Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that state Department of Labor Call Centers will be open during the upcoming February holidays to process jobless claims for thousands of Connecticut residents.
The holiday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12 and President’s Day, February 16. Governor Rell said Connecticut has lost nearly 30,000 jobs in the past year in this national recession as the ranks of the unemployed continue to climb with each week.
“These benefits are an essential lifeline for thousands of our citizens who suddenly find themselves without a job,” Governor Rell said. “As the state and nation work our way out of this recession, it is critical that we provide individuals with every resource available during this time of tremendous upheaval in their lives.”
The DOL is issuing than 100,000 unemployment checks each week, a 60 percent increase over last year. Nearly $80 million in benefits were provided last month.
Under the Governor’s direction and using federal dollars, the Call Centers have already extended normal hours from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. to handle the increased case load. The DOL is also adding temporary staff, including rehiring retired DOL workers, to help with claims.
Filers can use the DOL’s TeleBenefits phone system or the WebBenefits online system. For more information: www.ct.gov/dol Individuals filing via the Web are encouraged to avoid Sunday and Monday filing as these days represent peak usage periods.
Governor Rell noted that residents who have exhausted their initial 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance and the first 20 weeks of federal extended benefits are now eligible for an extended federal benefit of 13 more weeks.
The following free resources are also available to state residents:
The free United Way 211 information line offers confidential referral, crisis intervention 24-hours a day, 7 days a week;Website www.211ct.org includes guide to available services for the unemployed titled “Where to Turn in Connecticut You Become Unemployed”;
http://www.careeronestop.org/ReEmployment offers resources for re-employment, training opportunities and financial assistance.
“While I know our residents will weather this economic storm, it is important that they be aware of the many resources they can turn to for help,” Governor Rell said.