File your claim through the Connecticut Department of Labor website or by phone

Connecticut processes unemployment claims through the Department of Labor's online system or by calling their claims line. You do not need to visit an office in person. Most people file online at portal.ct.gov/DOLUI, which is faster and gives you a record of your submission when ready.

If you cannot use the online system, you can call the Department of Labor's Unemployment Insurance Division at 1-203-500-2300. Phone lines are busiest early in the week and early in the morning. Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and information about your last employer ready before you call.

You can file as soon as you stop working or know you will stop working. There is no waiting period before you can submit your claim, though there is a one-week waiting period after you file before you become may be able to access to receive payments.

Key Takeaways

  • File online at portal.ct.gov/DOLUI or by phone at 1-203-500-2300 within two weeks of your last day of work to avoid delays in payment.
  • You must have worked in Connecticut and earned at least $1,200 in your base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file) to meet the earnings requirement.
  • You are disqualified if you left work without good cause, were fired for misconduct, or refused suitable work without a valid reason.
  • After you file, you must report your weekly earnings and job search activities every week to continue receiving payments.
  • Connecticut's maximum weekly benefit amount varies by year and depends on your prior earnings, but the state publishes the current maximum on its Department of Labor website.

What Connecticut requires to establish a claim

Connecticut has two main requirements: you must have worked in the state and earned enough money during your base period. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. For example, if you file in March 2024, your base period is typically January 2023 through December 2023.

You must have earned at least $1,200 during your base period. This is a threshold, not a weekly amount. If you worked part-time or had gaps in employment, the Department of Labor adds up all your wages across the entire base period to see if you meet this floor.

You also need to show that you are unemployed or working reduced hours. If you are still employed full-time, you cannot file. If your hours were cut or you were laid off, you can file when ready.

Reasons the Department of Labor will deny your claim

Connecticut law disqualifies you if you left work without good cause. Good cause means a reason connected to your job — unsafe conditions, wage theft, a substantial change in your duties, or harassment. Personal reasons like needing to move, family illness, or childcare problems do not count as good cause, even if they are serious.

You are also disqualified if you were fired for misconduct. Misconduct means willful or negligent violation of your employer's rules or reasonable instructions. Being late once or making a small mistake usually does not may have access to. Repeated violations, theft, violence, or being under the influence at work do.

If you refused suitable work without a valid reason, you lose your claim. Suitable work means a job in your field at comparable pay. You can refuse work if it pays significantly less, requires unsafe conditions, or conflicts with your religious beliefs, but you must document your reason.

You are also disqualified if you are receiving severance pay, vacation pay, or sick leave payouts from your employer. The Department of Labor counts these as wages and reduces or suspends your benefits week by week as you receive them.

What happens after you file your claim

The Department of Labor sends your claim to your former employer for verification. Your employer has ten days to respond and can contest your claim if they believe you were fired for misconduct or left without good cause. You will receive a notice in the mail if your employer contests.

If there is no contest, your claim is approved within one to two weeks. If your employer contests, the Department of Labor holds a hearing. You and your employer can both present evidence and testimony. A hearing officer then decides whether you are disqualified.

Once your claim is approved, you must file a weekly claim every Sunday through Friday to report your earnings and job search activities. You do this through the same online portal or by phone. If you do not file your weekly claim, you do not receive payment that week, even if you are unemployed.

How much you receive and for how long

Connecticut calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. The state divides that quarter's total wages by 13 to estimate your weekly wage, then pays you a percentage of that amount. The exact percentage and maximum weekly amount change each year.

You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year if you remain unemployed and continue to file weekly claims. A benefit year runs for 52 weeks starting from the week you file your initial claim. Once your 26 weeks of benefits are exhausted, you cannot file again until a new benefit year begins.

If you find part-time work or your hours are reduced, you can still file a weekly claim. The Department of Labor deducts your earnings above a small threshold (currently $50 per week, though this may change) from your benefit payment. This allows you to earn some income while still receiving partial benefits.

Special circumstances that affect your claim

If you are working reduced hours due to lack of work — meaning your employer cut your schedule but did not lay you off — you can file a partial claim. You report your actual hours and earnings each week, and the Department of Labor pays you the difference between your reduced pay and your full benefit amount.

If you are in a labor dispute or strike, you are disqualified from benefits. This applies even if you did not start the strike yourself. Once the dispute ends and you return to work or are laid off for other reasons, you can file a new claim.

If you are receiving workers' compensation for a work injury, your unemployment benefits are reduced by a portion of your workers' compensation payment. The two programs do not pay you the full amount of both simultaneously.

If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, this does not automatically disqualify you from unemployment. However, some of your unemployment payment may be offset depending on your age and the type of Social Security benefit you receive.

Documents and information you need to gather

Before you file, collect your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your last job. You will need your employer's name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Have your final pay stub or a record of your last wage payment.

If you are filing by phone, write down the names and dates of any jobs you held in the past 18 months. The Department of Labor asks about your work history to verify your base period earnings. If you have pay stubs or tax documents showing your earnings, keep them available in case the Department of Labor requests verification.

If your employer contests your claim, you will need to provide evidence of your reason for leaving or your version of events that led to your termination. Written communications with your employer, performance reviews, or witness statements can help support your case at a hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file if I quit my job?

You can file, but Connecticut will disqualify you unless you left for good cause. Good cause means a reason directly related to your job, such as unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or a substantial change in your duties. Personal reasons, even serious ones, do not count. Your employer will have the chance to explain why you left, and a hearing officer will decide.

What if I was fired?

You can file when ready. Connecticut will disqualify you only if your employer proves you were fired for misconduct — willful or negligent violation of rules or reasonable instructions. Being fired for poor performance, making mistakes, or not being a good fit usually does not count as misconduct. Your employer must show a pattern of violations or a serious breach of conduct.

How long does it take to receive my first payment?

If your claim is approved without contest, you receive your first payment within one to two weeks of filing. There is a one-week waiting period built into Connecticut's program, so your first payment covers the week after you file plus the first week you are unemployed. If your employer contests, the timeline extends to several weeks while the hearing is scheduled and decided.

Can I file if I am working part-time?

Yes. If your hours were reduced or you are working part-time involuntarily, you can file a partial claim. You report your weekly earnings, and the Department of Labor pays you the difference between what you earn and your full benefit amount. If you are working part-time by choice while looking for full-time work, you can also file, but your benefit may be reduced based on your part-time earnings.

What if the Department of Labor says I do not meet the earnings requirement?

You can request a hearing to challenge this decision. Bring documentation of all wages you earned during your base period — pay stubs, tax returns, or letters from your employer. If you worked for multiple employers or were paid in cash, gather any records you have. At the hearing, you can present evidence that your earnings met the $1,200 threshold.