Rhode Island Unemployment Benefits 2026: $777 Max, Weeks, How to File

(a)(1) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after October 1, 1989, and prior to July 1, 2012, four and sixty-two hundredths percent (4.62%) of the wages paid to the individual in that calendar quarter of the base period in which the individual’s wages were highest; (2) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2012, and prior to July 1, 2013, four and thirty-eight hundredths percent (4.38%) of the average quarterly wage paid to the individual in the two (2) calendar quarters of the base period in which the individual’s wages were highest; (3) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2013, and prior to July 1, 2014, four and…

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

The total amount of benefits payable during a benefit year to any eligible individual whose benefit year begins on or after October 1, 1989, but prior to July 1, 2012, shall be an amount equal to thirty-six percent (36%) of the individual’s total wages for employment by employers subject to chapters 42 — 44 of this title during his or her base period; provided, that the total amount of benefits payable during a benefit year to any eligible individual whose benefit year begins on or after July 1, 2012, shall be an amount equal to thirty-three percent (33%) of the individual’s total wages for employment by employers subject to chapters 42 — 44 of this title during his or her base period; provided, that no individual shall be paid total benefits in any benefit year that exceed twenty-six (26) times his or her weekly benefit rate. Dependents’ allowances to which he or she might be entitled under § 28-44-6 shall be in addition to the total benefits. If the total amount of benefits is not an exact multiple of one dollar ($1.00), then it shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00).

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) An individual shall be deemed eligible for benefits for any given week of his or her unemployment only if he or she has within the base period immediately preceding the benefit year in which that week of unemployment occurs earned wages amounting to at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage as defined in chapter 12 of this title in each of at least twenty (20) weeks, or, in the alternative, in an amount equal to three (3) times the total minimum amount required; provided, that this section as amended by P.L. 1976, ch. 297, § 1 applies only to those individuals whose benefit years begin on or after July 4, 1976, and prior to October 1, 1989.

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(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the waiting period of any individual shall be either: (1) Seven (7) consecutive days, commencing with the Sunday of the week in which the claimant filed a claim for benefits, during which that individual is totally unemployed due to lack of work; or (2) Seven (7) consecutive days, commencing with the Sunday of the week in which the claimant filed a claim for benefits, during which that individual is employed less than full time due to lack of work and during which he or she has earned remuneration for services performed in an amount less than his or her weekly benefit rate; provided, that no waiting period credit can be given in either case if a disqualification has been imposed with respect to the whole or any portion of that seven-day (7) period under § 28-44-12 or §§ 28-44-16 — 28-44-21. (b) No waiting period shall be given to any individual unless he or she has filed a valid claim in accordance with regulations adopted as prescribed.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) For benefit years beginning prior to July 1, 2012, an individual who leaves work voluntarily without good cause shall be ineligible for waiting period credit, or benefits for the week in which the voluntary quit occurred, and until he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he or she has subsequent to that leaving had at least eight (8) weeks of work, and in each of those eight (8) weeks has had earnings of at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage as defined in chapter 12 of this title for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42 — 44 of this title.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) For benefit years beginning prior to July 1, 2012, an individual who has been discharged for proved misconduct connected with his or her work shall become ineligible for waiting period credit or benefits for the week in which that discharge occurred and until he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he or she has, subsequent to that discharge, had at least eight (8) weeks of work, and in each of that eight (8) weeks has had earnings of at least twenty (20) times the minimum hourly wage as defined in chapter 12 of this title for performing services in employment for one or more employers subject to chapters 42 — 44 of this title.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) An individual shall not be eligible for benefits for any week of his or her partial or total unemployment unless during that week he or she is physically able to work full-time and be available for full-time work. To prove availability for work, every individual partially or totally unemployed shall register for work and shall: (1) File a claim for benefits within any time limits, with any frequency, and in any manner, in person or in writing, as the director may prescribe; (2) Respond whenever duly called for work through the employment office; and (3) Make an active, independent search for suitable, full-time work. (b) If an unemployed individual has been determined to be likely to exhaust regular benefits and to need reemployment services pursuant to a profiling system established by the director, the individual shall be eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the individual participates in reemployment services, such as job search assistance services, unless the director determines that: (1) The individual has completed those services; or (2) There is justifiable cause for the individual’s failure to participate in those services.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

For weeks beginning on or after July 1, 1983, an individual partially unemployed and eligible in any week shall be paid sufficient benefits with respect to that week, so that the individual’s week’s wages, rounded to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1.00), as defined in § 28-42-3(26), and the individual’s benefits combined will equal in amount the weekly benefit rate to which the individual would be entitled if totally unemployed in that week. For weeks beginning on or after May 23, 2021, through June 30, 2026, an individual partially unemployed and eligible in any week shall be paid benefits in an amount equal to the weekly benefit rate to which the individual would be entitled if totally unemployed in that week less any wages earned in that week, as defined in § 28-42-3(26), and the individual’s benefits combined may not exceed in amount one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the individual’s weekly benefit rate.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a)(1) The director shall promptly determine: (i) Whether or not the claimant has met the eligibility requirements set forth in § 28-44-11. Thereupon the director shall promptly notify the claimant in writing of that monetary determination, including the reasons upon which the monetary determination was based. The director may at any time within one year from the date of the monetary determination, either upon request of the claimant or on his or her own motion, reconsider that determination if he or she finds that an error in computation or in identity has occurred in connection with it, or that additional wages pertinent to the status of the claimant have become available, or if that initial monetary determination was made as a result of a nondisclosure or misrepresentation of a material fact.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

After a hearing, an appeal tribunal shall promptly make findings and conclusions and on the basis of those findings and conclusions affirm, modify, or reverse the director’s determination. Each party shall promptly be furnished a copy of the decision and supporting findings and conclusions. This decision shall be final unless further review is initiated pursuant to § 28-44-47 within fifteen (15) days after the decision has been mailed to each party’s last known address or otherwise delivered to him or her; provided, that the period may be extended for good cause.

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Any party in interest, including the director, shall be allowed an appeal to the board of review from the decision of an appeal tribunal. The board of review on its own motion may initiate a review of a decision or determination of an appeal tribunal within fifteen (15) days after the date of the decision. The board of review may affirm, modify, or reverse the findings or conclusions of the appeal tribunal solely on the basis of evidence previously submitted or upon the basis of any additional evidence that it may direct to be taken.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

Each party shall be promptly furnished a copy of the decision and the supporting findings and conclusions of the board of review. The decision shall be final unless any party in interest, including the director, initiates judicial review by filing a petition with the clerk of the sixth division of the district court within thirty (30) days as set forth in the administrative procedures act, chapter 35 of title 42. The petition for review shall state the grounds upon which review is sought but need not be verified. Exceptions taken to the rulings of the board of review shall not be necessary to obtain judicial review nor shall a bond be required either as a condition of initiating a proceeding for judicial review of a determination of benefit rights or of entering an appeal from the decision of the court upon that review.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

The following words and phrases, as used in chapters 42 — 44 of this title, have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: (1) “Administration account” means the employment security administration account established by this chapter. (2) “Average weekly wage” means the amount determined by dividing the individual’s total wages earned for service performed in employment within the individual’s base period by the number of that individual’s credit weeks within the individual’s base period. (3) “Base period,” with respect to an individual’s benefit year, means the first four (4), of the most recently completed five (5) calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual’s benefit year. For any individual’s benefit year, and for any individual deemed monetarily ineligible for benefits for the “base period” as defined in this subdivision, the department shall make a re-determination of entitlement based upon the alternate base period that consists of the last four (4) completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of the claimant’s benefit year.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) Any individual who, by reason of a mistake or misrepresentation made by himself, herself, or another, has received any sum as benefits under chapters 42 — 44 of this title, in any week in which any condition for the receipt of the benefits imposed by those chapters was not fulfilled by him or her, or with respect to any week in which he or she was disqualified from receiving those benefits, shall in the discretion of the director be liable to have that sum deducted from any future benefits payable to him or her under those chapters, or shall be liable to repay to the director for the employment security fund a sum equal to the amount so received, plus, if the benefits were received as a result of misrepresentation or fraud by the recipient, interest on the benefits at the rate set forth in § 28-43-15. That sum shall be collectible in the manner provided in § 28-43-18 for the collection of past due contributions. All interest received pursuant to this subsection shall be credited to the employment security interest fund created by § 28-42-75. (b) The department, by agreement with another state or the United States, as required by 42 U.S.C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a)(1) It shall be unlawful to do any of the following: (i) Make or cause to be made any knowingly false or fraudulent material statement or material representation for the purpose of obtaining or denying any benefits; (ii) Present, or cause to be presented, any knowingly false or fraudulent written or oral material statement in support of, or in opposition to, any claim for benefits or petition regarding the continuation, termination, or modification of benefits; (iii) Knowingly assist, aid and abet, solicit, or conspire with any person who engages in an unlawful act under this section; (iv) Willfully misrepresent or fail to disclose any material fact in order to avoid or reduce any contribution or other payment required of an employing unit under chapters 42 — 44 of this title; (v) Willfully fail to report or provide false or misleading information regarding ownership changes as required by regulations promulgated by the department; or (vi) Willfully make or require any deduction from wages to pay all, or any portion of, the contributions required from employers, or try to induce any individual to waive any right under chapters 42 — 44 of this title.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov

(a) General. The Rhode Island income of a resident individual means the individual’s adjusted gross income for federal income tax purposes, with the modifications specified in this section. (b) Modifications increasing federal adjusted gross income. There shall be added to federal adjusted gross income: (1) Interest income on obligations of any state, or its political subdivisions, other than Rhode Island or its political subdivisions; (2) Interest or dividend income on obligations or securities of any authority, commission, or instrumentality of the United States, but not of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions, to the extent exempted by the laws of the United States from federal income tax but not from state income taxes; (3) The modification described in § 44-30-25(g); (4)(i) The amount defined below of a nonqualified withdrawal made from an account in the tuition savings program pursuant to § 16-57-6.1. For purposes of this section, a nonqualified withdrawal is: (A) A transfer or rollover to a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov