Report: Rhode Island Slowest on Unemployment Appeals

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A newspaper's analysis of federal data finds that Rhode Island takes longer than any state to decide on appeals over denied unemployment benefits.

Federal regulations require states to issue at least 60 percent of decisions within 30 days after appeals are first filed. The Providence Journal's analysis finds fewer than 1 percent in Rhode Island are resolved in that time frame.

States also are required to issue at least 80 percent of decisions within the first 45 days after appeals are filed. The analysis finds Rhode Island issues just 1.1 percent within that period.

Both rates are the worst in the nation.

Thomas J. Daniels, chairman of the state Labor Department's appeals panel, says the agency is overwhelmed with too many cases and not enough staff to process them quickly enough.

___

Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

Copyright NECNMIGR - NECN
Contact Us