State Unemployment Insurance Checks to Increase

Anyone who applies for unemployment on or after Oct. 2 will be eligible for a maximum benefit of $573 per week, or $18 per week more than today.

This information comes on the heels of last week's news that Danbury's unemployment rate dropped last month, although the state stayed the same.

Danbury's unemployment rate fell from 7.6 percent in July to 7.5 percent in August. The state's unemployment rate stayed at 9 percent, leaving Danbury below the state average. For further information about the state's unemployment rate, click here.

"It's good to see that despite the national economy's slowdown, our diverse economic base continues to deliver jobs," said Stephen Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. "Our jobs continue to grow in the area."

In a second bit of state economic news, the state Department of Labor said the maximum weekly check unemployment insurance check it will send out starting Oct. 2 for people who apply for benefits on that day or after will be $573 per week, rather than the $555 maximum benefit today, said State Labor Commissioner Glenn Marshall today.

The higher rate applies to new claims filed on and after October 2. People who filed before that date and established a claim will not be affected by this increase. For more details, see the attached Labor Department announcement.

"That will certainly be helpful to those looking for work," said Bull with the Chamber.