Unemployment benefits

The only thing that seems to have remained a constant in the unemployment benefits process is the waiting.

If you're one of the thousands of newly unemployed in the state who hasn't had to file for government aid for a long time, or never faced the bureaucratic process surrounding unemployment insurance benefits, here's what you need to know.

You don't go down to the local unemployment office and fill out paperwork and wait in long lines. Instead, you log on to a Web site and fill out the application electronically. You are only qualified to collect benefits if you were laid off and are a citizen. There are limits to the amount you can collect. That information can be found online or by calling the department.

The electronic process looks deceptively easy. You have to answer a quiz of sorts and if you don't pass then your next step is to use the phone, or what the state calls the Telebenefits line.

"Typically the first time everyone needs to call," said Nancy Steffens, a state Labor Department spokeswoman. It's because of that and the high number of job losses that people are being put on hold for so long, she said.

For the week of March 29, Connecticut issued 128,919 unemployment checks with a total value of more than $44 million. Steffens said the busiest day for new filings is on Monday.

The phone has replaced the old unemployment office, including taking over the duties of forcing people to wait what seems like unbearable

If you're making your first claim, you have to call on certain days, depending on the last digit of your Social Security number.

To file a new claim, or to reopen your claim, call on weekdays 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. with those having Social Security numbers ending in 0 through 4 calling on Monday. Those with the numbers ending in 0 though 7 should call on Tuesday and everyone can call Wednesday through Friday.

After being approved, the recipient must file a weekly application to continue receiving benefits.

There are other requirements includingbeing willing and able to accept any suitable work and make reasonable efforts to find employment each week. This is done over the phone or via the Internet.

As of April 8, people are eligible to collect up to 72 weeks of benefits because of emergency extensions for unemployment passed in recent months.

ROB VARNON

Applying for unemployment benefits can be done on the Web at https://iic.ctdol.state.ct.us/welcome.aspx.

For those who do not have access to a computer or phone, they can use both at one of the Connecticut Works Offices, where people can use computers to hunt for jobs:

Bridgeport CTWorks Center
2 Lafayette Square, Bridgeport
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Danbury CTWorks Center
152 West Street, Danbury
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hamden CTWorks Center
37 Marne Street, Hamden
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Waterbury CTWorks Center
249 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone listings for the state's Dial to File unemployment benefits option: 

Ansonia/Hamden/New Haven areas
(203) 230-4939

Bridgeport area
(203) 579-6291

Danbury area
(203) 797-4150

Killingly/Windham
(860) 423-2521

Hartford/Enfield/Bristol/New Britain/Manchester
(860) 566-5790

Meriden/Middletown
(860) 344-2993

New London/Norwich
(860) 443-2041

Greenwich/Stamford/Norwalk
(203) 348-2696

Torrington
(860) 482-5581

Waterbury
(203) 596-4140

Kent/North Thompson/Salisbury/Sharon/Stafford/Westport/Wilton
(800) 354-3305
TTY (English):
(800) 842-9710
TTY (Spanish)
(800) 680-3746