43K in CT, Some Here Could Lose Jobless Benefits

About 43,000 people in Connecticut who receive unemployment benefits from the federal government are in danger of losing them if Congress goes over the fiscal cliff.

That's just over a quarter of the number of people receiving jobless benefits in the state.

If Congress does not reauthorize the program, those who receive the federal unemployment benefits—those on top of what the state gives—could lose them by Saturday, Dec. 29, according to a report by Connecticut News Junkie.

Connecticut gives six months of unemployment insurance, and the federal government kicks in money to fund an emergency extension of benefits when the economy is experiencing times of slow job growth, News Junkie reports. It would cost $30 billion to keep the program going nationwide.

The loss of federal money could affect hundreds of people in New Canaan. 

There were 752 residents of Weston, Easton and Redding unemployed as of last month, according to the latest statistics from the state Department of Labor. The stats show the unemployment rate of 5.3 percent in Weston, 5.7 percent in Redding and 6.0 percent in Easton in November.

Unemployment

Rate

Jobless

Working

Total

Labor

Force

Source: Connecticut Labor Department Web pages for municipal and state/federal unemployment statistics.

The unemployment benefit loss is one of the major ways in which Connecticut would be affected if Congress goes over the fiscal cliff. President Obama is currently working with members of Congress in an attempt to find a solution.

Read the complete CT News Junkie article.

Patch Editor David Gurliacci contributed to this article.