Gov. Ned Lamont and labor officials announced earlier this week that emergency programming revisions to the department’s nearly 40-year-old IT system will reduce a six-week average wait time to seven days by April 25. “If we can do direct deposit you will have the funds within two business days” of claim approval,” said DOL spokeswoman Nancy Steffens. Unemployment filers who have a bank account are urged to use the electronic transfer option. If an electronic transfer is not possible, the department — liked most other states — stopped mailing out checks years ago, and now provides debit cards. The FDIC says as many as 6.5% of Connecticut households — about 84,600 people — are “unbanked” with no savings or checking accounts. Most live in the state’s poor urban centers and already have fallen through the cracks of other coronavirus relief efforts.
Labor officials: Having bank account on file can speed up unemployment benefits