Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday that action is being taken to help workers affected by the partial government shutdown.

Lamont says the state is working with private sector banks to provide interest-free loans to federal employees who are currently working without pay and are not eligible for traditional unemployment benefits. It's part of a public-private partnership led by Webster Bank.

 

"Of those 1,500 employees here in the state of Connecticut, approximately 80 percent are essential and deemed as such they are not eligible for unemployment compensation," says Lamont. "They are doing this work without being paid and that's causing incredible stress for them and their families, and we're not going to let that happen."

Lamont says non-essential furloughed workers are already eligible for unemployment compensation and can reach out to the American Jobs Center or the governor's office for help getting these benefits.