Gov. Ned Lamont and 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Dant茅 Bartolomeo on Wednesday touted the launch of the state鈥檚 new unemployment benefits and tax system, .
ReEmployCT, which went live on Tuesday, is part of Lamont鈥檚 effort to 鈥渕odernize鈥� state government and make it more user-friendly. It follows the administration鈥檚 decision to digitize nearly two dozen transactions with the Department of Motor Vehicles, for those who still need to visit in person.
Bartolomeo said the new unemployment system cost roughly $60 million, with about $35 million coming from the federal government and the other $25 million from the state.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Bartolomeo said more than 20,000 people had registered in the system, and 7,600 people have been certified to receive weekly benefits. ReEmployCT is fully virtual, mobile-friendly, and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system can be used by both filers and employers.
The state has been in talks about modernizing components of the 40-year-old system since the 1980鈥檚, Bartolomeo said. The new website has been in the works since 2016.
Daryle Dudzinski, deputy commissioner at CTDOL, said the technology used to build ReEmployCT is used by the federal government and meets the 鈥渉ighest standards.鈥�
Lamont, who attended the press conference Wednesday, said that during the height of the pandemic, the labor department went from 40,000 claims to 400,000 claims in a one-week period. He said the new system will make it easier for residents to file for benefits if another emergency or recession were to arise.
Bartolomeo said 9/11, the Great Recession, and other events slowed down the process of revamping the system. The new site was close to being completed when the pandemic began in 2020, slowing down the process because CTDOL staff were working around the clock to help the scores of people suddenly out of work.
鈥淲e went from administering one unemployment insurance program to eight during the pandemic,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e administered $10.2 billion to support the economy and support the residents of 黑料吃瓜网.鈥�
Bartolomeo said some employers could see up to 75% fewer filing requirements, while the improved technology will help with accounting, reporting and data analysis.
Eric Gjede, a member of the 黑料吃瓜网 Business and Industry Association and CTDOL鈥檚 security advisory board, said he hopes the new system will deliver greater taxpayer return on investment.
ReEmployCT will be fully virtual, mobile-friendly, and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system can be used for filers and employers.
Bartolomeo said CTDOL has increased their consumer contact center staff by 60 people if anyone needs assistance or help navigating the new site.