While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Rhode Island’s Unemployment Information page here.
Unemployment Insurance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to their bank account.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Rhode Island, you must:
Learn more about Rhode Island’s monetary requirements and personal eligibility requirements here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance on the RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Unemployment FAQ page here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Rhode Island, complete the following three steps:
The Rhode Island Unemployment Office does not accept applications over the phone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Rhode Island’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (401) 415-6772.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact a Rhode Island Unemployment Insurance agent at (401) 415-6772. The call center’s hours are as follows:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Rhode Island. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training takes 3.5% of the highest quarter’s earnings in the applicant’s base period.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Rhode Island is $51. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $566.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Submit your Weekly Certification Application here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
File your Weekly Certification Applications here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits if you fail to file Weekly Certifications.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can file an appeal online by filling out a request form here.
You will need to provide the following when filing your appeal:
After filing an appeal, be sure to continue filing your weekly claim here, or by phone at (401) 415-6772.
If you do not file weekly claims as you wait for your appeal to be reviewed, you will not receive benefits for those weeks even if your decision is changed.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training at (401) 415-6772. The call center’s hours are as follows:
You can also review the “Claimant Information” page on the DLT website here for answers to specific questions about Unemployment Insurance.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
For general questions, you can contact the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) at (401) 415-6772. The call center’s hours are as follows:
For those who are hard of hearing, call the TTY relay at 711 for assistance.
If you are calling from outside the state of Rhode Island, call (866) 557-0001.
If you are an employer and have a question about Unemployment Insurance, call (401) 243-9137. Or, call (401) 462-8418 for Workshare questions.
Rhode Island has 4 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Rhode Island DLT Contact page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | One Reservor Ave Providence, RI 02907 |
Phone: (401) 462-8900 Fax: (401) 462-8947 |
Monday-Thursday 8am to 4pm Friday 10am to 4pm |
| West Warwick | 1330 Main Street West Warwick, RI 02893 | Phone: (401) 828-8382 Fax: (401) 826-8991 |
Monday-Thursday 8am to 4pm Friday 10am to 4pm |
| Woonsocket | 219 Pond Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 | Phone: (401) 235-1201 Fax: (401) 235-1227 |
Monday-Thursday 8am to 4pm Friday 10am to 4pm |
| Wakefield | 4808 Tower Hill Road Wakefield, RI 02879 | Phone: (401) 782-4362 Fax: (401) 782-4351 |
Tuesday-Thursday 8am to 4pm |
To find more information on Rhode Island Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Rhode Island, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
The Rhode Island Unemployment Office does not accept applications over the phone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Rhode Island’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (401) 415-6772.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact a Rhode Island Unemployment Insurance agent at (401) 415-6772. The call center’s hours are as follows:
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Rhode Island Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) at (401) 415-6772.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your Unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week and Weekly Certification Application on the FAQs page here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can file an appeal online by filling out a request form here.
You will need to provide the following when filing your appeal:
After filing an appeal, be sure to continue filing your weekly claim here, or by phone at (401) 415-6772.
If you do not file weekly claims as you wait for your appeal to be reviewed, you will not receive benefits for those weeks even if your decision is changed.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training at (401) 415-6772. The call center’s hours are as follows:
You can also review the “Claimant Information” page on the DLT website here for answers to specific questions about Unemployment Insurance.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
