CT PAID LEAVE PARTNERS WITH HEALTH EQUITY SOLUTIONS TO BRING INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAM’S BENEFITS TO CONNECTICUT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
March 30th through April 7th is Health Equity Week
Hartford CT — The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority — today announced its collaboration with Health Equity Solutions (HES) to provide information to Connecticut residents about the importance of paid leave benefits and how to apply. Health Equity Solutions, an organization focused on advancing health equity in Connecticut, will host a free Lunch and Learn Webinar with CT Paid Leave on April 3rd at noon. HES is also hosting an Affording Health Equity Panel Discussion and Resource Tabling on April 4th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Connecticut State Capitol Building.
“We are so excited to be working with Health Equity Solutions to bring this information to Connecticut workers and their families,” said CT Paid Leave CEO Erin Choquette. “The Paid Leave Program is a critical resource, a lifeline in fact, for residents experiencing a serious health condition because it provides income replacement when they have to be out of work -either continuously or intermittently — for up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period.”
In 2021, the state of Connecticut declared racism a public health crisis, clearing a path to intentionally acknowledging and addressing disparities and inequities in the state. Since that time, many Connecticut towns have followed suit. In partnership with advocates across the state, Health Equity Solutions compiled “Connecticut’s Path to Equity: A Guide to State Policy for Health Equity” to provide a clear roadmap for candidates, voters, and concerned residents who want to make equity a reality. Key components of that guide are economic stability and affordability — the ability of a household to meet its financial needs (such as food, housing, health insurance and transportation) sustainably and get health care while still being able to cover routine expenses. CT Paid Leave is a vital piece of that financial stability, allowing workers to maintain a level of income while addressing serious health concerns.
“Every Connecticut resident deserves to attain optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status,” said Kally Moquete, LMSW and Senior Manager of Policy at Health Equity Solutions. “Research and experience tell us the greatest barriers to achieving health equity for all people in Connecticut are rooted in the impacts of racism on health. CT Paid Leave is essential because it makes income replacement possible for all workers when they or a family member are experiencing a serious health condition. That is particularly important for black and brown people who disproportionately work in jobs that do not offer leave protections.”
To apply for CT Paid Leave benefits online, workers will first need to create an account with CT.gov. This will provide the applicant with a single identity and will take approximately 10 minutes. The applicant can then submit their claim online. Claims may also be filed by phone by calling (877) 499–8606. Hours of operation for a live representative are 8 AM to 8 PM ET, Monday through Friday.
For more information about CT Paid Leave and how to apply, please visit www.ctpaidleave.org.
