July 17, 2020 Rhode Island won't charge employer accounts for COVID-19 UI benefits through August 2, 2020 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:
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. ———————————————
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