- Connecticut Department of Labor will begin taking applications tomorrow for a federal program designed to support filers with self-employment income as well as W2 earnings
- Eligibility limited to those on certain unemployment programs who have received at least $5,000 in self-employment net income
- Employers are not liable for Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation payments
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
The Connecticut Department of Labor has announced that it will begin taking applications on Tuesday, April 20, for the federal Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation program. The program provides additional unemployment assistance for people who have received self-employment earnings as well as W2 income.
Filers are eligible for MEUC if they received at least $5,000 in self-employment net income and are receiving state unemployment benefits, extended benefits, or Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation. Those who qualify will receive an additional $100 per week, retroactive to Jan. 2 and extending until the program expires on Sept. 4.
Employers are not liable for MEUC payments, as the program is completely federally funded. Compensation is income and could impact Medicaid and CHIP eligibility.
The Connecticut DOL also provided the following updates on unemployment in the state:
- Connecticut is receiving about 190,000 initial jobless claims per week, nearly five times the pre-pandemic rate
- The state has borrowed $712 million to date to supply its depleted unemployment trust
- The Connecticut DOL has disbursed $7.9 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020
