a portion - usually 50 percent - of weekly benefits); and
• whether recovery of the overpayment can be waived because it
would be against equity and good conscience to require payment.
If the immediate deduction of your benefits in the benefit year is
insufficient to repay the amount you owe and you do not make full
repayment, the Department of Labor will establish a repayment plan
for you. If you fail to comply with the repayment schedule, the
Department of Labor may garnish your wages when you return to
work. A court-ordered wage execution can require your employer
to deduct money from your wages and pay that amount directly to
the Department of Labor.
Resulting from Fraud, Wilful Nondisclosure or Wilful Misrepresentation
of a Material Fact:
It is a crime to misrepresent or fail to disclose facts or to make false
statements in order to obtain or increase benefits. A number of techniques,
including computerized cross-checking of earnings during weeks of
unemployment, are used in Connecticut to detect fraudulent claims.
Remember - you must:
• report all work and gross earnings, including tips;
• report all facts affecting your availability, such as illness, confinement
or self-employment;
• report if you fail to go to a job referral or if you refuse a job.
There are severe penalties for submitting false statements or withholding
Information about employment and earnings in order to receive or increase
benefits. All work, including self-employment, must be reported when the
work is performed, even if you do not receive any payment at the time.
Violators are subject to prosecution and, if found guilty, are subject to
a jail sentence of one to five years and a maximum fine of $5,000. In
addition, they MUST REPAY the amount of benefits overpaid, and may
22.
forfeit as many as thirty-nine (39) additional weeks of future benefits
as an administrative penalty. Future benefits may also be totally offset
until all overpaid benefits are recovered.
All overpayment determinations made on or after July 1, 2005, which
are based on fraud, willful misrepresentation or willful non-disclosure of
a material fact will be subject to interest of one (1) percent per month on
the remaining balance due.
If the immediate deduction of your benefits in the benefit year is
insufficient to repay the amount you owe and you do not make full
repayment, the Department of Labor will establish a repayment
plan for you. If you fail to comply with the repayment schedule, the
Department of Labor may garnish your wages when you return to
work. A court-ordered wage execution can require your employer
to deduct money from your wages and pay that amount directly to
the Department of Labor.
In addition, other actions permitted by law may be taken. Such actions
may include, but not be limited to, criminal prosecution as well as
INTERCEPTION OF ANY STATE INCOME TAX REFUND that you would
otherwise receive.
QUALIFYING FOR A SECOND BENEFIT YEAR
If you receive any unemployment benefits during the course of a Benefit
Year, and that Benefit Year has expired or is about to expire, benefits cannot
be paid in a second Benefit Year unless the following eligibility conditions
have been satisfied:
• You have sufficient wage credits in your new Base Period to establish
a new Weekly Benefit Rate.
• Since establishing your first Benefit Year, you have returned to work
and been paid wages of $300 or five times the Weekly Benefit Rate
established for your second Benefit Year (whichever is
greater).
• Only wages earned from an employer that is subject to Unemployment
Insurance law (any state or federal law) can be considered as meeting
the second Benefit Year requirement. If there is any doubt that you have
met this requirement, contact the Tele-Benefits Line.
23.
BENEFITS ARE TAXABLE
Any unemployment benefits you receive are fully taxable by the IRS
and the State of Connecticut, provided you are required to file a tax
return.
• You may voluntarily have taxes withheld for federal and Connecticut
income taxes. This choice may be made at the time you file your new
claim, or during your benefit series, to become effective with the first
check paid after your request is processed. Once you choose to have
taxes withheld, however, you can change your election only once during
your benefit year. For more details on tax withholding, please see pamphlet
UC-620, Voluntary Withholding of Income Tax, available in your Career
Center.
• It may be necessary for you to make estimated tax payments.
For more information on when you should make estimated tax payments,
see:
• IRS publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
[To order Publication 505, call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676)]
• Instructions for IRS Form 1040-ES
• Instructions for CT Form 1040-ES
Address all questions to the Internal Revenue Service and/or the
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.
You can find out more about estimated tax and how to pay it by calling or
visiting these agencies.
• IRS toll free number 1-800-829-1040
• CT Department of Revenue Services 1-800-382-9463
(If calling outside the state of Connecticut 1-860-297-5962)
Sufficient Information will be furnished on Form 1099-G to meet your
federal, state and personal income tax needs. Benefits paid on interstate
claims will be reported by the paying state.
24.
Form 1099-G will be provided by January 31st of each calendar year,
indicating the dollar amount of benefits received during the preceding
year and the amount of federal and state taxes withheld, if any. The
Internal Revenue Service and the Connecticut Department of Revenue
Services will be given the same information.
NOTIFY THE TeleBenefits LINE IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS.
FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
The Earned Income Tax Credit Program is a refundable federal tax credit
for certain low income workers. This program may reduce your federal
tax burden. If you qualify for the tax credit it will reduce the amount of
federal income tax owed to the IRS. If you owe no federal income tax,
you will receive the credit in the form of a refund. If you qualify, in order to
receive the credit you must:
1. File a federal income tax return (Form 1040A or Form 1040) and;
2. Complete Schedule “EIC” and attach it to your return.
For free publication 596, Earned Income Tax Credit, call the Internal
Revenue Service at 1-800-829-3676. For additional information on the
Earned Income Tax Credit, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
QUALITY CONTROL
Quality Control is designed to prevent both error and fraud in the
Unemployment Compensation program. Claimants who are randomly
selected by computer each week are asked to speak with an auditor to
review their claim and fill out a detailed questionnaire. The audit makes
certain claims have been paid correctly through interviews to examine
eligibility, verify payroll records, survey work search contacts and
re-examine all actions and records of the CTDOL relative to each claim.
COMBINED WAGE CLAIM - WORK IN MORE THAN ONE STATE
All states currently participate in a federal program entitled, “The Interstate
Agreement for Wage Combining.” Under this program, an individual who
has wage credits in more than one state can elect to have those wage
credits combined and used in the Base Period of the state of current
residence. By doing this, you may be able to establish monetary eligibility
that would not be possible otherwise. Wages can also be combined to
increase the Weekly Benefit Rate up to the maximum allowable under
Connecticut law.
25.
You can file a claim under the Wage Combining Program and have
Connecticut pay benefits when:
• You have some wage credits in Connecticut’s base period and
wages in one or more other states that are also in Connecticut’s
base period.
Combined Wage Claims take longer to process than regular claims as
we must correspond with other states and verify wages. Every attempt is
made by all states to process these claims as quickly as possible. There
are several other important factors common to all states that you should
know.
• Wages from other states that are not paid in Connecticut’s base
period cannot be used for combining.
• Once wages from other states are assigned to Connecticut, they are
no longer usable as wage credits in the other state.
• If the wages that are provided to Connecticut from another state do
not make you eligible or increase your benefit rate, we will restore
them to that state. This may allow their use at a later date.
• Combined Wage Claims filed in Connecticut, with this state as the
paying state, are governed and paid in accordance with Connecticut
law.
MOVING FROM CONNECTICUT
If you move from Connecticut and are unemployed, you may file for
benefits from your new residence state by calling 1-800-942-6653 or
filing over the internet at www.ct.gov/dol. This type of claim is called an
Interstate Claim.
If you are eligible, your benefits will be paid by Connecticut and you must
meet all the requirements of Connecticut law for receiving unemployment
benefits.
If you are currently filing for Interstate benefits and intend to move, see
page 34 “If You Change Your Address.”
26.
EX-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (UCFE)
If you are a former federal civilian employee, you may receive benefits
if your last federal employment was in Connecticut; or you are living in
Connecticut, but your last federal employment was outside the 50 states,
Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
STATE AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
Government workers may be eligible for unemployment benefits if they
satisfy provisions of the law and were employed in state service or by a
town, city or political subdivision of the state.
Excluded are elected officials, members of a legislative body or judiciary,
some temporary employees and certain other high-level employees of a
town, city or political subdivision.
EX-MILITARY (UCX)
Ex-military people may receive benefits under Connecticut law. Contact
the TeleBenefits Line and have your DD-214 member 4 available.
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) provides benefits to workers who lose
their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of
increased imports from, or shifts in production to, foreign countries. The
goal of the TAA program is to provide assistance to trade-impacted workers
to enable them to return to suitable employment as quickly as possible.
To establish group eligibility for workers whose jobs may be affected, you
must first file a petition with the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Petitions may be filed by a group of three or more workers, by a company
official, by One-Stop operators or partners (including state employment
security agencies and dislocated worker units), or by a union or other
duly authorized representative. Petition forms, assistance, and further
information can be obtained at your local Career Center.
27.
If you feel that your unemployment is a result of foreign trade competition,
you may obtain further information about this program by writing to:
Trade Act Coordinator
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Boulevard
Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114
For information on assistance that might be available to you, please visit
our web site at: www.ctdol.state.ct.us/TradeAct/default.htm.
NON-U.S. CITIZENS
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must be in a legal alien status now, as
well as during the time in which you earned your Base Period Wages, in
order for benefits to be paid. Such individuals will be required to present
proof of satisfactory legal alien status as part of the new claim process.
There are a number of documents that are issued by the U.S. Immigration
Naturalization Service that are accepted as proof of legal alien status.
DISLOCATED WORKERS
If you are being laid off, or already have lost your job through no fault of
your own, you may be a dislocated worker.
Dislocated workers may be eligible for certain federal, state and community
services, whether you’re seeking new skills, a new employer, or to start
a business of your own.
You may be a dislocated worker if:
• you have been laid off or terminated, or have received notice of layoff or
termination, are eligible for, or have exhausted your unemployment
benefits, and are unlikely to return to your previous industry or
occupation.
• you have been employed for a time period sufficient to demonstrate
“attachment to the workforce” to a One-Stop Center operator
but are not eligible for unemployment compensation
because of your type of job duties or insufficient earnings.
28.
• you have been laid off because of a permanent plant closing or
major layoff.
• you were self-employed (such as a small business owner or
farmer) and are now unemployed because of local economic
conditions or a natural disaster.
• you have not received individual notice of termination but your
employer has made a general announcement of a planned closure.
• you are a displaced homemaker.
If any of these situations apply to you, ask at your local CTWorks Center
to be certified as a dislocated worker.
Training
You may enroll in training while receiving Unemployment Insurance,
providing it does not interfere with your job search or ability to accept
work. Some training programs for dislocated workers waive job search
requirements while you collect unemployment insurance, but these must
be approved in advance. Unemployment Insurance is not extended
because you are in training except through Trade Act approval. (Also
see pages 14-15)
Dislocated workers and their family members often are eligible for special
consideration when applying for federal student financial aid. To qualify,
you must be certified as a dislocated worker at a CTWorks Center and
receive a signed form to give to your college financial aid officer as proof
of your status. You may do this as soon as you have a layoff notice.
THE FOLLOWING IS A GUIDE TO USING
THE TELEBENEFITS
29.
THE FOLLOWING IS A GUIDE TO USING
THE TELEBENEFITS LINE
FILING YOUR WEEKLY CONTINUED CLAIM
Unemployment benefits are filed on a weekly basis and are paid based
on a completed calendar week (Sunday - Saturday). You will always be
filing for weeks that have already ended, and normally you will be filing for
the most recent week. Failure to file your weekly continued claim timely
can result in denial of benefits for the week claimed.
The information being requested when you file your claim is important
to you and to the prompt processing of your claim. You must report
any wages for work performed or receipt of any other type of payment
(vacation pay, severance pay, etc.) when you file your claim. In addition,
self-employment (or any work performed) should be reported, even if
you have no earnings, since your availability for work as defined by law
could be affected. If you have any questions, contact the TeleBenefits
Line for assistance.
Failure to report wages or other payments can result in an overpayment
and, if due to fraud, penalties and a loss of benefits.
If you are claiming a dependency allowance for a spouse, and your
spouse no longer resides with you or begins to collect unemployment
compensation, you must contact the TeleBenefits Line.
INTERNET FILING OF YOUR WEEKLY CONTINUED CLAIM
You can also file your weekly continued claim over the Internet. It is
quick and easy. For more information as well as instructions, see our
website at www.ct.gov/dol.
30.
www.ct.gov/dol
Where do I find the information I need?
From these options You can access
Ø 1. File a claim for the previous week
Continued claim filing
(requires a PIN and
authorization)
1. Find out if your check was mailed
Ù 2. When it was mailed
Account status
3. How much it was for
(requires a PIN)
4. What your balance is
Ú 1. File a new claim
Initial Claim Filing 2. Resume filing a new claim
(requires a PIN) 3. Re-open an existing claim
1. Who is required to register
2. What remuneration is subject to
Û unemployment tax Employer registration
information
Employer information* 3. Information concerning an appeal
(available to everyone) 4. Additional information
5. Experience rating or charge
information
Tax contribution information
Delinquent account information
Cafeteria plan information
1. Career Center hours and locations*
Ü 2. Information on how to file a new claim,
eligibility for unemployment benefits, and
tax withholding of benefits
How to file a new claim
How benefits are determined
How quitting or getting discharged
General eligibility
affects eligibility
information (available
Information on withholding taxes for
to everyone)
unemployment benefits
3. How part-time earnings affect eligibility
4. Instructions concerning scheduled
appointments or a move out of the area
If you missed or will be unable to keep
an appointment
What to do if you move out of the area
*Not offered in Interstate 31.
WHO MAY USE THE TELEBENEFITS LINE?
• Individuals who wish to file or resume filing an initial (new)
claim for unemployment benefits or reopen a claim that was
filed within the last year (option 3, see page 39).
• Individuals who have been authorized by a customer service
representative to file their weekly continued claim for the week
that has just passed (option 1, see page 35)
EXCEPTIONS to filing your weekly continued claim using the
Tele-Benefits Line:
– If you are filing Vacation Shutdown claims, Shared Work or
TRA claims, you cannot file by telephone. Speak to a
Tele- Benefits Line customer service representative for filing
information.
– If you have skipped or missed filing of one or more weeks
(break in filing sequence) for any reason, you should speak
to a Tele-Benefits Line customer service representative.
• Individuals who have filed a continued claim for unemployment
benefits in the last 30 days may check on the status of the most
recent claim filed (option 2, see page 39). This includes individuals
who have filed Vacation Shutdown claims or who are in the Shared
Work or TRA programs.
• Anyone may call for general information, option 5, General Eligibility
Information (see page 40), and option 4, General Employer
Information (see page 40) - for all Connecticut employers or
potential employers.
WHEN TO CALL
• File your weekly continued claim Sunday, 12 a.m. to 11 p.m.,
and Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (E.S.T.)
• File or resume filing your initial (new) claim or reopen your claim
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (E.S.T.)
• All other inquiry options, including employer information, are
available 7 days/week, 24 hours/day.
• For your convenience, customer service representatives are
available during normal business hours: Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (E.S.T.)
32.
HOW TO ACCESS THE TELEBENEFITS LINE
Dial one of the telephone numbers listed on the back of this booklet that
is local to your calling area. If you are calling from outside Connecticut,
dial the toll-free interstate telephone number (1-800-942-6653). When
you call the TeleBenefits Line, it will guide you through your call with easy
to follow instructions and prompts to obtain information or to file a claim.
You may access the system using any of the following types of phones.
• TOUCH TONE TELEPHONE - simply press the keys on your
telephone’s keypad slowly and firmly to select each option.
• PUSH BUTTON TELEPHONE - can be used if the phone has a
tone/pulse switch. Set the switch to the tone position. This
allows you to use your telephone’s keypad to select each
option.
• ROTARY TELEPHONE - clearly speak your responses. Whenever
speaking a series of numbers (social security, zip code, PIN, hours
and minutes worked, wages earned), say each number
individually after the tone.
Can I enter my choice right away without listening to ALL the other
choices?
In most situations, if you know the option you want, you may simply enter
your selection at any time even though the TeleBenefits Line may be in
the middle of speaking prompts or instructions. The exceptions are:
• Special messages - these are heard near the beginning of your
call if the TeleBenefits Line has important information it needs to
convey to you.
• Social security number verification - after entering your social
security number for option 1 (continued claim filing), option 2
(account status inquiry) or option 3 (initial claim filing), you must
wait until the TeleBenefits Line repeats your entire number back
to you so that you can verify whether or not it is correct.
• Initial and continued claims filing - you must hear the entire
section of instructions with the fraud disclaimer as well as each
question followed by a tone before answering or making a
response.
33.
• Rotary telephone users - for technical reasons, the system is
unable to recognize spoken responses until it prompts you with
a tone at which time it will understand your response.
X What if I make a mistake?
The TeleBenefits Line has easy-to-understand instructions, prompts and
menu choices throughout the system. If you make a mistake, the system
will either inform you that you made an invalid selection or give you a
chance to verify the response you entered. In either situation, you always
have the opportunity to hear the choices or questions again as well as
enter in a corrected response.
What is a PIN and how do I get one?
Your PIN (Personal Identification Number) protects the privacy of your claim
and prevents other people from filing claims by telephone using your
social security number.
The claims filing and account status inquiry options (option “1, 2, and
3”) require that you enter a secret four-digit PIN. You create your own
PIN when you make your first call to either file a claim or to find out when
your check was sent. Simply follow the prompts and enter the four-digit
number you want, as the system directs you. Once you establish your
PIN, you must remember and use the same number on subsequent calls;
therefore, you should select a PIN that you will easily remember.
Have your social security number and your PIN available when you
call.
YOUR PIN has the same legal authority as your signature has on a
paper document
Do NOT give your PIN to anyone. If you forget your PIN or believe
someone might know your PIN, contact the TeleBenefits Line
immediately.
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS
Since the Post Office will not forward checks, any payment due you can-
not be made until you notify the TeleBenefits Line of your new address.
Whether you move within Connecticut or out of state, you must call the
TeleBenefits Line and inform them of this change.
34.
IF A CHECK IS LOST / STOLEN / DAMAGED
Please contact the TeleBenefits Line:
• if you have not received your benefit check or any notice from
us within ten (10) days from the time you filed
• if you have reason to believe that your check has been stolen,
• if you lose your check or it is damaged and cannot be cashed,
• if you believe the amount of your check is incorrect, or
you believe you are not entitled to the check. DO NOT
CASH THE CHECK.
TeleBenefits Line staff will take the proper action depending upon the
circumstances. In some cases, it can take several weeks to issue a
replacement check.
WHEN YOU RETURN TO FULL TIME WORK
When you return to full-time work, contact the TeleBenefits Line. When
you call, you will need to provide the following information: the date you
return to work, the name and address of your new employer, whether or
not the work is self employment, and any wages earned if you return to
work other than on a Monday.
WHAT ABOUT PART-TIME WORK?
If you begin working part-time, continue to file your claim by telephone.
Follow instructions to enter in the name and address of your employer(s),
hours and minutes worked, and wages earned for the week for which you
are claiming. Part-time wages or wages earned for any work performed
must be reported WHEN EARNED, NOT WHEN PAID.
____________________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING FIVE CHOICES (“OPTIONS”) ARE AVAILABLE
ON THE TELEBENEFITS LINE:
FILING YOUR CONTINUED CLAIM BY PHONE
SELECT OPTION 1 - AVAILABLE
SUNDAY, 12 A.M. - 11 P.M. AND MONDAY - FRIDAY, 6 A.M. - 8 P.M.
After pressing (or saying) “1” from the main menu choices, you will be
asked to enter your social security and personal identification numbers.
REMEMBER: Each time you identify yourself with your PIN, you’re legally
certifying that all the information you provide is true. You must make
the call yourself!
35.
You will be asked a minimum of seven eligibility questions, which will
all refer to the week ending given by the system. If you answer “yes” to
question number six (Did you work full-time or part-time for an employer
or in self-employment or return to full-time work for the week ending
last Saturday, which you have not already reported?) you will be asked
additional questions regarding your employment. Remember to call in
your claim each week. YOU MUST CONTACT A TELEBENEFITS LINE
REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU WISH TO FILE A CLAIM FOR ANY WEEk
OTHER THAN THE WEEk THAT HAS JUST PASSED.
Listen to the entire question before you reply. After you hear a tone,
answer either “Yes” or “No” in the following way:
For a YES answer,
Press Ø
(Rotary dialers may clearly speak “ONE”)
For a NO answer,
Press Ù
(Rotary dialers may clearly speak “TWO”)
(If you need to have a question repeated, press (or say) “9” after you
hear a tone.)
(If you need to go back to a previous question, press (or say) “8”
after you hear a tone.)
***IMPORTANT*** After you answer each question, the
Tele-Benefits system will repeat the response you just gave to that
question and ask you to confirm whether or not your response is
correct. After you hear a tone, confirm your response in the following
way:
For a CORRECT response,
Press
Ø (Rotary dialers may clearly speak “ONE”)
For an INCORRECT response,
Press
Ù (Rotary dialers may clearly speak “TWO”)
36.
IMPORTANT!
IF YOU GET DISCONNECTED OR HANG UP BEFORE THE SYSTEM
SAYS, “THANK YOU FOR FILING YOUR CLAIM OVER THE PHONE,”
YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL AGAIN TO FILE YOUR CLAIM.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY:
1. Were you able to work, available for work and actively seeking
full-time work?
2. Did you refuse an offer of work or rehire, quit a job or get discharged
from a job?
3. Did you receive your first payment from a pension other than Social
Security which you have not already reported or was there a change in
the amount previously reported?
4. Did you start school, college or training, which you have not already
reported to the Labor Department?
5. Did you receive vacation pay, severance pay or workers’ compensation
benefits, not previously reported to the Labor Department?
6. Did you work full-time or part-time for an employer or in
self-employment or return to full-time work during the week ending
last Saturday, which you have not already reported? (If you
have returned to full-time work, contact a TeleBenefits Line
representative.)
7. Did you change your mailing address since you last filed a claim?
Answer “yes” to this question only if you have not yet notified the
Labor Department of this change. If you change you mailing
address, speak to a TeleBenefits Line customer service representative
as soon as possible so that any benefits due you are not delayed.
NOTE: If you answered “no” to question number 1, you will be
asked by the system, “Have you previously reported that you
mental impairment?”
NOTE: If you answered “yes” to question number 6, you will be
asked by the system to indicate whether your employment is one
of the following:
Full-time employment - If you have returned to full-time work, follow
instructions to speak to a customer service representative with the details
of your new employment.
37.
Self-employment - If you began working in self-employment that you
have not already reported to the CTDOL, follow instructions given by the
system to speak to a customer service representative.
Part-time employment - If you began a part-time job or are continuing
to work in at least one part-time job (including self-employment that you
have already reported to the CTDOL, you will be required to answer the
following questions about your employment. Make sure you have the
name and address of the employer(s) you worked for during the week
ending last Saturday, the hours and minutes you worked, and the wages
you earned (before deductions).
DO NOT DELAY FILING YOUR CLAIM if you do not know how much
you earned in part-time employment. You should file your claim for the
previous week by Friday whether or not you have your earnings information.
Call a customer service representative as soon as you receive the wage
information. If you are unable to provide all of the employment
information, your claim will post with the answers to the first seven
questions, but no employment information will post and YOUR CLAIM
WILL BE HELD UNTIL THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.
8. After the tone, please clearly speak the complete name of the first or
only employer that you worked for during the week ending last Saturday. (If
you worked for more than one employer, the system will give you
the opportunity to provide information about additional employers
after you’ve finished providing information about the first one.)
8a. After the tone, please clearly speak the complete address (including the
number and street, the city, state and the five or nine digit zip code) of the
first or only employer you worked for during the week ending last
Saturday.
8b. For the first or only employer that you worked for during the week ending
last Saturday, please enter (or say - for rotary phone callers) the number
of hours and minutes you worked during the week ending last
Saturday. First, enter (or may) the number of hours you worked;
then, enter (or say) the number of minutes you worked. If you only
worked an even number of hours without any minutes, you must enter
(or say) “zero.”
8c. Please enter the gross wages you earned from this first or only employer
(before deductions) even if you have not yet been paid for the week
ending last Saturday. Please press (or say - for rotary phone callers) the total
amount of dollars and cents all at once. The last two digits you enter are
the cents. For example, if you earned $120.75, you would press (or say)
38.
1,2,0,7,5. If you earned $25.00, you would press (or say) 2,5,0,0.
8d. During the week ending last Saturday, did you work for more than one
employer? (If you have more than one employer, you will be asked for
the same information for each employer up to three employers. If you
have more than three employers in a week, you will need to speak to a
customer service representative to provide this information.)
WAS MY CHECK MAILED?
SELECT OPTION 2 - AVAILABLE 24 HOURS/DAY
To get the answer to this question, select option “2” by pressing or saying
“2” on your phone. You will be asked to enter your social security number
and PIN first. The TeleBenefits Line will then tell you which week your
last check covered (as long as it was processed within the last 30 days),
when your check was paid, and your current remaining account balance.
If payment was not made, the system will tell you why. You may also get
the answer to this question AND view your benefit payment history on the
Internet. For more information see our website at www.ct.gov/dol.
FILING AN INITIAL (NEW) CLAIM OR
REOPENING A CLAIM
SELECT OPTION 3 - AVAILABLE
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 8 A.M. - 4 P.M.
After pressing (or saying) “3” from the main menu choices, you will be
asked to enter your social security and personal identification numbers.
If this is your first time filing an initial claim for unemployment benefits,
or if you last filed a claim more than a year ago, the system will normally
ask you a series of 20 questions. Following the 20 questions, you will
speak to a customer service representative who will gather additional
information from you.
If you are unable to answer any of the automated questions or are not sure
you gave the correct answer, you will be assisted by a customer service
representative later in the call. If you hang up before answering all of
the questions, you must call back within seven days to resume filing
39.
your new claim. If you do not call back within seven days, you will
have to start the process of filing your claim all over again.
Generally, your claim is effective the Sunday of the week in which your
new claim is filed. Your claim is considered filed when a customer service
representative tells you that it is complete and accepted.
If you have an existing claim, but it has been more than a week since you
last filed for benefits, your call will be transferred to a customer service
representative to assist you in reopening that claim.
EMPLOYER INFORMATION
SELECT OPTION 4 - AVAILABLE 24 HOURS/DAY
The TeleBenefits Line Option “4” is a benefit for Connecticut employers
and potential employers. Press or say “4” for this selection. (Employer
information is not available for out-of-state callers through the Interstate
TeleBenefits Line).
The following information is available: who is required to register, how
to register, what remuneration is subject to the unemployment tax, and
cafeteria plan information. Referrals are available for information on
tax rates and charges; tax contribution information on credits, refunds,
quarterly returns, forms UC-2 or UC-5A or special assessments; delinquent
quarterly returns or release of liens. No employer identification number
or PIN is needed for this option. For referrals, or to speak to a customer
service representative, our business hours are normally 8:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. Call the most convenient number listed on
the back of this booklet to access the TeleBenefits Line.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SELECTION OPTION 5 - AVAILABLE 24 HOURS/DAY
Select option “5” by pressing or saying “5” on your phone. No social
security number or PIN is necessary for this option. You will be able to
select information on: Career Center hours and locations, tax withholding
for unemployment benefits, how to file your new claim, how benefits are
determined, how benefits are affected by part-time earnings, and how
quitting or being discharged affects your eligibility. You can also get
instructions if you cannot keep an appointment or if you move out of the
area.
40.
INTERSTATE CLAIMS
SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:
INTERSTATE UNIT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
P.O. BOX 5013
HARTFORD, CT 06102-5013 PHONE 1-800-942-6653
OFFICES OF THE APPEALS DIVISION
REFEREES
BRIDGEPORT (203) 579-6271 350 FAIRFIELD AVE., 6th FL.
SUITE 601
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604
HAMDEN (203) 230-3700 39 MARNE STREET
HAMDEN CT 06514
HARTFORD (860) 566-5262 3580 MAIN STREET
2ND FLOOR, RM 212
HARTFORD, CT 06120
NORWICH (860) 892-2253 113 SALEM TURNPIKE
NORTH BUILDING
SUITE 101
NORWICH, CT 06360
WATERBURY (203) 596-4138 249 THOMASTON AVE.
WATERBURY, CT 06702
BOARD OF REVIEW
(860)-566-3045 38 WOLCOTT HILL RD.
WETHERSFIELD, CT 06109
GENERAL INFORMATION
Internet Web Site: www.ct.gov/dol
41.
CONTINUED CLAIMS FILED BY TELEBENEFITS LINE
The following log is provided for your convenience. If you ever have a
problem with your claim, having this information will help our customer service
representatives provide better, more efficient service.
Week-ending date/time claim check received?
filed (Sat. date) of call accepted (Date/comments)
Connecticut Department of Labor
_________________________________________________________
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE LAW
It is against the law for this recipient of Federal financial assistance to discriminate on the
following bases:
Against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief; and
Against any beneficiary of programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), on the basis of the beneficiary’s citizenship/status as a lawfully
admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or his or her participation in
any WIA Title I-financially assisted program or activity.
The recipient must not discriminate in any of the following areas: deciding who will be
admitted, or have access, to any WIA Title I-financially assisted program or activity; providing
opportunities in, or treating any person with regard to, such a program or activity; or making
employment decisions in the administration of, or in connection with, such a program or
activity.
What To Do If You Believe You Have Experienced Discrimination
If you think that you have been subjected to discrimination under a WIA Title I-financially
assisted program or activity, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the
alleged violation with either:
The recipient’s Equal Opportunity Officer (or the person whom the recipient has designated
for this purpose); or
The Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC)
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-4123
Washington, DC 20210
If you file your complaint with the recipient, you must wait either until the recipient issues a
written Notice of Final Action, or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner), before
filing with the Civil Rights Center (see address above). If the recipient does not give you a
written Notice of Final Action within 90 days of the day on which you filed your complaint,
you do not have to wait for the recipient to issue that Notice before filing a complaint with
CRC. However, you must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the 90-day deadline
(in other words, within 120 days after the day on which you filed your complaint with the
recipient).
If the recipient does give you a written Notice of Final Action on your complaint, but you
are dissatisfied with the decision or resolution, you may file a complaint with CRC. You
must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the date on which you received the Notice
of Final Action.
______________________________________________________________________
For more information, contact your local Career Center or the Connecticut Department
of Labor, Equal Opportunity Officer, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109,
Phone (860) 263-6067; TDD/TTY (860) 263-6074; Fax (860) 263-6039.
FILING YOUR TELEPHONE CLAIMS
Telebenefits Local Telephone Numbers
TO FILE YOUR CLAIM, please call the telephone number listed that is within
your local calling area. This number will also provide you with directions to the
CTWorks Career Centers located in these areas can also be obtained by calling
the number listed below.
CALLING # TO CALL TO CALLING # TO CALL TO
AREA FILE CLAIM AREA FILE CLAIM
Ansonia (203) 230-4939 Meriden (860) 344-2993
Bridgeport * (203) 579-6291 Middletown (860) 344-2993
Bristol (860) 566-5790 New Britain (860) 566-5790
Danbury (203) 797-4150 New London (860) 443-2041
Danielson * (860) 423-2521 Norwich (860) 443-2041
Enfield * (860) 566-5790 Stamford (203) 348-2696
Hamden (203) 230-4939 Torrington * (860) 482-5581
Hartford (860) 566-5790 Waterbury (203) 596-4140
Manchester (860) 566-5790 Willimantic (860) 423-2521
* If you live in the Kent, North Thompson, Salisbury, Sharon, Stafford
Springs, Westport, or Wilton exchange, you may call the following toll free
number:
1-800-354-3305
This number is NOT accessible statewide. It is only for the seven towns listed
above.
If you live out of state, contact our Interstate office at 1-800-942-6653.
TDD/TTY Users CALL 1- 800-842-9710. This is a relay service that can connect
you to the numbers listed above in order to file your claim by telephone.
The Connecticut Department of Labor is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
program and service provider. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request
to individuals with disabilities.
UC-288 (Rev.11/09)
