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Oct. 1, 2013 Unemployment Benefits & Federal Shutdown

Claimants Current Filing for Unemployment Benefits Not Affected by Federal Shutdown

Federal Employees Affected by Shutdown Can Apply for Benefits    

WETHERSFIELD, October 1, 2013 – In response to inquiries regarding whether the payment of unemployment insurance benefits will be affected as a result of the federal shutdown, Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer today noted claimant’s currently collecting unemployment benefits in Connecticut will not be impacted by the shutdown – they will continue to receive payments.

“We are open for business and employees from our unemployment insurance unit are on the job to process payments and respond to inquiries,” noted Palmer.

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Palmer noted that federal government employees who may be newly unemployed as a result of the shutdown can also file a claim. In these cases, the following guidelines should be observed:

  • To initiate a claim for benefits, federal employees may call the applicable TeleBenefits phone number (numbers by location can be found on the Labor Department’s website at www.ct.gov/dol) or start their online claim by visiting the agency’s unemployment website at: www.filectui.com (federal claims will need to be completed by phone with a TeleBenefits Customer Service Representative).
  • Federal claims are filed with the state where federal wages are assigned. For example:

-          In most cases, if a federal employee has their residence in Connecticut, but their last official duty station (current job) is in California for example, they would file with the State of California.

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-          In most cases, if a federal employee has their residence in California, but their last official duty station (current job) is in Connecticut, for example, they would file with the State of Connecticut.

  • Because federal employers do not report wage information to state labor departments (all other public and private employers do report this information), when the Connecticut Labor Department receives a claim application from a federal employee, CTDOL must always request wage and separation information from the federal employer before it can determine if the employee is eligible, and based on the stated salary, what the weekly benefit amount will be.

“In light of the federal shutdowns, we anticipate that some federal agencies will not be available to respond to our request,” Palmer noted. “Regardless of a shutdown, we always send a request form to the federal employer and an affidavit to the federal employee. That way, if we do not receive a timely response from the employer, we can use the information submitted by the employee.”

Palmer noted that when a federal employee sends in the affidavit, which certifies their current wage information, they are required to also send in proof of earnings, such as paystubs and most recent W-2 form.

“Without this information, we are unable to verify the wages, and federal law does not allow us to use the affidavit without proof of wages,” Palmer noted. She added that as a result of the shutdown, some federal employees may have difficulty obtaining wage information from their employer. In these cases, she said, the agency will try to work with federal USDOL to determine how each case should be handled. 

“Individuals who have been either partially or totally separated from the federal government are entitled to file for benefits,” Palmer pointed out. “During this difficult time we will be doing our very best to assist those that may be eligible to collect unemployment benefits, while still complying with federal guidelines.”

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Media Contact: Nancy Steffens, Communications Director

200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114

Phone: (860) 263-6535 – Fax: (860) 263-6536 – www.ct.gov/dol

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

 

 

 

 


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