New Unemployment Benefits Website Coming To Rhode Island

CRANSTON, RI — Rhode Island's unemployment benefits system will be replaced starting this week, the Department of Labor and Training announced. The new platform, called UI Online, "will give unemployment applicants greater transparency into their claims," the department said.

The new system will also offer claimants more self-service options online, reducing the need to call the department and experience long wait times, the department said, with both English and Spanish language availability.

"The past year and a half has made it clear that improvements to our 30-year-old unemployment system are necessary – and long overdue," DLT Director Matthew Weldon said. "I have personally heard from countless unemployment claimants who have been frustrated by the unemployment process, so I am excited to launch this new platform that will make filing a claim easier and more straightforward."

Under the new system, Rhode Islanders will be able to apply for unemployment benefits and track the status of their claim online. The site will also remind users to certify for weekly payments, send alerts if more information is needed and allow users to update their payment method.

The site will also increase front-end protections to combat fraudulent claims, Weldon said.

The department will launch the new system on a limited basis starting this week. Selected claimants will receive an email with a link to the new website. During the initial rollout, users will have the option to opt out and use the old system instead.

The system is expected to be fully operational by early next year, the department said. At that point, the new website will be the only way to file an unemployment claim online. Claims can also be filed over the phone by calling 401-415-6772.