The state doled out $73 million in benefits through the paid leave program to 18,652 people in the first three months of the year, according to new data from the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority.
The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority announced this week that 22,838 claims were filed in the first quarter of 2023, from January through March 30. More than half of claims, 51%, were because of a serious health condition of the person filing. Another 15% were for pregnancy, 21% were for bonding, 12% were to care for a family member and 1% were for other reasons.
The state’s paid leave program, funded through a 0.5% payroll deduction, began accepting applications on Dec. 1, 2021.
According to the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, the average time to make an initial decision on whether to approve or deny leave to an applicant was 4.1 days. Of the 23,148 decisions made in the first quarter of the year, 15,674, or 67.7%, were approved while 7,474, or 32.3%, were denied.
