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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - YOUR BENEFIT RIGHTS
Introduction
The RI DLT pays Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to workers who are
unemployed through no fault of their own and, have sufficient wages in
their base period and, are able, available, and actively seeking full-time
work. Your employer pays all costs. Unemployment Insurance claims are
filed by telephone through the UI Call Center. For answers to frequently
asked questions, visit our website at www.dlt.ri.gov/uifaq2.htm
How and When to File for Unemployment Insurance?
To file for benefits or to obtain information, telephone the Call Center
at (401) 243-9100; Monday - Thursday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Friday 9:00
am to 3:00 pm. Claims can also be filed over the Internet by visiting
the DLT website at https://uiclaims.state.ri.us/RI-ICS/Intro/Index.asp
- Call within seven
(7) calendar days of your last day of work to avoid possible loss or
delay of payment.
- Avoid calling
on Mondays, if possible, as this is our highest volume day.
- Have available
your Social Security number and the names and addresses of all your
employers in the last two years.
- The Immigration
Reform & Control Act of 1986 requires non-citizens to provide documentation
showing legal alien status.
What Are the Earning
Requirements for UI?
The minimum earnings requirement is currently $8,880 in your Base Period.
This figure will change each time the minimum wage is increased. If you
did not earn this amount, you may be eligible if you meet all of the following:
(1) You earned at
least $1,480 in one of your Base Period quarters, and
(2) You earned total Base Period wages of at least one and one-half times
your highest single quarter earnings, and
(3) You earned total Base Period wages of at least $2,960.
Note: If you had a previous claim that has expired, you must also have
worked again since filing that claim and must have been paid wages of
at least 80 times the RI minimum hourly wage.
What is the Base Period? The Base Period is the first four of the
last five completed calendar quarters before the starting date of your
new claim.
For Example; If you filed a claim between the following dates:
File: January through March Base Period would be: The prior:October through
September
File: April through June Base Period would be: The prior:January through
December
File: July through September Base Period would be: The prior:April through
March
File: October through December Base Period would be: the prior:July through
June
Note: If your earnings in the regular Base Period are insufficient to
qualify you for benefits, we will automatically recompute your claim using
an Alternate Base Period. This new period consists of the last four completed
calendar quarters before the starting date of your claim.
When Does My Claim Begin? Your claim normally begins the Sunday
before the date on which you call to file the claim; provided you did
not work or worked and earned less than your Weekly Benefit Rate during
that week. This begins your Benefit Year, a 52-week period. Any additional
claims (refiles) you request during this period will have the same Benefit
Year as your first claim.
How Much Will I Receive? Your Benefit Rate is your basic weekly
payment amount, excluding Dependency Allowances. It is equal to 4.62%
of the amount you were paid in the Base Period Quarter in which you earned
the most wages, not to exceed the defined maximum amount. Once your Benefit
Rate is determined, it remains the same for your entire Benefit Year.
We will send you a Benefit Rate Decision, which shows your rate and the
wage information used to determine it. For Benefit Years beginning on
or after July 1, 2007 the maximum weekly benefit rate is $513.
Can I Be Paid for a Dependent Child? You may receive a Dependency
Allowance if you have children under 18 who are dependent on you. Handicapped
children 18 or older may also qualify. Only natural, stepchildren, legally
adopted children, or court appointed wards may be claimed as dependents.
You must provide the Social Security number of the child when you file
the claim. The amount of the weekly allowance is equal to the greater
of $10 or 5% of your Benefit Rate and is limited to five (5) children.
Your Dependency Allowance is determined at the start of your Benefit Year
and no changes can be made for a child born on or after the beginning
of the claim.
When Does My Claim End? Your claim ends 52 weeks after the beginning
date. This is called the Benefit Year Ending date or BYE. The BYE Code,
the last two numbers of the BYE year, is used each time you call the automated
telephone payment line.
How Long Can I Collect? The number of weeks of benefits can range
from 8 to a maximum of 26. The monetary determination mailed to you will
show the number of weeks of entitlement. If you wish to make an estimate
of weeks, follow these steps:
1. Multiply your Base Period Wages times 36%.
2. Divide amount from Step 1 by the Benefit Rate you estimated in "How
Much Will I Receive?"
3. Resulting figure is the number of weeks of benefits available to you,
not to exceed the maximum of 26.
Is There a Waiting Period? Yes, the first week of an eligible new
claim is a Waiting Period for which no benefits are paid. This Waiting
Period is applied once per year.
What are my Payment Options?
- Direct Deposit
to your checking or savings account is available OR
- Electronic Payment
Card (EPC): If you do not elect Direct Deposit, you will automatically
be sent an Electronic Payment Card (EPC), which works like a debit card.
Visit www.dlt.ri.gov/ui and click
on the Electronic Payment Card (EPC) for detailed information.
Is Unemployment
Insurance Benefits Taxable? YES. You may choose to have a percentage
of your weekly benefit amount withheld for Federal and State Income Taxes.
Information on how to apply for this is sent to you when you file your
claim. Form 1099 is sent to you by January 31st telling you the benefits
paid and amounts withheld during the previous year. This notice is sent
to your last known address. To insure receipt of your 1099, notify the
Call Center of any change in address.
Can I Work and Collect? If you are working less than full-time
hours and your gross wages (before taxes) are less than your weekly benefit
rate (excluding dependency allowances), you may be entitled to partial
benefits. Example; Weekly benefit rate is $200. You earned $100. The "difference"
between the two is $100. The Department will pay you the "difference"
plus 20% of your Benefit Rate (BR). Difference = $100.+ 20% of BR payment
is $140.
If I'm Denied Benefits, What Happens? If you are denied benefits,
you will receive a written decision giving the reason and dates of the
denials. Read it carefully. It will include instructions for filing a
timely appeal by mail or fax. The time limit for filing the appeal includes
all holidays and weekends. Failure to file a timely appeal may prevent
you from having the original decision changed. A late appeal can be filed
and a determination will be made if there is good cause for filing late.
You may be denied benefits for the following; this list does not include
all reasons for which benefits may be denied.
- Quit your job
without good cause.
- Were discharged
for just cause.
- Are unemployed
due to a strike.
- Are not available
for work, are unable to work, or are not actively seeking work.
- Refuse or fail
to apply for available, suitable work.
- Have earnings
equal to or more than your weekly benefit amount.
What If I Worked
In Another State? Telephone the Call Center to file your claim. You
will be informed of the options available. They may include filing directly
against the other state or possibly combining wages from two or more states,
depending on your individual situation.
What If I Live in Another State and Worked in RI? Telephone the
RI Call Center at Toll Free: 1-866-557-0001 or (401) 243-9146 (not toll
free) to file your claim.
What If I Worked for the Military or the Federal Government? Telephone
the Call Center or go to the Internet website at https://uiclaims.state.ri.us/RI-ICS/Intro/Index.asp
to file your claim. You will be informed of the specific requirements
needed. If Military, have your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) available. If Federal
Government, have your SF-8 available.
Am I Required to Look for Work? The law requires that you make
an active search for work. If you have a definite return to work date
within 12 weeks of your last day of work or you are a member of a labor
union that uses a "hiring Hall" or business agent to find you
work, you may be exempt from looking for work.
How Do I Look for Work? The RI Department of Labor & Training
has established netWORKri
Career Center as your single point of contact for finding quality
employment and training services. Each center is equipped with professional
staff, advanced technology and informational resources.
- Register with
the Career Center and visit them regularly.
- · Keep
a written record of your weekly work search efforts, including employer
visits, applications, resumes, interviews, etc.
The Department conducts ongoing Reemployment programs that identify individuals
that may need additional assistance in finding reemployment. If selected
you must report to a Career Center as instructed. Failure to report could
cause a delay or loss of your benefits.
What About School Worker Claims? The Federal Unemployment Tax Act
states that employees of educational institutions will be ineligible to
receive unemployment insurance (based on such service) between academic
years or terms, if the employee has a reasonable assurance of returning
to work with that employer. However, if you have sufficient wages without
using school wages, you may be eligible to receive unemployment insurance.
What If I Have a Pension? There is a Federal Pension offset law that
requires us to deduct certain types of pensions from unemployment benefits.
Pension must be based on your work not a spouse, and must be connected
to your recent base period employer(s). Employer pensions that you make
contributions to are deductible at a 50% rate. Pensions that are 100%
funded by the employer are 100% deductible from unemployment benefits.
Tuition Waiver - If you meet the eligibility requirements, you
may be able to take courses, for credit, at a RI state-operated college
or university without having to pay tuition. Unemployed individuals can
request a tuition waiver from the college or university for these courses.
Their DLT provides a letter certifying that you are receiving benefits
but has no control over your admission to the course. For more information,
contact any RI state-operated college or university.
Fraud Detection Program - Every employer who pays wages in Rhode
Island is required to report those wages every quarter to the RI DLT.
Persons who work and collect unemployment at the same time should be aware
our Cross-Match program would detect such activity. Cases of fraud are
prosecuted through the State Police Department. Any person convicted of
willful misrepresentation or withholding information to obtain benefits
can be fined or imprisoned.
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