McKee signs extension to unemployment benefits into law

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Gov. Dan McKee signed a bill to extend changes to unemployment regulations to put Rhode Islanders back to work.

The legislation aims to increase the wages residents can earn before having their benefits reduced. Rhode Islanders can earn up to half of their benefit amount before having any money taken away from their benefits.

Before the bill was passed, lawmakers said the threshold was 20%, so someone with benefits totaling $300 weekly would start having earnings subtracted once they earn $60 a week.

Under the new changes, that person could earn up to $150 weekly before having any impact on their benefits.

Officials said the legislation will also help businesses recover by incentivizing part-time workers to take additional shifts and work more hours because they can still keep some of their benefits.

“I introduced this bill because our small businesses are still struggling with a severe labor shortage,” said Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee, one of the sponsors of the bill. “With labor shortages still posing challenges in the state, it makes sense to extend this program that keeps our small businesses open and our employees working.”

The bill was also sponsored by the late Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin.