• Connecticut Unemployment Maximum Benefit Now $591 / Week

---

The maximum Unemployment Insurance benefit increases to $591 per week from the current $573, effective Oct. 7. The annual revision of the maximum weekly unemployment benefit is based on average manufacturing wages for the year ending June 30, 2012. An increase is limited by law to $18 a year . or 60 percent of the average wage . whichever is less. In 2011]2012, manufacturing earnings averaged a record $1,046 weekly, up from the 2010]2011 average of $996 per week. The new weekly rate of $591 will apply to claims filed for the benefit year starting on and after Oct. 7, 2012. Individuals who established a claim prior to the Oct. 7 date and who have been collecting Unemployment Insurance benefits will be unaffected by the increase. The weekly dependency allowance for each dependent, at $15 with a maximum of $75, remains unchanged. For the 12 months ending Aug. 31, 2012, regular jobless benefits averaged $308 per week and claimants received an average 18.6 weeks of compensation, not including federal extensions. A year earlier, weekly benefit payments averaged $298 for an average of 19.6 weeks. Regular state unemployment benefits are funded by a separate assessment paid by 98,300 Connecticut employers. The tax is based on the first $15,000 of each worker's annual wage. Source: CTDOL

---