Stimulus Package Checks are Going Out

April 17, 2020

Join me tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. for a Facebook LIVE Community Conversation on my Facebook Page. Feel free to email me questions at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov or comment them on the live video. I hope you'll tune in!

To help you and our neighbors stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving stream of information related to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, my office and I are working to provide news as it develops over social media and by email. This is a recap of some of this week’s highlights.

Below you can find information on the following topics:

COVID-19 Update

Since Thursday, there have been an additional 925 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut, bringing our state's total to 16,809 cases. There have been 1,946 hospitalizations (up 20 from Thursday), and 1,036 fatalities related to COVID-19. 

Click the image above for a county-by-county breakdown of cases and to view additional data.

Friday Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 7BB to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which enacts the following provisions:

  • Effective Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 8 p.m., cloth face coverings or higher level of protection will be required in public wherever close contact is unavoidable.
    • Individuals shall use a mask or cloth face covering when using taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing, or similar services, mass public transit, or while within any semi-enclosed transit waiting area or stop
    • The Dept. of Economic and Community Development Commissioner will update the Safe Workplace rules and Safe Store rules to reflect this requirement
    • Children under 2 years of age will not be required to wear a face covering
    • Older children are not required to wear a face covering if the parent, guardian, or caregiver responsible for the child is unable to place the mask safely on the child's face
    • Individuals who decline to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition will not be required to produce medical documentation
  • Further postponement of the presidential primary to August 11, 2020

Read the full executive order here. 

Talk It Out Hotline For Families

The state has launched the new "Talk It Out" hotline for families to relieve stress of caring for children during the pandemic. More information is below. 

AdvanceCT Launches 2nd Business Survey

AdvanceCT has launched a second business survey to provide feedback to policymakers on how businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Survey results will be used to prioritize economic recovery initiatives. It has been developed in collaboration with the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. The survey can be accessed here.

COVID-19 Stimulus Check Guidance for CT Banks and Credit Unions

Connecticut residents this week began to see their stimulus money deposited into their accounts. Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez has issued guidance to Connecticut state-chartered financial institutions urging them not to use the stimulus funds to offset outstanding debts customers may have with their financial institution as the monies are meant to be used by residents to meet their basic needs. The guidance will cover a 30-day period from the date the stimulus payment is deposited to the account. Financial institutions are urged to document any offset with the express agreement of the customer or member. 

Customers who have questions should reach out to their financial institution, or request assistance through the Department of Banking's website.

DRS Launches Assistance Program to Help Taxpayers

The state Department of Revenue Services launched a new assistance program designed to help taxpayers subject to current DRS collections matters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The DRS Priority One Taxpayer Assistance Program (Priority One) is available to business and individual taxpayers who may be unable to meet their current collections obligations. Taxpayers can contact DRS directly to speak to a tax professional. Those who require assistance can call the Priority One program via:

Those seeking assistance should provide as much information as possible about their situation and relief they are seeking. Additional information is available here.

Read the full news update here.

You can read the Governor's executive orders here, and read his full updates here. To watch his daily briefings, click here.

For additional information about the state's COVID-19 response, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

CTCOL Unemployment Claim Update

Since upgrading its software Wednesday night, the Connecticut Department of Labor has processed 120,000 unemployment claims. Emails containing the next steps claimants must take to receive their benefits have been sent to those whose applications were processed. Claimants are urged to check any spam or junk email folders. 

With the new software improvements, the anticipated wait time will be shortened to one week or less instead of the originally expected 6-week wait period.

Additional federal stimulus benefits, including $600 in additional weekly payments will begin April 24. The additional funds will be included in Connecticut benefit payments the following week.

By April 30, the DOL expects to accept claim applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - the federal unemployment benefits program for self-employed individuals and independent contractors.

These benefits will be retroactive to the date a person needed to apply.

If you have questions about how to apply for unemployment benefits, read this FAQ sheet from the CTDOL. 

If you do not have internet access and need to file an unemployment claim, you can call 860-263-6975 or 203-455-2653 for assistance with your claim. A customer service representative will be able to gather your contact information and will assign staff to contact you within 5 business days to take your claim by phone. 

Please note this number will not allow your claim to be processed any faster than if you were to file a claim online. 

First Rapid COVID-19 Testing Center in New Haven

Connecticut's first rapid COVID-19 testing center is now open at the former Gateway Community College parking lot in New Haven. The test is free for any Connecticut resident with COVID-19 related symptoms and risk factors as defined by CDC guidelines.

According to the New Haven Register, the testing site will use the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 rapid-response test. Abbott claims it can show positive results for COVID-19 in approximately five minutes and negative results in less than 15 minutes. Patients will REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLES for the test then drive to the Jordan’s Furniture parking to wait for the results.
 
If you are interested in receiving a test, you must make an appointment. Tests can be scheduled up to two days in advance. To register, click here. 

Click here for more information.

When It Builds Up, Talk It Out

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families has teamed up with the Governor and the United Way to launch the "When it Builds Up, Talk it Out" campaign and help line to support parents and caregivers who need someone to talk to.

The help line is available at 1-833-258-5011 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The help line has both English and Spanish capacity.

Visit the DCF website for more information and for additional resources for families impacted by COVID-19.

Multi-State Council Enacted to Help Employees Get Back to Work, Restore Economy

Connecticut joined forces this week with New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware and Pennsylvania to create a multi-state council charged with getting people back to work and restoring the economy, already building on a regional approach to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts has also joined the council.
 
According to a press release distributed by Governor Ned Lamont, "The coordinating group – comprised of one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective chief of staff from each state – will work together to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus."
 
The full release including quotes from the governors involved in the multi-state council can be found here.

Stimulus Package Check

The first round of Stimulus Package checks have gone out to taxpayers who filed their 2018 and/or 2019 tax returns. A second round of paper checks is expected to be mailed to taxpayers around May 4.
 
If you haven't received a payment but are expecting one, aren't sure if you're eligible, or would like to speed up the process of receiving your payout by entering bank account information, the IRS has created a portal where you can check the status of your stimulus payment here.
 
Please be aware of scams associated with Stimulus Package checks. Here's a related story that recently appeared in the Hartford Courant.

Connecticut Fair Housing Center COVID-19 Homeowner FAQ

A number of questions and answers regarding homeowner relief during the COVID-19 outbreak, including ability to make payments in the event you've been negatively impacted by the outbreak or not can be found in the FAQ here which includes a version in Spanish, too.

CHEFA Announces FY 2021 COVID-19 Grant Program

The board of directors of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) voted at its April 15 meeting to replace their three grant cycles for FY 2021 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FY 2021 CHEFA COVID-19 Grant Program will focus on funding statewide efforts that are currently, or plan to be, launched by 501(c)(3) Connecticut nonprofit entities to respond to the crisis. 

The efforts can be focused on statewide programs to support CT communities and residents or can be sector specific funds focused on one or more of CHEFA’s four core priority areas of health care, education, child care, and cultural.

Organizations seeking details may contact Betty Sugarman Weintraub, CHEFA Grant Program Manager, for more information at 860-761-8428 or bweintraub@chefa.com.

The Census Matters

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to supply daily services, products, and support for you and your community. For example, each year, billions of dollars in federal funding goes to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on the data gained through the census.
 
The results also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and also used to draw congressional and state legislative district lines.
 
The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790. This also marks the first year in which you can fill out the census online here.

Spotlighting Local Excellence

Thank you Seymour Selectman Rob VanEgghen for your generosity to donate $1,000 worth of food from Pub 67 to Valley EMS and first responders, and $200 staff gratuity! I've known Rob for over 20 years and it doesn't surprise me that he would do something like this for his community. He's been a consistent volunteer with Team, Inc, the Salvation Army, the Valley United Way, and other charity organizations and actions his whole life. Nicely done!