Proposal Extends Access to Care4Kids Benefit for Unemployed

Connecticut Voices for Children, a statewide public education and advocacy organization, has testified in support of a legislative proposal that would extend the eligibility period for individuals in the state’s Care4Kids program - for parents looking for work after a job loss - from two to six months. In supporting the measure, Voices pointed out that in 2010, 64 percent of Connecticut’s unemployed workers were out of work for 15 weeks or more, and half of all unemployed workers where looking for work for 27 weeks in  2009 and 19 weeks in 2008.  The average job search in Connecticut in 2010 lasted 36 weeks, up from 26 weeks in 2009 and 19 weeks in 2008.  The data for 2011 has not yet been compiled.