Sec.31-236-23b. Voluntary leaving to follow spouse

(a) The Administrator shall not disqualify an individual from receiving benefits because the individual left suitable work to accompany such individual's spouse (1)to a place from which it is impractical for the individual to commute(2)due to a change in location of the spouse's employment.

(b) For purposes of this section, "spouse" means the individual's partner in a marriage or civil union legally recognized in the State of Connecticut.

(c) In determining whether it is impractical for an individual to commute from the new place of residence to the individual's place of employment, the Administrator shall consider:

(1) Availability of public transportation;

(2) Personal means of transportation available to the individual;

(3) Common commuting patterns for individuals similarly situated;

(4) The individual's physical condition; and

(5) Actual distance in miles between the individual's new residence and the place of employment.

(d) The individual shall provide the Administrator with available evidence necessary to support the individual's claim that the individual left the employment in order to accompany the individual's spouse to the place of the spouse's new employment. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to:

(1) A letter of offer provided to the spouse by the new employer or a letter from the spouse's current employer referencing a transfer to a new location;

(2) A paycheck receipt from the spouse's new employer;

(3) Workforce agency wage records, or similar records from other government records; or

(4) Any written communication between the spouse's employer and the spouse verifying the employment.

(e) The Administrator may request the spouse's Social Security number for verification of employment.

(f) In the case of military spouses, the Administrator shall not disqualify an individual from receiving benefits because the individual left suitable work to accompany such individual's spouse who is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States and is required to relocate by the armed forces. Such individual, however, shall provide the Administrator with available evidence necessary to support the individual's claim, such as a documentation verifying the spouse's mandatory military transfer.

(Adopted effective November 9, 2010)