A very long recession, such as Connecticut experienced, also makes it difficult for the state fund to amass sufficient revenues to pay off the federal debt within the required time and avoid interest charges. In Connecticut, UC benefit payouts began to exceed revenues to the state fund in 1989. The state began borrowing from the federal fund in 1991. This is the amount that the state repaid with revenue from the 1993 General Assembly s special bond authorization. The table below identifies the annual amount of UC benefits the state has paid since 1990.
Figures are in millions.
Eligibility Requirements Minimum Earnings Requirement. States are permitted to impose minimum earnings requirements before claimants become eligible for UC and all states do so. Connecticut law requires a worker to have earned at least 40 times his weekly benefit amount during his base period. Disqualification for Quitting a Job. States have complete discretion to disqualify employees who quit work without sufficient cause.