Unemployment compensation cut for those who held Rhode Island jobs

Posted on April 2, 2013

Unemployment compensation has been cut by 12% for those who held Rhode Island jobs.

The RI Department of Labor and Training announced today that beginning April 21, 2013, weekly benefits for the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program will be reduced.

The reduction is due to federal sequestration.

These reductions will not be reflected in benefit payments until the week of April 28.

The department estimates that up to 8,000 RI unemployment insurance claimants may be impacted by these benefit cuts. The average weekly EUC benefit is $377; therefore, the average reduction will be $46 each week. This represents an estimated loss of $1.5 million in total benefits each month.

The department will be notifying EUC claimants of the upcoming reductions by mail. It also plans to broadcast an automated telephone message to EUC claimants during the week of April 21st.

The EUC program is a federally funded extended benefit program that allows long-term unemployed job seekers up to 47 additional weeks of unemployment insurance beyond the 26-week maximum offered through regular unemployment insurance.