Rhode Island Wage Garnishment Calculator
Rhode Island’s $50 wage exemption is below the federal floor, so the federal limit usually decides — but your wages are completely exempt for a year after you stop receiving public assistance.
The public-assistance year
- The one-year protection runs from the date you stop receiving relief from a state, federal or municipal agency.§1
- Wages paid by a charity or relief fund are fully exempt when you are the person receiving the relief.§1
- Other debtors get a $50 wage exemption, which the federal $217.50 weekly floor exceeds.§1
A Providence check, with and without recent assistance
A Providence worker grossing $820.00 a week with $120.00 withheld can lose $175.00 under the federal ceiling. If that worker stopped receiving state, federal or municipal relief less than a year ago, the entire wage is exempt until the year runs out.
Section 9-26-4
The entire wages or salary of any debtor due or payable from any employer, where the debtor has been the object of relief from any state, federal, or municipal corporation or agency for a period of one year from and after the time when the debtor ceases to be the object of such relief.