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The Department of Labor's CT Recovery Web Site
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009
recognizes that helping to ensure the financial stability of our families, as
well as employment and training, are two important components to the economic
recovery of our state. In accordance with this Act, a portion of the ARRA funds
is funding federal extensions to the unemployment insurance program, as well as
a weekly $25 stimulus payment being added to weekly benefit checks. Funds are
also being made available for additional employment and training programs. The
Connecticut Department of Labor directly administers the unemployment insurance
program to provide weekly benefit checks, and works in partnership with the
Office of Workforce Competitiveness and the CTWorks system to ensure
effective and results-oriented employment programs.
We will be
updating this web page periodically as new information becomes available.
Overview of Connecticut Department of
Labor ARRA programs and funding
AGENCY’S STIMULUS ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER
Robert Merola,
Chief Fiscal Officer
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Blvd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
DOL.Recovery@ct.gov
FORMAL
CORRESPONDENCE
Policy Memos
(includes certifications)
REQUIRED REPORTS
ARRA Data Quality Report (WORD, 74KB)
All reports associated with the ARRA effort
will be posted by the agency as they become available.
PROJECT LIST
All projects
involving ARRA funding will be posted.
BIDS/JOBS
The CT Labor
Department will post employment opportunities when available as a result
of ARRA funding.
PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES RECEIVING
ARRA FUNDS
Unemployment Programs
For the week of May 7th – May 11th we
issued a total of
99,743 benefit
payments totaling $32,027,721.00.
-
FAC to date:
Additional $25 on every unemployment check -
Funds provided to claimants through
(5/14/12) is
$319,712,241.83.
Federal Additional Compensation (FAC). Under federal legislation, the $25
stimulus payments are temporary and are being provided to individuals that
established new claims for unemployment before June 2, 2010. Payments will
be phased out on November 6, 2010. Since the additional $25 payments are
entirely funded by the federal government, neither employers nor the state
are charged for this additional benefit.
Federal
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) -
Funds provided to claimants through
(5/14/12) is
$3,303,335,609.86.
This program, provided to individuals that established new claims for
unemployment before June 2, 2010, provides up to 53 weeks of federal
unemployment insurance benefits under four separate tiers, with Tier 3 and
Tier 4 dependent on the Total Unemployment Rate, as determined by USDOL.
*NOTE: The weekly reporting number above notes all of EUC08 payments
made to claimants since EUC08 was enacted in 2008. The EUC08 payments
attributable to ARRA legislation are only those tied to EUC08 claims
initiated March 29, 2009 and later.
That amount, reported on a quarterly basis, is
$720,638,204 as of 4/30/10.
NOTE: last payment date for Tier 4 was week ending February 18, 2012. Please
refer to CTDOL’s website for updates regarding 2/23/12 extension EUC
benefits.
-
EB to date:
Federal Extended Benefits (EB) - Funds provided to
claimants through
(5/14/12) is
$612,957,157.688.
Provides up to 20 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to qualified
claimants who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance
benefits and any applicable EUC benefits. EB is normally funded by 50% state
funds and 50% federal funds, but under stimulus legislation, currently these
benefits are 100% federally funded. Government and municipal employers and
federally-recognized Indian tribes, however, continue to be charged 100% for
EB.
*Note 1: For ARRA reporting purposes, 50% of the EB
payments are considered as stimulus funds. That amount, reported on a
quarterly basis, is $56,224,865 as of 4/30/10.
*Note 2:
Net EB payments
were reduced by $86.3 million and Net EUC08 payments were increased by $86.1
million due to a large number of transfers between programs in August, 2010.
-
Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (UIMA)
- $87,811,338
Federal money provided to states for the Trust Fund.
Connecticut was eligible to receive $87 million by meeting certain
requirements, and received the first 1/3 of this amount ($29.3
million) in early 2009 and received the additional $58.6 million
in May 2009. The $87 million has been deposited to the Trust Fund
and will be used to pay benefits. The state can appropriate some of
the funding for administrative needs, including claims processing.
-
UI Administrative – Special Federal Transfer - $6,272,238
This one-time transfer from the federal Employment Security Account
(ESSA) is for administrative costs associated with the state’s
unemployment insurance operations.
-
Expansion of
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Act
Assistance (ATAA) Programs
The
stimulus bill expands federal funding for workers who have been
displaced in the trade and manufacturing sectors due to what is
commonly referred to as outsourcing or off-shoring. With a goal to
improve employability for those likely to need retraining and, in
some situations, relocation, funding for the Trade Act Assistance (TAA)
program has been increased nationwide by 160% to $575 million per
fiscal year. The increase in Trade Act funding and program
parameters makes training, health care and reemployment benefits
more accessible and flexible. The bill also reauthorized TAA
programs through Dec. 31, 2010.
To
apply for Trade Act services and benefits, a group of affected
workers must first file a petition with the U.S. Department of
Labor's Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance requesting
certification as workers adversely impacted by foreign trade. If
certified, each worker in the group may then apply for individual
services and benefits. The Connecticut Department of Labor often
works with companies to assist them with the completion and filing
of the petition. Additional information on the program and how to
apply for assistance can be found on the following web site:
www.doleta.gov/tradeact/benefits.cfm
Please refer to CTDOL’s website for updates regarding status of EB
benefits.
-
Taxation of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Currently, unemployment insurance benefits are fully taxable. Under
the new bill, the first $2,400 of benefits are free from federal
taxes for tax year 2009.
This will provide additional cash to unemployed residents
who are living on a reduced income until new employment can be
found.
This program has ended; was in effect in 2009.
Employment Programs
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides nearly $35
million to enhance and provide employment services to a variety of job
seekers and those collecting unemployment benefits.
The Labor Department provides approximately 75% of the WIA
funds for local employment and training programs to the state's five
Workforce Investment Boards. Funds are
allocated by the federal government as follows:
|
Workforce Investment Act ARRA Funds |
|
Youth
Activities: |
$11,034,723 |
|
Adult
Activities: |
$4,385,149 |
|
Dislocated
Workers: |
$14,884,070
|
Employment Services
|
|
|
Wagner-Peyser
Activities: |
$1,668,598 |
|
Reemployment
for UI Claimants:
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$2,780,996 |
|
Total:
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$34,753,536 |
Activity
Descriptions
and Expenditures:
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Workforce Investment Act ARRA Funds -
$30,303,942
Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $13,620,101.42
Under
federal guidelines, these funds have been provided for the following
employment programs: Youth Activities, Adult Activities
and Dislocated Workers.
-
Youth
Activities - $11,034,723
Any youth employment activities under the Workforce Investment
Act are allowed for the Recovery Act funds. States were
encouraged to try to use these the funds to create summer
employment opportunities for youth, with the age of participants
being increased to a maximum of 24 years old. In Connecticut,
approximately 4,000 youth, ages 17-24, were provided with summer
employment in jobs ranging from administrative positions to
employment in nursing homes and museums. Funds were provided to
the state's five Regional Workforce Investment Boards for local
job placement. As part of the summer jobs program, more than two
dozen youth helped spruce up state parks and beaches under the
Governor’s CT Conservation Corps pilot program.
-
Adult
Activities -
$4,385,149
Assist adult workers who have lost their jobs and need
specific assistance, including training or educational
assistance, to find new jobs. Focus is to train people for jobs
that need to be filled, with emphasis on those jobs in
high-growth industries, green occupations, and in the fields of
health and education. To support this effort, services include
data-driven career counseling, occupational skills training,
on-the-job training (including registered apprenticeship),
skills upgrades and adult education and literacy training.
-
Dislocated
Workers - $14,884,070
Assist workers who have lost their jobs and need specific
reemployment assistance, including job search assistance and
training, to find new employment. Many dislocated workers are
finding that while they have experience, they don't have
networking and job search skills. Funding is being used to help
those workers with résumé development, along with interview and
networking skills. Services include data-driven career
counseling, occupational skills training, on-the-job training
(including registered apprenticeship), skills upgrades and adult
education and literacy training.
-
Employment Services - $4,449,594
Under
federal guidelines, these funds have been provided for the following
reemployment programs:
Wagner Peyser Activities
and
Reemployment for
UI Claimants.
Services include assisting workers who have lost their jobs and need
specific reemployment assistance, including job search assistance
and training, to find new employment. Many dislocated workers are
finding that while they have experience, they don't have networking
and job search skills. Funding is being used to help those workers
with résumé development, along with interview and networking skills.
Services include data-driven career counseling, occupational skills
training, on-the-job training (including registered apprenticeship),
skills upgrades and adult education and literacy training.
-
Wagner Peyser
Activities - $1,668,598
Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $1,064,453.48
-
Reemployment
for UI Claimants - $2,780,996
Expenditures through 11/30/09 - $761,967.72
-
Employer Programs
Expansion of the WOTC Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program has been expanded to
include two more categories of workers – “unemployed veterans” and
“disconnected youth.” Employers who hire workers from these two groups
are eligible to receive up to a $2,400 tax credit per employee.
Disconnected youth are defined as between the ages of 16 and 24 who were
not attending school within six months of their hire date. Prior to the
stimulus bill expansion, the tax credit program applied to eight
categories of workers, with employers eligible to apply for credits
ranging from $1,200 to $5,000 a year per employee.
More information
on the program can be found on the following web site:
http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/taxcredits/default-bus.htm
QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA
|
Nancy Steffens,
CTDOL Communications Director, 860-263-6537
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Related Press Releases
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February 26, 2010 |
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Governor Rell: State Transportation Projects Advancing Under
Stimulus Program |
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February 7, 2010 |
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Governor Rell: Quarterly Report of Stimulus Activity Shows
Widening Impact of Federal Funds on State (PDF, 73KB) |
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January 20, 2010 |
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Governor Rell: State Receiving $3.36 Million in Stimulus For
Training, Development of “Green Collar” Jobs
|
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November 18, 2009 |
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Governor Rell:
State Awarded Stimulus Funds To Identify Green Jobs, Training Opportunities
|
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October 28, 2009 |
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Governor Rell: Stimulus
Creates and Retains Thousands of Jobs in Connecticut |
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August 18, 2009 |
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Governor Rell: Stimulus Funds to Help Region Identify Green
Jobs, Training |
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May
27, 2009 |
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Governor
Rell Announces Connecticut To Receive $58.6
Million in Stimulus Funds for Unemployed |
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April
18, 2009 |
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Governor Rell: 13 More Weeks of Benefits Begins For Those
Exhausting Federal EUC Extension |
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April 7, 2009
|
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Governor Rell: Connecticut Will Receive $29.3 Million In Federal
Stimulus Funds for Unemployed Citizens |
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March 26, 2009 |
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First $2,400 of Unemployment Benefits Tax Free for 2009 |
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March 10, 2009 |
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Governor Rell Announces Additional Help For Unemployed: 13 More
Weeks of Benefits |
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March 1, 2009
|
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Governor Rell Certifies Connecticut's Acceptance of Stimulus
Funds |
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February 28, 2009 |
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Governor Rell: Small Increase in Unemployment Assistance,
Extended Eligibility for Federal Benefits |
LINKS
State recovery site –
www.recovery.ct.gov
United States Department of Labor Web Site -
http://www.dol.gov/recovery/
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200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109 / Phone: 860-263-6000
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