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The state’s UniteCT COVID-19 emergency assistance program is seeing some big changes that increase what the state will pay out to landlords.

Only 250 rental relief payments have been OK’d by state officials since Connecticut’s program launched in March, Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said Wednesday.

At the same time, only about 1,000 tenants and landlords have filed applications so far, the governor’s office said.

UniteCT provides qualified households with up to $10,000 in past-due and prospective rent payments, as well as up to $1,500 in payments for past-due electric bills. Payments are typically made by the state directly to landlords and utility companies on behalf of tenants. The program is funded with $457 million in federal pandemic aid.

Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno acknowledged the program had initially seen problems.

“The UniteCT team continues the work of being better today than yesterday at breaking down barriers to delivering financial assistance to Connecticut renters affected by this unprecedented crisis. These changes couldn’t come at a better time as UniteCT is deliberately increasing efforts to clear the backlog of applicants. The change in income verification will allow for a shorter turnaround time from application submittal to payment,” she said in a statement.

The state Department of Housing recently announced changes to the program, which Lamont’s office said would streamline the process and do more to help reluctant renters and their landlords.

The program will now:

• Cover back rent through March 13, 2020, rather than only those accrued in the last six months
• Reimburse landlords for 100 percent of back rent, instead of the original 85 percent.
• Cover three full months of prospective rent, instead of requiring certain tenants to contribute a portion of their income.
• Prevent evictions for nonpayment of rent for the period covered by the money the state pays out.
• Use information the state already has on file about an applicant, thanks to other state programs, to streamline the application process.
• Consider waiving the $10,000-per-renter limit on rental assistance on a case-by-case basis based on what Lamont’s office called “extenuating circumstances.”

“Thanks to UniteCT, more than a thousand Connecticut residents and counting are getting back on their feet without worrying about the roof over their heads, and landlords are receiving payments on their behalf,” Lamont said in a statement. “I’m confident that UniteCT will help more households each week going forward, and I applaud our congressional delegation and the Biden-Harris administration for continuing to work with our state to help families recover from the financial impact of the pandemic.”

Landlords and tenants who already received help from UniteCT will also be eligible for more help under the changes. The Department of Housing will contact them with instructions, Lamont’s office said.