CT PAID LEAVE AUTHORITY PROVIDES NEEDED INCOME REPLACEMENT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Care of a family member one of the top four reasons CT residents receive paid leave benefits
Hartford CT — The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority (CTPL) reminded Connecticut residents that paid family and medical leave is available to caregivers so they can pay the bills while caring for their ill loved one. Caregiver leave is taken by an employee to provide physical or psychological care or psychological comfort and reassurance for a family member experiencing a serious health condition. From January 1, 2023 through November 6, 2023, an employee’s own serious health condition was the top reason for paid leave applications at 50.87% of all approvals, followed by bonding with a new child (19.97%), pregnancy/childbirth (16.29%), and care of a family member at 12.29%.
“Caregivers are some of the most courageous people in society and yet they often do not get the recognition or support they need and deserve,” said CT Paid Leave CEO Erin Choquette. “As part of National Family Caregiver Month, we want to raise awareness that Connecticut’s paid leave law provides these unsung heroes with the financial stability they need to continue providing care for their loved ones. The various forms of leave — continuous, intermittent, and reduced schedule — provide caregivers flexibility to meet the needs of their family member as well as for their own lives.”
CT Paid Leave allows claimants to take leave intermittently as well as continuously. Intermittent leave can be taken in separate, non-consecutive time periods rather than a single span of time for a single qualifying reason. Alternatively, leave can be taken at a reduced schedule. In this case, the worker reduces the usual number of hours per workweek, or hours per workday for a period of time, normally from full-time schedule to a part-time schedule. For example, this flexibility can be helpful for those caring for family members in hospice or receiving palliative care. The law also expands the definition of family to include individuals related by blood or affinity in addition to children, spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents and grandchildren.
“Rosalind Carter said that there are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers,” said Anna Doroghazi, Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach with AARP. “Maybe you’re an older adult caring for a spouse or partner, or caring for your older parents, or you are an older adult and you are thinking how can I get the assistance I need to continue living independently in my home? Paid leave helps people from so many angles.”
“Connecticut Paid Leave has been a savior in so many ways,” said caregiver Mya Baldwin, navigator with Access Health CT, who used paid leave to care for her sister who had breast cancer while pregnant with twins. “I just couldn’t imagine living in a state where we didn’t have an option like this. You would have to go so long without pay taking care of a loved one or best friend. Because life happens, things happen, and of course that’s what CT Paid leave is all about, it’s the unexpected things that happen to us.”
To hear more from caregivers about the benefits of paid leave, listen to the latest episode of The Paid Leave Podcast here.
To apply for paid leave online, workers will first need to create an account with CT Paid Leave by visiting www.ctpaidleave.org. The applicant can then submit their claim online. Assistance is also available by calling (877) 499–8606. Hours of operation for a live representative are 8 AM to 8 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
