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Gov. Lamont says unemployment benefits have been front and center of his priorities

FOX61 continues to receive emails from people who have reached out to the Department of Labor and can’t seem to get an answer about their unemployment.

HARTFORD, Conn — Governor Ned Lamont addressed the concerns of people who have filed for unemployment and have not received a response or have had other issues during his Thursday briefing. 

People have been writing to FOX61 for weeks detailing problems with filing and receiving money, some issues dating back to March.

“I take your message loud and clear," the governor said when FOX61's Taylor DiChello asked how he can ensure that when someone calls the Department of Labor, the call will be answered.

Lamont said the Department of Labor has been overwhelmed with claims and has worked very hard to get payments out. He added that unemployment benefits have been front and center of his priorities and stressed that the majority of claims had been handled. 

Lamont said Thursday the State of Connecticut is receiving $111 million in federal coronavirus relief aid for the state’s school districts that will be used to support continued learning and address educational disruptions due to the global pandemic.

The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education as part of the CARES Act that was adopted by Congress in March. It is in addition to the $27.8 million already announced for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. 

Officials said the federal government allows for significant flexibility in how the state and local school districts spend the grant so that existing education funds can be repurposed to areas of highest need, mitigate fiscal impacts, and immediately address educational disruptions.

Lamont said that school districts in Connecticut have already received their full state education grant allocations for FY20, despite the cancellation of in-person classes for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.

While Connecticut was awarded a total of $111 million under EESERF, $11.1 million will be reserved for state-level activities, and the balance of $99.9 million will be distributed to local school districts based on the proportion of Title I funding they received for fiscal year 2020.

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He was joined by Amy Porter, Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services, and Dr. Albert Ko, co-chair of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group.

Lamont also announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to remain lowered at half-staff on Friday, May 15, 2020 in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Flags are also currently at half-staff in recognition and mourning of all those who have lost their lives and been affected by COVID-19.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is a national observance paying tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officials who have died in the line of duty. It is recognized annually during National Police Week.

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