While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Connecticut’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Connecticut, you must:
Learn more about Connecticut’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. If possible, do NOT wait until the week is over.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Connecticut, complete the following three steps:
To file a standard Unemployment Insurance claim online, visit the Connecticut’s Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
To apply online at an American Job Center, click here to find your nearest office location.
You cannot apply for Unemployment Insurance by any other method.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation customer service line at (860) 263-6000 from Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in Connecticut. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Connecticut Department of Labor takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides that amount by 26.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Connecticut is $15. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $721.
Learn more about Connecticut’s base period and how benefits are calculated here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application and what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
File your Weekly Certification Application here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal letter to the Department of Labor online here.
You can also submit an appeal in person at an American Job Center or Appeals Division office, or you can call or fax any of the Appeals Division offices.
Find contact information for Appeals Division offices here and for American Job Centers here.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at:
Find more information about filing an appeal here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Connecticut Department of Labor at (800) 263-6000.
You can find further contact information by visiting the Connecticut Department of Labor’s contact information page here.
The Connecticut Department of Labor phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Connecticut Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at (860) 263-6000.
If you lost your debit card or have related questions, call Key Bank customer service at (866) 295-2955.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at:
Or, learn about the appeals process here.
All Connecticut DOL phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
Connecticut’s Department of Labor Office is located in Wethersfield, but 2 American Job Centers and 1 Appeals Division office are also located within the state. Find your nearest DOL office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the Connecticut DOL Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Department of Labor | 200 Folly Brook Boulevard Wethersfield, CT 06109 | (860) 263-6000 |
| Bridgeport Unemployment Insurance Adjudications Office | 2 Lafayette Square, Bridgeport, CT 06604 | (203) 455-2800(866) 283-3443 fax |
| Middletown Unemployment Insurance Adjudications Office | 645 South Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 | (860) 754-5100(866) 754-1410 fax |
| Waterbury Appeals Division Office | 249 Thomaston Avenue,Waterbury, CT 06702 | (203) 596-4138(203) 579-6271(203) 437-3440 fax |
The Connecticut Department of Labor also offers 21 call centers in addition to the permanent office locations above.
| Location | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Ansonia | (203) 230-4939 |
| Bridgeport* | (203) 579-6291 |
| Bristol | (860) 566-5790 |
| Danbury | (203) 797-4150 |
| Danielson* | (860) 423-2521 |
| Enfield* | (860) 566-5790 |
| Hamden | (203) 230-4939 |
| Hartford | (860) 566-5790 |
| Interstate | (800) 942-6653 (from out-of-state) or (860) 256-3900 (from in-state) |
| Manchester | (860) 566-5790 |
| Meriden | (860) 344-2993 |
| Middletown | (860) 344-2993 |
| New Britain | (860) 566-5790 |
| New London | (860) 443-2041 |
| Norwich | (860) 443-2041 |
| Stamford | (203) 348-2696 |
| Torrington* | (860) 482-5581 |
| Waterbury | (203) 596-4140 |
| Willimantic | (860) 423-2521 |
| *If you are calling from Kent, Salisbury, Sharon, North Thompson, Stafford Springs, Westport or Wilton, call this number instead. | (800) 354-3305 |
To find more information on Connecticut Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file a standard Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about Connecticut Employer Unemployment Insurance, call one of the following numbers:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Connecticut, complete the following three steps:
To file a Pandemic Unemployment Insurance claim online, visit the Connecticut’s Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
To apply online at an American Job Center, click here to find your nearest office location.
You cannot apply for Unemployment Insurance by any other method.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation customer service line at (860) 263-6000 from Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Connecticut claimant portal here.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal letter to the Department of Labor online here.
You can also submit an appeal in person at an American Job Center or Appeals Division office, or you can call or fax any of the Appeals Division offices.
Find contact information for Appeals Division offices here and for American Job Centers here.
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at:
Find more information about filing an appeal here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Connecticut Department of Labor at (800) 263-6000.
You can find further contact information by visiting the Connecticut Department of Labor’s contact information page here.
The Connecticut Department of Labor phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.