If you contracted COVID-19 and experienced financial hardship due to lost wages or out-of-pocket medical expenses, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement from the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Program.
The program began accepting applications today at ctessentialworkerrelief.org, and funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications must be filed by July 20, 2022. Assistance ends June 30, 2024, or when the money runs out, whichever comes first.
The Fund will reimburse eligible essential workers (which includes educators) for
- Lost wages: unpaid leave and lost wages if an employee was unable to work after contracting COVID-19 or due to symptoms later diagnosed as COVID-19.
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses: Medical services related to contracting COVID-19 that were not covered by insurance.
- Burial expenses: Burial/funeral expenses up to $3,000 for an eligible essential worker who died from COVID-19.
Eligible essential workers are those who
- Were included in CDC vaccination phase 1a (all healthcare workers) and 1b (all other essential workers, which includes educators and school staff);
- Worked in person during the period of March 10, 2020, to July 20, 2021
Essential workers with pending workers’ compensation claims may also apply for the Connecticut Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Program, but the Workers’ Compensation Commission will be notified of any assistance provided to prevent double dipping. Workers’ compensation claims are not required to file for or receive assistance from this fund.
The Connecticut General Assembly authorized $34 million in funding for this relief program, which will be administered by the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller.
Find out more: http://www.ctessentialworkerrelief.org
