Work Search Requirement

You need to complete three (3) work search activities each week. The following are acceptable work search activities:

• Applying for a full-time job for which you are reasonably qualified.
• Interviewing for a full-time job for which you are reasonably qualified.
• Attending a career fair (virtual or in-person) for a full-time job for which you are reasonably qualified.

Each work search record must include:

• Name and address of the company
• Date you applied for work or interviewed
• Specific position and shift you applied for
• Way you applied for work: in person, sent resume, via the internet, etc.
• A copy of your confirmation number or response from an employer if applying online and that information is available

You need to save documentation of your work search and records of all applications and interviews for one year.

You can simplify the process by using our work search log, available in PDF and Excel format. We strongly recommend you save all confirmation emails or documentation to prove your work search.

You are not required to look for work if you:

• Have a definite and verifiable return-to-work date within twelve (12) weeks from the last day of work.
• Are in a department-approved vocational training or adult education program.
• Are a member (in good standing) of a labor union that uses a “hiring hall” or business agent to find work.
• Are on WorkShare.

If you're working part-time while receiving a partial UI benefit, you are still required to apply for three full-time jobs per week. While we encourage people to take on part-time work when available, the goal of unemployment insurance is to help support you until you're able to return to full-time work, so you still need to look for full-time jobs even if you're currently working part-time.

You are not required to look for work if you have a definite and verifiable return-to-work date within twelve (12) weeks from the last day of work.

If it has been more than 12 weeks since your last day of work, then you are required to be actively seeking work.

No, you do not currently need to submit your work search log to DLT when you certify weekly. Just make sure to answer “yes” when asked if you are actively seeking suitable work.

However, your claim may be randomly audited at any time, and at that point you would be required to send DLT records of your work search that will then be verified by DLT. If you fail to do so, your claim may be set up for an administrative review which could potentially lead to your benefits being stopped and a recoverable overpayment. That means you would be required to pay back UI benefits for any week that you did not look for work.

There are a few instances where you may be required to provide your work search records to DLT.

• Random claim audits are conducted by the Benefit Accuracy Measurement team. If your claim is randomly selected for audit, it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong, but attendance is mandatory. Failure to participate or provide work search will stop your benefits and may create an overpayment.
• Adjudication is scheduled to review your eligibility for benefits as needed. If adjudication is necessary for your claim, be prepared for your appointment and provide all information requested. As part of this process, you may be asked to provide your work search records.
• Some claimants will be selected to participate in the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. If you are selected, you will be provided with additional employment services and be required to submit your work search records. Failure to participate or provide work search will stop your benefits and may create an overpayment.

You cannot refuse a genuine offer of suitable work and still receive unemployment benefits. The employer that you refuse work from can report you to DLT, and your claim would then be adjudicated (reviewed for continued eligibility) to determine whether the offer of work was suitable, or whether you had a legitimate reason to turn down the work.

“Suitable work” is any work that someone in your occupation would typically perform, that is located within a reasonable distance of your home or last place of work, and is not detrimental to your health or safety.

Adjudication means that DLT has questions about your eligibility for unemployment insurance. Because unemployment recipients need to be available for and actively seeking work, if you turn down a job offer or are not looking for work the Department may need to review your claim to see whether or not you’re still eligible for benefits.

If your claim is being adjudicated, you will receive written notification of the date and time of the scheduled telephone interview. You and your employer (if needed) will be contacted by an investigator to hear all the facts related to the issue, and you will have an opportunity to present your side of the case. You may bring witnesses or someone to represent you, and you should bring any documents or other evidence that will support your claim. The adjudicator will then make a decision on whether or not you can receive benefits. You will continue to receive payments while your claim is in adjudication until a decision is issued by the department. You have the right to appeal if you do not agree with the decision. More information is available here.

Backtoworkri.com is Rhode Island’s Virtual Career Center and has numerous resources available to jobseekers. You can schedule a one-on-one virtual meeting with a job coach, use the CareerCompass to get recommendations of careers that would be a good fit, enroll in vocational trainings, and attend virtual job fairs with employers.

EmployRI.com lists thousands of job opportunities pulled from across the state.

There are also numerous other job sites, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Monster.