Gov. Ned Lamont has signed an executive order that the administration says will allow an additional 38,000 people to qualify for supplemental unemployment benefits. The mostly low-wage workers would get up to $1,800 each. The money comes from a federal pandemic relief program. Previously, workers who lost their jobs only qualified for six weeks of extra benefits, if they were receiving unemployment payments of at least $100 per week. The executive order increases the unemployment benefit for these workers to the $100 threshold. That makes them eligible retroactively for the 6-weeks worth of up to $300 weekly payments from the federal pandemic relief program.
Matt Dwyer is an editor, reporter and midday host for Connecticut Public's news department. He produces local news during All Things Considered.
