What you need to do to file

Connecticut accepts unemployment claims only through its online portal at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Unemployment-Insurance. You cannot file by mail, phone, or in person. The state processes claims filed online faster than any other method, and you will get a confirmation number when ready after you submit.

You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your last job — including your employer's name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Have your final pay stub handy if you can find it. The form itself takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete if you have these details ready.

File as soon as you stop working or have your hours cut. Connecticut counts your claim from the date you file, not from the date you lost your job, so waiting costs you money. If you were laid off on a Monday but do not file until Friday, your benefits start from Friday.

Key Takeaways

  • File online at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Unemployment-Insurance within two weeks of losing work or having hours reduced, because your claim starts from your filing date, not your job loss date.
  • You will need your Social Security number, state ID number, and your last employer's name, address, phone number, and employment dates.
  • Connecticut requires you to report any income you earn while receiving benefits, including gig work and part-time jobs, or you may have to repay what you received.
  • After you file, you must certify your claim every two weeks by logging back into the portal and confirming you are still out of work and looking for a job.
  • If your claim is denied, you have 30 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before a referee who will review your case.

Information you must provide on the form

The online form asks for your work history for the past 18 months. You do not need to list every job, but you must include all jobs you held in the year before you filed. For each job, enter the employer name, the city and state where you worked, your job title, the dates you started and stopped, and your final weekly pay rate.

You will also answer questions about why you left your job. If you were laid off or had hours cut, that is straightforward. If you quit, Connecticut will ask whether you had good cause — meaning a reason connected to your work, such as unsafe conditions, wage theft, or a substantial change in your duties. Quitting because you found another job, or because you were unhappy, usually does not count as good cause.

The form asks whether you have been fired, and if so, why. Be honest here. Lying on an unemployment form is fraud, and Connecticut cross-checks your answers against what your employer reports. If your story does not match, your claim will be denied and you may have to repay benefits plus a penalty.

What happens after you file

You will receive a confirmation number on screen and an email confirmation. Connecticut then sends you a letter in the mail within 7 to 10 days. This letter tells you whether your claim was accepted or denied, and it includes your weekly benefit amount if you were accepted.

If your claim is accepted, your first payment arrives by debit card (the state's standard method) or by direct deposit if you set that up. The first payment usually comes within 10 to 14 days of filing, though it can take longer if Connecticut needs to verify information with your employer.

Starting two weeks after you file, you must certify your claim every two weeks. Certification means logging back into the portal and confirming that you are still unemployed, that you are looking for work, and that you have not earned any income. If you do not certify on time, your payment stops until you do. You can certify anytime during your certification week — you do not have to wait for a specific day.

Reporting income while you receive benefits

If you earn any money while receiving unemployment — from a part-time job, gig work, freelance projects, or anything else — you must report it when you certify. Connecticut reduces your weekly benefit by a portion of what you earn, but you usually still come out ahead by combining part-time work with partial benefits.

The state allows you to earn up to one-third of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. If your weekly benefit is $300 and you earn $100, you get the full $300. If you earn $150, your benefit is reduced by the amount over $100. Report the gross amount you earned before taxes.

Failing to report income is fraud. Connecticut discovers unreported earnings when your employer reports your wages to the state, or when you file taxes. If you underreport, you will have to repay the overpayment plus a 15 percent penalty and possibly interest.

If your claim is denied

Connecticut denies claims for several reasons: you quit without good cause, you were fired for misconduct, you did not earn enough in the base period (the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you filed), or you did not provide required information. The denial letter explains which reason applies to you.

You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. File your appeal through the same online portal. At the hearing, a referee listens to your side and your employer's side, then decides whether to overturn the denial. You can represent yourself or bring someone with you, but you do not need a lawyer.

If you miss the 30-day important date, your right to a hearing is gone. Mark the date on your calendar or set a phone reminder the day you receive the letter.

Special situations: partial weeks and job separation

If you worked part of a week before losing your job, report the days and hours you worked. Connecticut calculates your benefit based on your average weekly wage, so a partial week does not disqualify you — it just lowers your average slightly.

If you were laid off due to lack of work, that is the clearest path to benefits. If you were fired, Connecticut looks at whether it was for misconduct — meaning willful or negligent violation of your employer's rules. Being slow at your job or making honest mistakes usually does not count as misconduct. Showing up late repeatedly, stealing, or refusing to follow safety rules does count.

If you were offered a job but turned it down, or if you reduced your own hours, you may not be able to receive benefits for that period. Report exactly what happened so the state can make the right decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file if I was laid off due to COVID-19?

Yes. Layoffs related to COVID-19 are treated the same as any other layoff — you are out of work through no fault of your own, so you are may be able to access. File through the regular online portal. There is no separate COVID program in Connecticut anymore, but the standard program covers you.

What if my employer says I quit when I was actually laid off?

File your claim and report that you were laid off. Connecticut contacts your employer to verify the separation reason. If your employer's account does not match yours, the state holds a hearing where both sides explain what happened. Bring any documents you have — emails, texts, or a written layoff notice — to support your version.

Do I have to look for a job while I receive benefits?

Yes. Connecticut requires you to be actively looking for work and to report that you are when you certify every two weeks. You do not have to prove you applied to specific jobs, but you must be genuinely available and willing to work. If you turn down a suitable job offer, you can lose benefits.

What if I am still working but my hours were cut?

You can file for partial unemployment. Report your current employer and your reduced hours. Connecticut calculates a partial benefit based on the difference between your old pay and your new pay. You must still certify every two weeks and report any income you earn.

How long do benefits last?

Connecticut provides up to 26 weeks of benefits in a benefit year. The amount you receive each week depends on your earnings in the base period. During times of high unemployment, the state may extend benefits beyond 26 weeks, but that is not automatic — Congress and the state must pass an extension.