Under the CARES Act, Congress expanded unemployment compensation for workers who have lost income, contracts, or their jobs as a result of COVID-19. Most recently, the American Rescue Plan Act extended the following provisions:

·         Extends Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) from 50 weeks to up to 73 weeks through                September 6, 2021

·         Extends Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation from 24 to 53 weeks

·         Provides an additional $300 in weekly benefits through September 6, 2021

·         Modernizes the unemployment insurance system

The exact amount you can receive through unemployment benefits depends on your previous earnings.  Through September 2021, an additional $300 will be added to most weekly unemployment benefits, so individuals receiving unemployment benefits should receive no less than $300 per week.

For more information or to apply for unemployment insurance, visit the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s Website.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs

In June, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) received $3,962,000 in federal funding to support its Apprenticeship FOWARD Project. Apprenticeships provide an on-ramp to job-training and career path, where participants earn as they learn. Rhode Island’s apprenticeship programs that will benefit from this grant include: construction, health care, manufacturing, green/plant-based industries, and business services, including information technology.