Rhode Island Unemployment Application Information

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) provides unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and have earned sufficient wages during the qualifying period. Such workers should be able and willing to accept work in order to continually receive such benefits. The Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits are funded by employers and workers don't pay anything at all. The amount of benefits you qualify to receive depends on wages you received during base period.

You can easily apply for benefits if you meet the requirements by simply filling a form online. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training provides a simple and intuitive online system for filing and managing your claims online. Alternatively, you can file your claim via telephone.

Apply for benefits as soon as you become eligible so that you don't lose any benefits. You will only receive benefits starting from the week in which you filed your claim. If you are filing a claim through telephone, avoid calling on Monday since it is the busiest day with a huge volume of calls.

Eligibility Requirements

Getting help with UI claim application in Rhode Island

Applying for UI benefits in Rhode Island is easy. If you need assistance, you can simply contact UI Call Center by visiting this page.

You can also contact Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training by calling at 401-462-8000 or send a fax to 401-462-86666.

You can download a guide that explains everything related to filing a UI claim in Rhode Island in detail by clicking this link.

Managing your UI benefits in Rhode Island

Since Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training uses an online system for UI claims, managing your claim is as easy as visiting a website. You can get information about status of your claim by simply visiting this link. You will need to provide confirmation number that you received when you filed your initial claim to access online system.

Learn more about UI benefits in Rhode Island

To learn more about UI in Rhode Island, visit this FAQ page. It answers most questions that you may have about UI benefits. For information about UI program in Rhode Island, simply visit UI website.

Unemployment Application Instructions


Although you can file your claim by telephone through UI Call Center, the fastest and the most efficient way is to file online. Follow these steps to file your initial claim or re-open an existing claim for UI benefits in Rhode Island.

- Visit this link to access online claim system.

- Select a language from dropdown menu on the next page and click Continue. Your options are English, Spanish and Portuguese. 

- Read information on the next page and click Proceed at the bottom when you are ready to start your claim.

- You will need to complete the application in next step. It will require you to provide personal information, dependent information, employment history, related employment information, related financial information, educational information and processing information.

- Once you have completed and submitted information, wait for the claim system to give you a conformation notice. Don't close your browser unless you receive confirmation that your data has been accepted and saved.