How to Get Unemployment Benefits in Rhode Island

Well its not a secret that the unemployment rate in this country has reached an all time high and thousands of people of losing there jobs by the day. During these troubling times Rhode Island has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country. Rhode Island is experiencing unemployment at a rate of 10.3%. Due to this high demand for unemployment benefits in Rhode Island the state had to ask the federal government for a loan. This article is a guide to unemployment benefits in Rhode Island. Within this guide I will tell you when you can file for unemployment insurance, where to file, and how to file.

Step #1 When?

I wish I could say that this process is quick and easy but I am not going to lie. This can be a grueling process that may take weeks. The Unemployment Office will tell you that it usually takes about three weeks after being unemployed to start receiving your payments. Well ... don't hold your breath, but cross your fingers. To file for unemployment insurance in the State of Rhode Island you need to meet the following criteria.

• You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. (if you were caught stealing from the cookie jar, then you can forget about it)
• You must be available to work
• You must be able to work
• You must be actively searching for work
• You must accept reasonable job offers

There are also certain earning requirements set by the department to claim unemployment benefits in Rhode Island.

• You need to have earned at least $8,880 in your base period or your alternative base period. (I will explain this in detail in a second, because I was just as confused as you are right now when I first started this process.)
• If you did not earn this much money in either your base period or your alternative base period all the following conditions have to be met:

1. You earned $1480 or more in one of your base quarters and
2. You were paid total base wages of 1.5 times you highest single base quarter.
3. You were paid total base period wages of $2960

Trust me again I know what you are thinking "what does all that mean?" I will explain base period as best as I can. If you still have questions and feel free to call the Rhode Island Unemployment Insurance Hotline at (401)243-9100 you can get all your questions answered after sitting on hold for 3 hours.

A base period is usually considered the last four out of five completed calendar quarters that passed before your claim. The quarters are:

• January 1 thru March 31
• April 1 thru June 30
• July 1 thru September 30
• October 1 thru December 31

Step #2 Where?

Where to file is the easy part. There are three ways to file:

1. On the phone by calling (401)243-9100
2. On the internet at www.dlt.state.ri.us/ui
3. Or in person at their office located at:

1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston RI 02920

Step #3 How?

How you start receiving unemployment benefits is the last area I need to cover with you. After filing for unemployment benefits its will take a couple weeks to hear back from the state. You will receive a letter in the mail telling you what your benefit amount will be if you do get granted unemployment insurance. A phone interview will be scheduled at a certain date and time. At this time an employee of the state will call you and ask you questions regarding your past employment and the reason for leaving. Your previous employer will also either be on the phone or has already been interview and can tell them in their words why you were terminated from the company. Do not think about lying because they will find out, and you will automatically be denied. Hopefully after about three weeks you are given the okay to start collecting. You will have to call a number weekly and request your money and also report if you made income anywhere else for the prior week. If you have made money the prior week at all they will deduct this amount from your benefit for that week.

Finally a list of questions that many people ask:

What happens if I get denied unemployment insurance?
If you get denied benefits you may appeal the decision. You will be offered a hearing in which you can present witness's or documents on your behalf.

How long can I collect for?
The most you can collect for is 26 full weeks. Sometimes you are allowed extensions call the Department with further questions on this topic.

Are there any dependent benefits?
Yes. You can have a maximum of 5 dependents and you will receive 5% of your benefit amount per dependent.

Hope this helped and good luck getting unemployment benefits in Rhode Island!

http://www.dlt.ri.gov/News_Releases/NR_030609.htm

http://www.dlt.ri.gov/ui