Filing an Unemployment Claim - Rhode Island

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You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. You must have earned sufficient wages in your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before the start date of your claim, or alternatively the last 4 quarters). Also, you must be able and available for full-time work.

You can apply online or over the phone by contacting 1-401-415-6772.

Your weekly benefit rate will be equal to 3.5% of your average quarterly wages in the two quarters of the base period in which you earned the most By law, a maximum weekly benefit rate is determined annually. It is equal to 67% of the average weekly wage of all workers covered by the Employment Security Act. Your weekly benefit rate remains the same throughout your benefit year.

The length of time that you will receive benefits is also based on how much you made during the base period, but not more than 26 weeks.

You must continue to file weekly either online or by telephone. Also, you must continue to be able and available for full-time work. You must actively seek employment, while keeping a record of your work search activities using the Work Search Activity Log. You must apply for three full-time jobs per week. Finally, you must accept suitable work.

You must appeal in writing within 15 days of the mailing date of the decision for denial. Decisions may be appealed online or by mail. Also, you should keep filing your weekly claims regularly because you could only be paid for weeks you filed if you win your appeal.

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Madeline Messa

Madeline Messa is a 3L at Syracuse University College of Law. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. With her legal research and writing for Workplace Fairness, she strives to equip people with the information they need to be their own best advocate.