PROVIDENCE – Over 40,000 individuals in Rhode Island are set to have their unemployment benefits expire on Sept. 4, as several COVID-19-related federal unemployment programs are scheduled to end, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said Wednesday.
The department said that due to the expirations of two programs, over 75% of unemployment claimants in Rhode Island will lose benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
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The PUA program extended benefits to individuals not normally eligible for unemployment benefits, including independent contractors, small-business owners and people out of work due to a COVID-19-related illness. The PEUC program extended benefits for claimants who exhausted their maximum of 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits.
In addition, the remaining 25% of claimants in the state will cease to receive the $300-per-week federal boost to their UI payments on Sept. 4, as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program also expires on that date.
The DLT said that regular unemployment benefits will continue to be paid to eligible claimants under state law. The department also reminded claimants that it offers several resources to help individuals rejoin the workforce, including job postings, career assistance, job coaches, job fairs and job training programs.
