HARTFORD, Conn. (WCBS 880) — Gov. Ned Lamont has unveiled a grand incentive to get Connecticut back to work.
The governor announced Monday that starting next week, Connecticut will offer up to 10,000 long-term unemployed residents a $1,000 signing bonus if they get a job and keep it for two months.
"You see the big athletes get a signing bonus, why don't you get a signing bonus as well? So for those of you who have been long-term unemployed for a while, we're going to pay you $1,000 at the end of a two months of work," Lamont said. "Give you the incentive to get back to work, make sure work is worth your while, make sure that you can afford it, make sure if you need help on transportation, a little bit of extra help on child care, we've got the upfront money that allows you to do that."
According to the governor's office, to be eligible, workers must:
1. Have filed an unemployment claim with the State of Connecticut for the week immediately prior to May 30, 2021.
2. Obtain and maintain a full-time job for a period of eight consecutive weeks prior to December 31, 2021.
3. Not receive unemployment compensation during the required eight-week period of employment.
Some lawmakers are opposed to the plan, calling it a bribe.
Instead, they want Connecticut to opt out of the federal government's pandemic bonus — the extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits. That program will run until September.
At present, there are 65,000 open jobs in Connecticut.
The program is being administered by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. It will make application forms available on its website in the coming days.