In Connecticut, the minimum benefit is $15 per week, and the maximum benefit is $685 per week.
Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Have Expired
Although additional money -- $300 extra per week -- was available under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, that program expired on September 6, 2021. For weeks of unemployment starting on September 6 or later, these extra benefits will no longer be paid.
A different federal program -- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance -- made benefits available temporarily to workers who were not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, including freelancers, gig workers, and other contractors. That program also expired on September 6, 2021.
How Connecticut Determines Benefit Amounts
Each state determines how much it will pay in unemployment benefits. Generally, the weekly benefit amount is some fraction or percentage of your earnings in the base period or your highest paid quarter of the base period.
Your weekly benefit amount in Connecticut will be the average of your quarterly earnings during the two highest paid quarters of the base period, divided by 26. For example, if you earned $5,000 in your highest paid quarter and $4,000 in your next highest paid quarter, your average quarterly earnings would be $4,500. And your weekly benefit would be about $173 ($4,500 divided by 26).
To make sure these amounts are still current when you apply for benefits, contact the Connecticut Department of Labor.