Unemployment After Being Fired in Rhode Island
Whether you can collect unemployment in Rhode Island after being fired, what counts as misconduct, and how to appeal a denial.
Short answer: If you are discharged, or suspended without pay, for proved misconduct connected with your work, you get no benefits until you earn at least 8 times your weekly benefit rate in new covered work. R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-18
| If you were fired | If you are discharged, or suspended without pay, for proved misconduct connected with your work, you get no benefits until you earn at least 8 times your weekly benefit rate in new covered work. Misconduct means deliberate conduct in willful disregard of the employer's interest, or knowingly breaking a reasonable rule or policy that the employer enforces uniformly. It does not include a violation that results from incompetence. Being required to retire under a retirement plan is never treated as misconduct. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-18 |
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| Appealing a denial | You must appeal in writing within 15 days after the determination is mailed. The appeal goes to the Board of Review, which may extend the deadline for good cause. |
Where to get help in Rhode Island
More Rhode Island unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your Rhode Island Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in Rhode Island
- Unemployment After Quitting in Rhode Island
- How Much Unemployment Pays in Rhode Island
- How to File for Unemployment in Rhode Island
- All Rhode Island unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
Can you get unemployment if you were fired in Rhode Island?
If you are discharged, or suspended without pay, for proved misconduct connected with your work, you get no benefits until you earn at least 8 times your weekly benefit rate in new covered work. Misconduct means deliberate conduct in willful disregard of the employer's interest, or knowingly breaking a reasonable rule or policy that the employer enforces uniformly. It does not include a violation that results from incompetence. Being required to retire under a retirement plan is never treated as misconduct.
How do I appeal an unemployment denial in Rhode Island?
You must appeal in writing within 15 days after the determination is mailed. The appeal goes to the Board of Review, which may extend the deadline for good cause.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.