Politics & Government

Report: 43K in CT Could Lose Unemployment Benefits

If Congress goes over the fiscal cliff, Connecticut would not receive any more unemployment benefits from the federal government. In Bethany and Woodbridge, the unemployment rate is 6.4 percent and 5.7 percent respectively.

 

About 43,000 people in Connecticut who receive unemployment benefits from the federal government are in danger of losing them if Congress goes over the fiscal cliff.

If Congress does not reauthorize the program, those who receive the federal unemployment benefits—those on top of what the state gives—could lose them by Saturday, Dec. 29, according to a report by Connecticut News Junkie.

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Connecticut gives six months of unemployment insurance, and the federal government kicks in money to fund an emergency extension of benefits when the economy is experiencing times of slow job growth, News Junkie reports. It would cost $30 billion to keep the program going nationwide.

The loss of federal money could affect thousands of people here in Naugatuck. 

Find out what's happening in Bethwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There were 197 Bethany residents unemployed as of last month, according to the latest statistics from the state Department of Labor. The stats show the unemployment rate in Bethany at 6.4 percent in November. There were 3,084 eligible workers in Bethany, and 2,887 of them were employed, according to the report.

In Woodbridge, there were 269 residents unemployed as of last month, according to the statistics from the state Department of Labor. The unemployment rate in Woodbridge was at 5.7 percent in November, with 4,412 out of 4,681 eligible workers in Woodbridge employed, according to the report.

Last month, the unemployment rate for Connecticut (seasonally adjusted) was 8.8 percent; 7.7 percent was the national unemployment rate (also, seasonally adjusted). 

The unemployment benefit loss is one of the major ways in which Connecticut would be affected if Congress goes over the fiscal cliff. President Obama is currently working with members of Congress in an attempt to find a solution.


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