Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's recently issued Executive Order 20-52 extends to August 2, 2020 a provision under Executive Order 20-19 that provides COVID-19 unemployment insurance (UI) benefits won't be charged to employer UI accounts. (EY Payroll Newsflash Vol. 21, #177, 4-21-2020.)

Businesses are required to report employees who refuse to return work

According to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, businesses that are reopening should report workers who refuse to return to work here.

Unless workers can prove good cause for their refusal to return to work, they will be considered ineligible to continue to receive UI benefits.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training, during the COVID-19 pandemic good cause for refusal to return to work may include:

• Testing positive for COVID-19 and therefore unable to work
• A doctor recommends the individual not work because they are high-risk
• The individual is the sole caregiver for someone who has no place to receive care (due to school/daycare closures) and cannot stay home alone.

Maximum weekly state UI benefit amounts increased as of July 1, 2020

The Department announced that beginning July 1, 2020, the maximum weekly UI benefit amount increased to $599, an increase of $13. For claimants reporting five or more dependents, the maximum weekly UI benefit amount is $748.

Effective July 1, 2020, the maximum weekly temporary disability insurance amount increased to $887 per claimant and $1,197 for claimants with five or more dependents.

———————————————

———————————————
ATTACHMENT

EY Payroll News Flash