Additional Benefits Update: Extension to Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Signed into Law November 6, 2009

On November 6, the president signed into law a new unemployment insurance benefit extension program.

These additional benefits begin the week of November 8 and offer a maximum of 20 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to eligible claimants.

If you are currently collecting Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation, you will automatically have your benefits extended further, and will receive a revised monetary determination based on this latest extension.

If you are currently collecting State Extended Benefits, you will continue in this program until your benefits are exhausted. At that point, the department will inform you of the procedure to collect additional federal benefits made possible through the latest extension.

If you have received extended benefits in the past and have exhausted these extended benefits, you may be eligible for this latest extension if:

• You have a claim with a benefit year ending May 5, 2007 or later;
• You have been totally or partially unemployed during the week you are claiming benefits; and
• You continue to be able, available and actively seeking full-time work.

If you have exhausted benefits and are potentially eligible for additional benefits, you will receive a letter and eligibility form in the mail some time after November 9. You have until Wednesday, November 18 to return this form. When you complete and return the form, department will determine your eligibility. If you are eligible for additional benefits, staff will re-open your claim and certify you for payment for the first week of payments. Beginning the week ending November 21, you will be required to certify through TeleServe for weekly payments.

RI Department of Labor and Training
Unemployment Insurance
1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 462-8400