Connecticut Exempts Oil, Propane, HVAC and Gasoline Stations/C-stores

DECD List of Essential Business to Operate during COVID-19 Emergency

While CEMA is waiting for the Department of Labor (DOL) to answer specific questions that our members have asked, we wanted to provide you information that has been issued on a number of unemployment issues that you should be aware of.

Here is some general information covering taxes, DMV, utility shutoff moratorium, unrelated to labor issues that you should be aware of:

• Governor Lamont has ordered that all public schools close starting Tuesday – ENTECH will follow suit and close until March 30th.
• The Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) is ordering the gas, electric, and water utilities to implement a Shut-off Moratorium from terminating service to residential customers.
• The CT Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) in coordination with the Small Business Administration will be providing small businesses with disaster loans up to $2 million.
• The Connecticut General Assembly has suspended all legislative business until March 30th.
• CT DMV issued a driver hours of service waiver for fuel deliveries in direct assistance to the emergency.
• DMV has extended expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and learner’s permits. March 10, 2020-June 8, 2020 are automatically covered by this extension. No late fees will be assessed for eligible credentials.
• The Governor has ordered that there will be no shutoffs or late fees associated with overdue cable and phone bills.
• The governor banned gatherings larger than 10 people and is working with other states in the region to close restaurants and bars
• CT has reduced the train schedule for the Shore Line East and Hartford lines, with both operating on a weekend schedule Monday-Friday
• Extensions were granted for the Pass-Through Entity tax (a levy for limited liability corporations and other small businesses not subject to the state Corporation Tax).
• Extensions also were granted for the Connecticut Unrelated Business Income Tax. Charitable organizations, social clubs, trade associations and certain other groups that are exempt from the corporation tax pay this other levy if that receive business income that is unrelated to their tax-exempt mission.
• Lamont announced he’s directed the Department of Revenue Services to extend tax return filing and payment deadlines for the state’s corporation tax. Returns for these taxes, which face deadlines between March 15 and June 1, all are extended for 30 days. Their respective payment deadlines also are extended for one month.

This is an unsettled situation for DOL and they are struggling to better respond and adapt to unemployment issues related to laid off employees

The latest guidance we are getting from our contacts at CT DOL is that everyone should file for unemployment, regardless of their current status and eligibility, in order to get their claims into the system. At some point in the future, they will be going into the system and assessing and evaluating each situation on a case-by-case basis.

• FOR WORKERS:To apply and file for unemployment Insurance benefits or get more information about the process and requirements please go to: filectui.com
• FOR EMPLOYERS & WORKERS:For more information about COVID-19 and federal FMLA from USDOL Wage and Hour Division go to: dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic