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December 1, 2021

State launches paid leave program with New Haven press event

Photo | CTN Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CEO Andrea Barton Reeves speaks in New Haven on Dec. 1, 2020.
By Liese Klein

On time and under budget, the state’s new paid family and medical leave program launched Wednesday with $300 million in its trust fund and 123,735 businesses registered.

Starting today, workers can apply for paid leave benefits, which would kick in starting in January. 

About 500 people had applied for the program by midday on Wednesday, in line with administrators’ expectations that about 1000-1,500 people a day would apply. 

Applicants learn about five days from the time they complete their paperwork whether they are eligible for the benefit. Once approved, workers can receive up to 12 weeks of income replacement for qualifying events.

The program is paid for with payroll deductions, with half of 1% of an employee’s salary going into the trust fund. Even with high usage, the trust fund is expected to remain solvent for at least the next five years, according to Connecticut Paid Leave Authority CEO Andrea Barton Reeves.

The launch was marked with a press event in New Haven in front of Claire’s Corner Copia restaurant attended by city and state lawmakers. 

“Everyone has been paying in so anyone who needs the benefit can have access to it,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said at the event. 

Gov. Ned Lamont said. “Supporting the workers of our state will strengthen our economic footing and make Connecticut a stronger place to live, work, and do business.”

Every other state that has started a paid leave program has been forced to delay its launch, run over budget or pared back benefits, state Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said. 

“This is really hard,” Geballe said. Thanks to support from all levels of government and the private sector, Connecticut’s program is unique, he added. “The services that this authority is providing are first class.”

Connecticut’s Paid Leave Authority got off to a fast start, registering 108,911 businesses and collecting more than $102 million in the first quarter of this year, exceeding official expectations on both counts.

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com

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